Copy Manager

Title: Copy Manager

Location: Nationwide

Job Description:

Position Summary/Purpose:
We are seeking an experienced Copy Manager to supervise the copy team, ensure quality and uphold brand standards for multiple university clients in the marketing of higher education. The Copy Manager provides feedback and suggestions for ways to improve copy and helps guide the overall messaging strategy across email, print and video platforms.

Primary duties include editing copy and managing copywriters. The ideal candidate should have experience both as a manager as well as copywriter familiar with creative briefs, marketing strategies and customer journeys.

In addition to reviewing copy assignments to ensure the material meets style guidelines for consistent messaging, the Copy Manager will help formulate processes affecting the copy team and draft the brand standards including brand voice under the direction of creative and Marketing executive leadership. The Copy Manager will also participate in creative concepting for brand campaigns.

An understanding of how to craft concise yet compelling copy including headlines, ads, email, names and scripts is essential, as is the ability to write long form copy for multi-page collateral as well as research and obtain information, brainstorm, use claims, employ testimonials and condense copy to fit word count.

In order to be considered, please submit a portfolio of work that showcases names, headlines, scripts as well as email and ad copy and have a minimum of 10 years of supervisory experience.

Primary Responsibilities / Essential Functions:

• Contribute to creating a comprehensive copy platform for each assigned account, with minimal supervision.

• Work as a team with art directors to develop conceptual approaches to meet Client objectives.

• Demonstrate sound understanding of marketing.

• Manage team workflow and be able to handle a large brand with more than one indication or multiple smaller indications.

• Provide strategic input into marketing/advertising initiatives.

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of Client's business.

• Demonstrate understanding of market research to create test materials and be an effective research attendee.

• Develop and maintain positive, productive relationships with appropriate members of larger creative and cross functional marketing teams.

• Demonstrate high level of professional craftsmanship and superior writing skills.

• Be aware of, and familiar with, higher education and other relevant information that pertains to GCEs partner brands.

• Maintain awareness of current advertising, marketing, and other communications.

• Demonstrate the ability to work in various forms of media.

• Provide constructive and direct on-going feedback and generate performance reviews for team members.

• Manage, mentor and supervise.

• Present effectively and clearly communicate creative concepts.

• Follow jobs from startup into production.

• Review/edit copy within group to ensure that it is accurate, on strategy and creatively excellent.

• Route all copy to Creative Director or VP/Executive Creative Director for review before it goes to client.

• Function autonomously on a day-to-day basis; but involve supervisor in major decisions.

• Communicate effectively and professionally both internally and externally.

• Demonstrate good problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrate ability to set priorities while handling multiple projects and to delegate work appropriately.

• Uphold quality standards in servicing GCE's partner/clients.

• Foster a positive team atmosphere demonstrating respect for peers and supervisors.

• Foster senior level partnerships with creative/brand/marketing service colleagues.

• Assign work to assure project deadlines are met.

• Monitor overall workload to effect efficiency and assure that waiting or downtime is minimized.

• Keep supervisor or department head apprised of any workload challenges/concerns on assigned team accounts that may necessitate hiring freelancers.

• Provide constructive and direct ongoing feedback to direct reports.

• Evaluate performance of direct reports and complete and deliver performance reviews.

• Help supervisor manage and resolve staff issues including performance, personal presentation and internal interactions.

• Recommend adjustments/additions to the roles and procedures of the department to achieve continuous improvement and efficiency across all accounts and/or specific accounts.

• Guide and supervise the copywriting team; editing their work to increase quality and reduce errors.

• Maintain copy guidelines and uphold brand standards in print, video, email and paid social while innovating for trends and best practices.

• Oversee all copy-related activities and processes, which could include working with Compliance and obtaining final copy approvals.

• Develop persuasive storytelling and messaging that informs, inspires, and engages to deliver convincing and legally compliant content.

• Partner with art directors on creative campaign development to drive content strategy and articulate clear copy direction to copywriters.

• Lead and contribute to the ideation of names, headlines, scripts as well as email and ad copy that is concise yet compelling.

• Other duties as assigned.

Equipment Used and Responsibility

• Mac laptop computing and accessing remote servers.

• Telecommuting software (specifically Zoom and MS Teams)

• MS Office Suite, OneDrive and SharePoint

• Project management programs (specifically Workamajig)

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manages a team of copywriters.

Experience/ Education

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in journalism, English or related field.

• Prior supervision and team management experience required., 2-3 years supervisory experience managing, coaching, and training the copywriting staff.

• 6-8 years of Copywriting experience

• Fact-checking and research expertise.

• Ad agency or in house agency experience is a plus.

• Experience in publishing across print, video, email and paid social.

• Proficiency in AP and other style guides.

• Familiarity with the regulations of marketing educational programs preferred.

• Must pass background investigation.

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting:      6-7 hours a day

• Standing:  1-2 hours a day

• Walking:   1-2 hours a day

• Lifting:      Occasionally

• Carrying:   Rarely

• Pushing:    Rarely

• Bending:   Frequently

• Squatting: Rarely

• Kneeling:     Rarely

• Climbing:    Rarely

• Reaching:    Occasionally

• Grasping:     Frequently

• Fine Eye to Hand Coordination:  Continuously

• Driving:       Rarely

• Work Environment:  Work is performed primarily inside.