UNC alumni association seeks editor and director of communications

The editor and director of communications has supervisory responsibility for the long-range evolution of the UNC General Alumni Association’s editorial strategies and assets. This portfolio includes:

• The Carolina Alumni Review, a bimonthly print magazine with a circulation of more than 68,000.
• The GAA’s e-newsletter “Out of the Blue,” reaching 170,000 alumni and others a month.
• The association web platform, unc.edu, with an average of 44,000 monthly unique visits.
• Social media, podcasts, video, marketing communications and other print and digital assets to reach the broadest audience.

The Carolina Alumni Review represents a primary face of the association, informing readers about their University — the place and the people connected to it. The magazine, founded in 1912, reaches alumni and others who are dues-paying members of the GAA and who are part of the University community in Chapel Hill, including administrators, faculty and students. The magazine upholds the highest journalistic standards and adheres to a Statement of Purpose that reflects the values and goals of both the association and the University. It has been recognized with regional and national awards for its writing, design and photography, earning 65 awards since 1996 from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

With digital communications representing the organization’s most dynamic growth area and the importance of reaching an ever-widening audience through the highest quality content possible, the editor and director of communications must be a leader in innovation and must cultivate an entrepreneurial, inclusive spirit in the department.

This position reports to the president of the GAA and manages nine full-time staff positions: three associate editors, a design director, a graphic designer, a manager of marketing and advertising, a marketing coordinator, an advertising account representative and an online coordinator.

The editor and director of communications directs the conceptualization and creation of compelling reader-first print and multimedia content and ensures its integration across traditional and digital/social media platforms. The editor and director of communications must create an environment that enables the staff to bring their initiative, creativity and passion to advance the department’s goals, the GAA’s goals and their own and their colleagues’ goals. The editor and director of communications must be acutely aware of and understand how to answer needs of a diverse range of stakeholders (alumni, the campus community and GAA staff) to engage audiences and contribute to the GAA’s success.

The successful candidate will be:

• An excellent writer and editor.
• A visionary, collaborative and inclusive leader with a track record of initiating and supporting innovation.

• Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion relating to various platforms’ content as well as to internal staffing.
• Committed to exceptional customer service and support.
• Curious.
• Organized.
• Self-directed and able to rely on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals that meet the needs of the association and of audiences associated with the University.

The successful candidate also will:

• Provide numerous examples of managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines.
• Be an experienced manager of people and teams.
• Present strong interpersonal skills, including presentation skills.
• Possess strong problem analysis and decision-making ability.
• Demonstrate that she or he is obsessively picky about details.
• Be happiest on the job when working collaboratively with the members of a diverse team.
• Believe the best solution may mean deviating from what’s always been done before.

The editor and director of communications:

• Serves as the lead editor for the Carolina Alumni Review and chief communications resource for the UNC General Alumni Association, providing direction and editorial vision to meet print and digital communication needs, including editorial, marketing and advertising content.

• Plans and establishes schedules. Manages resources and personnel in a fast-paced environment to adhere to production schedules, working with writers, photographers, designers and illustrators.

• Oversees the department’s annual budget; reviews and reconciles all invoices related to the Communications Department.
• Manages issue planning for the magazine; conceives and develops story ideas for features and standing departments; edits copy; assigns copy as needed.
• Responds to queries and concerns from alumni, faculty and other University constituencies.
• Serves as a liaison with University officials.
• Provides direction to support advertising efforts; reconciles questions regarding advertisers and potential advertisers in terms of ad content or client relationships.

• Leads bimonthly departmental planning meetings.
• Negotiates printing contracts. Communicates with press representatives to facilitate the printing process.

• Serves as the magazine’s liaison with the U.S. Postal Service. Reviews and reconciles postal reports.
• Works with IT personnel on hardware/software/accessory needs.
• Prepares materials for quarterly meetings of the Communications Advisory Committee. Assists with the quarterly meetings of the GAA’s Board of Directors. Participates in establishing the annual long-range plan for Communications. Participates in orientation of new GAA officers and directors.
• Works with the GAA president on policy and other issues.
• Demonstrates knowledge of ethical and legal issues involved in reporting, producing and publishing content.
• Maintains relationships across various campus and alumni constituencies for developing and sharing content.

A review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Preference will be given to those with a familiarity with The University of North Carolina. Particular attention will be paid to candidates’ descriptions of their contributions to diversity and inclusivity. Applicants should submit an introductory letter, resume, professional references and links to online work samples via email to editorsearch@alumni.unc.edu and include “Editor search” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. All applications will be acknowledged.