Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2022, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs is where your world and the world meet. The Council is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that empowers more people to help shape our global future. Through content and engagement experiences that offer diverse, fact-based perspectives and in-depth analysis, we foster dialogue on the world’s most critical issues. We are committed to building an inclusive community of globally conscious people who want to actively participate in global affairs and gain the knowledge that can help them make a tangible impact – big or small – in the world.

As the Council enters its second century, we are embarking on an ambitious digital transformation and are growing our Digital Content team to reach and engage more people in Chicago and beyond.

The Role

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is seeking a versatile, Multiplatform Editor with a passion for writing smart headlines and engaging copy across a range of web, newsletter, and social text formats. Prioritizing innovation at the nexus of audience and text while upholding the quality and standards of a historic nonpartisan and independent institution is critical.

The ideal candidate will comfortably synthesize complex issues with stories that resonate with diverse audiences. They are energized by crafting original ideas and concepts, deploying their storytelling skills to create compelling copy and treatments. Optimizing reach, engagement, and audience loyalty is a top priority, and knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), tagging, and linking is an essential skill.

This is a collaborative, hands-on team looking for an experienced editor who likes to roll up their sleeves and build narrative and consistency across multiple projects.

The Editor position is a hybrid role and requires some in-person attendance at our Downtown Chicago location based on work activities and peak seasons. The position reports directly to the Chief Content Officer and supervises one direct report.

Responsibilities            

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Edit the Content team's web, newsletter, and social text for grammar, style, accuracy and accessibility.
• Identify and elevate best practices for writing and editing across the content team.
• Write compelling, conversational headlines, optimized to amplify our content’s reach on all web and social platforms.
• Deploy photos, videos, social media graphics and links to drive engagement; platforms could include YouTube, Drupal, or other social media sites.
• Use data and analytics to help guide editorial and audience development and promote understanding and fluency in these skills across the team.
• Take a forward-thinking approach to testing new content and engagement approaches to building a diverse audience.
• Manage the work activities of the writer-editor/producer-editor, including setting and tracking goals, and providing coaching, development and training to meet and exceed performance objectives.
• Participate collaboratively with the Content team’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.
• Work with marketing, design, and product teams to optimize reach, loyalty and engagement.
• Foster cross-team collaborations in support of the Council’s digital transformation objectives and goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Preferably a minimum of 5-7 years’ experience editing and working with text for web, newsletter and social in a newsroom environment
• Strong journalistic instincts and skills, with a proven track record in multi-platform storytelling skills and creating new products for audience growth
• Proficient in the use of digital publishing and CMS, keen to adopt and develop best innovations in this field. Drupal experience preferred.
• Familiarity with interpreting web analytics and common platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social, etc.) to adapt and improve audience engagement
• Collaborative, with proactive and inclusive interpersonal and communication skills
• Results-driven, prioritizing for best and timely results, taking into account deadlines, staffing, budgets, and resource requirements

Council Benefit Highlights 

There are many benefits to working at the Council, including a flexible remote/in-office work environment, half-day summer Fridays, paid parental leave, employer-subsidized medical/dental/vision insurance, generous paid time off, retirement match, mobile phone stipend, commuter accessible, fitness center membership, and more.