University Catalog Editor (HR Title: Content Editor I)

Southern Methodist University; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Methodist University in Dallas seeks a University Catalog Editor (Content Editor I) to lead the annual academic catalog production, ensuring accurate policies and content standards.

You will coordinate with academic schools, departments, and committees, manage the catalog workflow in Coursedog, and publish a high-quality, accessible catalog that supports student success and institutional excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least two years of writing and editing experience.
• Administrative experience in a college or university setting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage the annual catalog production cycle to deadlines.
• Oversee content development with schools and departments for accuracy.
• Coordinate the Catalog Advisory Committee and document recommendations.
• Utilize Coursedog to manage and publish curriculum and catalog content.
• Ensure published catalog is accurate, consistent, and compliant with standards.
• Support deadlines including evenings/weekends for events.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Coursedog

Job description

Job Description - University Catalog Editor (HR Title: Content Editor I) (DIV00000240)

Job Description

University Catalog Editor (HR Title: Content Editor I) - ( DIV00000240 )

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The University Catalog Editor leads the development and publication of the University's annual academic catalog, serving as the primary resource for catalog policies, processes, and content standards. Working collaboratively with academic and administrative stakeholders, this role ensures that programs, courses, policies, and institutional information are accurate, current, and aligned with approved curricular changes.

The Catalog Editor manages the catalog production cycle, oversees content within the catalog management system, and delivers a high-quality, accessible publication that supports student success and institutional excellence.

Essential Functions:

Coordinate and manage the annual academic catalog production cycle, including developing and maintaining the catalog production calendar, establishing deadlines for content submission and review, coordinating editing and approval activities, and ensuring the catalog is completed and published according to established timelines.

Oversee the development, editing, and production of the University's annual academic catalog, coordinating with schools, academic departments, and administrative offices to initiate, review, edit, and finalize catalog content. Ensure published on University website and content is accurate, consistent, complete, and compliant with established University editorial and publication standards.

Coordinate the Catalog Advisory Committee, including establishing meeting schedules, developing agendas, coordinating the review of catalog content and proposed changes, documenting recommendations, and facilitating communication and follow-up with participating academic and administrative units.

Utilize and administer the Coursedog Curriculum Management and Catalog modules to manage, review, edit, & publish curriculum and catalog content. Monitor the integration of approved curriculum information into the catalog and identify & resolve discrepancies between curriculum records, catalog content, & related University systems. Work with software vendor as needed. Train users and test functionality.

Collaborate with the Manager of Academic Programs to ensure curriculum changes reflected in the academic catalog have completed the appropriate University academic and governing approval processes prior to publication. Review proposed curriculum changes for appropriate approvals and coordinate with academic units to resolve questions or discrepancies.

Coordinate the review and maintenance of course descriptions and other academic content appearing in the academic catalog and my.SMU, working with school and departmental representatives to ensure information is accurate, current, and consistent across systems.

Maintain and coordinate updates to catalog sections managed by offices and groups outside the Registrar's Office, including institutional policies, financial information, transfer information, and other University-wide content. Conduct quality assurance and final reviews to ensure the published catalog accurately reflects approved University information.

Evening and weekend work will be required of all Registrar's Office employees to work at academic ceremonies and may be required to meet deadlines.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s is required.

A minimum of two (2) years of experience in writing and editing is required.

Administrative experience in a college or university is also required.

Experience editing academic publications is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong writing skills, grammar and usage, as well as editing and oral communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and understand inconsistencies, issues, and potential problems in policies, text, and presentation. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills. Experience managing multiple projects in a fast-paced team environment with multiple deadlines is required.

Candidate must be familiar with university policies, procedures and academic programs and have experience working in an active, customer service-oriented environment. Must possess the ability to work well as part of a team and in an independent role.

Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with desktop publishing platforms and sufficient computer experience to demonstrate ability to learn new software is preferred.

Experience using course scheduling, curriculum changes, and online catalog systems (Coursedog) will be helpful for success in this role.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Stand

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be granted to applications received by October 2, 2026.

Position will remain open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

• SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of healthand related benefit s.
• In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMUand, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.