POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Senior Writer-Editor, Creative Services
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 5009
GRADE 43
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director, Creative Services
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Senior Writer-Editor, Creative Services serves as one of the lead writers and
editors for recruitment, development and alumni materials. The Senior Writer-Editor,
Creative Services uses imagination, originality and talent to develop, write and edit
action-oriented marketing copy. The content created must contribute to the university’s
strategic goals related to prospective students, alumni and donors, and must represent
the university brand. The Senior Writer-Editor, Creative Services is the managing
editor or assistant managing editor of some university magazines and recruitment pieces,
as assigned by the Director of Creative Services and Assistant Director of Creative
Services-Editorial. The Senior Writer-Editor proofreads copy for readability, brand
standards and grammatical correctness.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A bachelor’s degree in English, communication, journalism, public relations
or a related area is required. An equivalent combination of years of experience and
education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: At least 3 years of experience as a professional writer and editor is
required. Experience writing for a brand, experience with persuasive writing and experience
writing personality profiles are required. Experience leading people and projects
is preferred.
Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office, desktop publishing and editing software
is required. Proficiency in Associated Press style is required. The ability to develop
knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds
is required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Serves as managing editor or assistant managing editor of magazines, top-level
recruitment pieces and other top-level pieces related to the strategic goals of the
university, as guided by the Director of Creative Services and Assistant Director
of Creative Services-Editorial.
2. Writes and edits copy to recruit students, raise funds, build relationships and
elevate the profile of the university.
3. Interviews faculty, staff, donors, alumni and students to develop content that
is interesting, memorable and unique to Missouri State.
4. Writes persuasive content that directs the reader to act, whether to apply, give,
attend events or support the university in other ways.
5. Works with designers and photographers to select elements based on story needs
and university priorities.
6. Writes in Missouri State brand and editorial style.
7. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and
development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
8. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing
professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses
and attending training and/or courses as directed by the supervisor.
9. Contributes to the overall success of Creative Services and performs all duties
assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Senior Writer-Editor works in partnership with the Assistant Director of Creative
Services-Editorial Services and is supervised by the Director of Creative Services.
The Senior Writer-Editor directs the work of graduate assistants and other students
who contribute copy to magazines and other projects led by the Senior Writer-Editor.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED AUGUST 2023
JOB FAMILY 4
Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery
Level 3.0 - 1500 Points: Entry-level knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, and methods of an administrative, managerial, technical, or professional specialty. Knowledge permits employee to carry out basic recurring tasks and routine portions of assignments or to carry out less demanding professional elements of assignments in professional or technical areas including accounting or auditing, financial management, business administration, human resources, law, engineering, science, or medicine, while gaining familiarity with the University's policies and goals, business practices, and/or accounting systems. This level of knowledge permits the employee to schedule and carry out the steps of a limited operation or project, or to complete stages of a multi-phase project. Alternatively, knowledge at this level might also permit the employee to carry out recurring tasks and routine assignments requiring moderate experience in specific areas within higher education. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in a specific technical or professional specialty. Knowledge requirements may also include a limited amount of related work experience. Alternatively, equivalent knowledge requirements at this level include a non-technical or general Bachelor's degree requirement with a moderate level of additional related work experience or a non-specific Master's degree requirement with some related work experience.
Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility
Level 2.0 - 130 Points: Regular, but limited, supervision, training, or directing the work assignments of (a) small numbers of student, part-time or temporary workers, or (b) one or more permanent, full-time employees. The nature of supervision is largely confined to scheduling work and assigning tasks. Supervision at this level typically does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities, and supervisory duties typically do not consume a large portion of the work day.
Factor 3: Interactions with Others
Level 4.0 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.
Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines
Level 3.0 - 500 Points: The employee operates under general supervision expressed in terms of program goals and objectives, priorities, and deadlines. Administrative supervision is given through statements of overall program or project objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are relatively comprehensive and the employee need only to fill in gaps in interpretation and adapt established methods to perform recurring activities. In unforeseen situations, the employee must interpret inadequate or incomplete guidelines, develop plans, and initiate new methods to complete assignments based on those interpretations. Assignments are normally related in function, but the work requires many different processes and methods applied to an established administrative or professional field. Problems are typically the result of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, or incomplete or conflicting data. The employee must interpret and refine methods to complete assignments. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing single-purpose programs or performing complex, but precedented, technical or professional work.
Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility
Level 3.0 - 850 Points: Work involves providing significant support services to others both within and outside of the department that substantially influences decision-making processes. Work activities are complex and others rely on the accuracy and reliability of the information, analysis, or advice to make decisions. Work activities have a direct, but shared, impact on further processes or services, affect the overall efficiency and image of the department, and may have material impact on costs or service quality within the cost center. Incumbents may be responsible for identifying areas of need and for developing proposals that request funding to fulfill those needs.
