Job Description

JOB SUMMARY: 

This position requires experience writing website content (e.g., articles, blog posts, social media, and other communications) clearly and concisely at the reading level of the target audiences, conforming to the organization’s style guide, and quality assurance to produce deliverables with limited errors. The individual will help identify pain points in the writing and editing process, and work with stakeholders to make improvements. This position will work closely with Publicis Sapient content strategists, information architects, and federal staff to draft, edit, and prepare website copy for federal health websites on topics such as research findings, organization descriptions, and strategic priorities. The right person for the role will feel comfortable in a highly collaborative environment, while also being able to work independently and take ownership of their assignments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Continually immerse yourself in new areas of public health content to support website content writing for multiple federal agency websites
• Learn the federal health organization’s strategic focus, style guidance, and research areas to determine relevant and accurate messaging
• Write logically structured website content using plain language principles
• Draft scientific research summaries, blog articles, storytelling-focused research highlights, organizational overviews, and staff highlights
• Edit and proofread content to deliver error-free products
• Ensure copy is appropriate for the target medical, scientific, and public audiences
• Ensure grammar, spelling, and punctuation meet the organization’s Editorial Style Guide
• Enter website content into the content management system (CMS) and perform quality checks including testing hyperlinks prior to publishing through the CMS
• Suggest headlines and subheads for articles and, depending on the publication, create page layouts that enhance articles, photographs, and illustrations
• Create and update SEO metadata to improve the accessibility of all digital content
• Work with stakeholders to improve the writing and editing workflow
• Lead a thorough and timely review process that incorporates feedback from various leaders, subject matter experts, stakeholders, and partners as needed
• Participate in internal project team and client meetings
• Be an active participant within the wider onsite communications team by participating in content strategy and search engine optimization efforts
• Provide writing support for campaigns, including social media copy writing

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Legal Permanent Resident
• Eligible for U.S. Government Clearance
• Bachelor’s Degree required from college or university; Master’s degree in communications, public affairs, or public health field is a plus
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience in journalism, speechwriting, or equivalent experience
• Must have experience within the Federal government, health, healthcare, oncology, research or science fields
• Familiarity with public health issues and the public health community, including associations and non-profits
• Excellent critical thinking, writing, and organizational skills
• Proven ability to adapt to a dynamic project environment and manage multiple concurrent projects
• Experience with editorial calendars, project dashboards, and tracking schedules
• Ability to communicate effectively (verbally and in writing) with all stakeholders and at all levels of the organization, including senior executives

EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES: 

• At least 3 years of work experience as a website content writer/editor is required
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high-quality work while meeting tight deadlines
• Familiarity with digital content and usability best practices
• In addition to website content writing experience and knowledge of grammatical rules, the following skills are also relevant to this role:

o   TECHNICAL SAVVY: Highly proficient in MS Word.  Familiarity with collaboration tools (e.g., JIRA, MS Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive), content management systems (e.g. Drupal), social media, and new media.

o   PROJECT MANAGEMENT:  Excellent analytical and organizational skills, including the proven ability to adapt to a dynamic project environment and manage multiple concurrent projects.  Ability to plan and manage time and resources, establish priorities and meet goals.

o   COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Ability to communicate effectively (verbally and in writing) with all stakeholders and at all levels of the organization, including senior management.

o   CREATIVITY: Must be curious, creative, and knowledgeable about a broad variety of topics.

EDUCATION:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, English, or related fields is required.
• Certifications, e.g., the Board of Editors in Life Sciences (BELS), are a plus.

Additional Information

As part of our dedication to an inclusive and diverse workforce, Publicis Sapient is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at hiring@publicissapient.com or you may call us at +1-617-621-0200.