Do you like shaping a compelling story? As Associate Editor, you’ll be part of a creative team that tells the story of our university to the world.

The Associate Editor edits, writes, researches and provides other key support for USC University Communications’ editorial team. You’ll help lead the content group that publishes USC Trojan Family Magazine, USC’s flagship print and digital publication for university alumni, supporters and parents, and USC News, the online home for compelling stories from across the University.

You’ll edit written articles for style and substance, helping turn good stories into great ones. These pieces will come from the two writers who report to you and from other University Communications staff members and freelancers. Because you also will supervise the copy editor, you’ll need a firm grasp of grammar, usage and AP and University Style. Your own writing will include short articles for TFM and USC News, as well as longer-form, deeply reported pieces for both channels, concentrating on how USC students, alumni and faculty are making a positive impact on or at the university, in their extended communities and around the world.

A successful candidate is a self-motivated, enterprising team player who cares about the quality of our work and our audience’s experience. The Associate Editor must demonstrate a passion for accuracy, lively language and inspired storytelling that reflects the best of the USC community and promotes the USC mission. The Associate Editor may be asked occasionally to produce content for our daily news website and help promote content through social media, e-newsletters and other websites.

Primary Duties:

• Write/produce content to support editorial mission
• Edit short- and long-form articles to the highest standard, compile content and fact-check and research stories
• Upload and/or review digital content as assigned
• Assist with promotion and distribution of magazine and digital content
• Answer questions and address requests from constituents
• Manage writers and edit their stories to help build excellence in storytelling

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred education: Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, history or related field

Preferred experience: At least five years of journalism and/or communications experience, ideally in a higher-education context

Fields of expertise:

• Exceptional feature writing and editing skills on deadline
• Background in professional magazine or news publication, including researching and fact-checking
• Work experience at a university or similar nonprofit/education institution
• Strong knowledge of digital communications technologies, including social media
• tools and CMS (WordPress), and proven ability to adapt to emerging technologies
• Experience in a complex organization and ability to work in teams

Please upload a cover letter, résumé and five samples of professionally published content you edited and/or wrote. (Please indicate the role you played in creating and publishing each piece of print or digital content.)