Urban Outfitters Editorial Copy Director

URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, Free People & Nuuly); Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Generous employee discounts

Retirement savings

Job summary

URBN is looking for a Director of Editorial Copy to define and elevate the brand’s editorial voice. The ideal candidate will blend strategic and creative thinking while mentoring copywriters and editorial teams.

Located in Philadelphia, this role offers a hybrid work model, collaborating with various teams across marketing and digital platforms. The position emphasizes experience in retail copy, content strategy, and understanding youth culture.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in editorial leadership or content strategy.
• Proven experience in retail copy across multiple channels.
• Experience shaping brand point of view and cultural positioning.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the brand’s editorial voice.
• Oversee dynamic, trend-driven content for marketing.
• Mentor and inspire editorial talent and copywriters.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Content strategy

Retail copywriting

Team management

Cultural fluency

Education

BA in English, Journalism, Communications or related field

Tools

CMS and workflow systems

AI/automation tools

Job description

Urban Outfitters is looking for a Director of Editorial Copy to own and elevate the brand’s editorial voice and storytelling across everything we make. You’re that rare mix of strategic and creative thinking—an expert in copy across omnichannel retail, plugged into youth culture and fashion, and able to package stories that cut through a crowded, fast-moving digital world.

Most importantly, you’re a leader who knows how to inspire and mentor copywriters, editorial thinkers, and content strategists, helping them balance their craft with real business goals. You’ll partner with the Senior Director of Brand Voice to bring a new vision for UO’s voice and narrative to life, collaborating seamlessly with teams across marketing, merchandising, creative, digital, PR, and more.

We’re excited to hear from candidates in Philadelphia and the surrounding area who are into a hybrid work model. This role offers the flexibility of remote work alongside 2-3 days per week in our Philadelphia office, where you’ll work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our creative and editorial teams. For selected finalists based outside the region, we’re pleased to offer a competitive relocation package to support your move!

Role Responsibilities

Brand Voice & Storytelling

• Define, evolve, and champion the Urban Outfitters editorial voice, keeping it fresh, modern, and locked in with youth culture.
• Support the Senior Director of Brand Voice in shaping voice, tone, and editorial POV across the brand.
• Concept and write brand narrative copy for hero moments, and review and top edit team deliverables to uphold strategic and creative best practices.

Content Strategy

• Oversee the creation of dynamic, trend‑driven content for campaigns, catalogs, digital marketing, site design, in‑store signage, and social platforms.
• Balance SEO/AEO, creative, and brand goals to roadmap long‑form editorial concepts that support marketing priorities (e.g., site articles, social series, YouTube scripts).

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner directly with creative directors, art directors, merchandising, and brand strategy teams to ensure seamless storytelling across all customer touchpoints.
• Synthesize insights and data into consistent, high‑impact storytelling opportunities.
• Build presentations and pitch comfortably in front of executives and cross‑functional teams.

Team Leadership

• Inspire, mentor, and oversee copywriters and editorial talent, helping them grow their craft while hitting business goals.
• Oversee workflows and review copy for tone and style consistency, governing a clear coaching and review process.
• Create verbal identity style guides, toolkits, playbooks, and standards to help the team scale their impact.
• Oversee vendor and freelancer relationships, optimizing the resourcing model and assigning work.

Cultural Fluency

• Be a subject matter expert in fashion, lifestyle, music, sport, and pop culture, and the strategic opportunities they create for our voice.
• Continuously monitor market and competitor trends to inform proactive, of‑the‑moment storytelling.

Efficiency & Innovation

• Streamline copy processes and content libraries to keep the team moving fast.
• Champion the adoption of modern AI tools, project management software, and analytics to drive efficiency and performance, freeing the team for true creative focus.

Role Qualifications

• Experience: 8+ years in editorial leadership, content strategy, or brand publishing.
• Retail Copy: Proven experience writing retail copy across store, digital, social, app, and out‑of‑home campaigns.
• Editorial Platforms: Track record of building editorial franchises or long‑form platforms that drive cultural relevance.
• Brand POV: Strong experience shaping brand point of view and cultural positioning.
• Leadership: Skilled at managing teams and influencing executives.
• Technical Know‑How: Knowledge of CMS, workflow systems, and AI/automation in editorial production.
• Education: BA in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field (preferred, not required).

The Perks

URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits

EEO Statement

URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non‑discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti‑harassment training to managers and employees.