Copywriter/Editor

Job Description

Strong Towns, a nationally recognized non-profit organization, is seeking a full-time Copywriter and Editor to polish and create great storytelling to support the Strong Towns movement. This is a remote position open to anyone in the U.S. Our team collaborates digitally from locations around the country, and we get together 2–4 times per year for in-person staff retreats. (All travel expenses are covered.) We have content deadlines and occasional event-driven demands, but generally keep a flexible schedule. We are an equal opportunity, family-friendly organization. Our work is rewarding, and our organization is making a difference.

Our goals are wildly ambitious, but we’ve made meaningful progress:

Our media site reached more than 2 million people last year and is shaping the national conversation on growth, development, and the future of cities. • Strong Towns publishes roughly 600 stories, essays, and articles on its website annually, plus other communications via social media, email, advertising, and more. We cover everything from neighborhood revitalization to fighting harmful freeways to public engagement challenges. • More than 5,000 people across the world financially support Strong Towns as members, including at least one person in each U.S. state. • Each day, we witness Strong Towns advocates step up and do extraordinary things in their places to make them more prosperous.

We need someone to support our publishing and communication efforts, helping the Strong Towns message reach more and more people every day. This could be you if:

• You’re a meticulous editor who thinks beyond grammatical correctness. You care about helping writers communicate effectively, so you’re willing to do line editing when appropriate, while preserving the author’s voice and intent. • You’re comfortable adhering to an in-house style guide (familiarity with Associated Press style is also a plus), and updating a style guide as needed. • You’re an efficient, precise writer who communicates with flair. • You’re organized and diligent. You work well on your own (this is a remote position) and communicate your progress with team members. • You’re motivated to be part of a nonpartisan nonprofit that works across political, social, and cultural differences to help people make their cities and towns more economically resilient. • Bonus: You might have experience with basic web design and/or knowledge of housing, urban planning, and transportation issues.

This is a remote position open to anyone in the U.S. Our team collaborates digitally from locations around the country, and we get together 2–4 times per year for in-person staff retreats. (All travel expenses are covered.) We have content deadlines and occasional event-driven demands, but generally keep a flexible schedule. We are an equal opportunity, family-friendly organization. Our work is rewarding, and our organization is making a difference.

The Copywriter/Editor will support the efforts of the Content and Communications Teams, reporting to the Director of Communications, while also working closely with the Editor-in-Chief. The position’s duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Editing (60%) Edit, lay out, and publish stories, essays, and news to strongtowns.org according to a schedule determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Edit other copy (emails, event postings, curriculum for our Academy site, etc.), as needed.

Copywriting/Content Creation Support (40%) Write compelling copy for social media posts, advertisements, and email marketing as assigned. Help implement novel ideas for facilitating audience engagement with the Strong Towns mission.

Compensation 

The Copywriter/Editor will support the efforts of the Content and Communications Teams, reporting to the Director of Communications, while also working closely with the Editor-in-Chief. The position’s duties include, but are not limited to, the following: This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $45,000 annually. In addition, Strong Towns provides a 401(k) retirement plan, a flexible QSEHRA healthcare plan, and a communications and equipment stipend, as well as parental leave.

Jane Jacobs described cities as co-creations. We agree with her when she wrote that “cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” A strong town can only be created by everybody. To that end, we must ensure that everybody is able to witness, within the Strong Towns movement and message, a meaningful part of themselves and their experiences. As an organization, we make a concerted effort to expand the diversity of our movement (racial, geographic, political, economic, gender, ability, religion, etc.) so our understanding can be informed by the full spectrum of American life. We warmly encourage anyone who would bring a new background and perspective to our organization to apply for this role.