Editor in Chief, Virginia Magazine

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Editor in Chief, Virginia Magazine
FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt
Supervisor: President & CEO
Date Prepared: August 2024

GENERAL SUMMARY
The UVA Alumni Association is seeking an Editor in Chief (EIC). The Alumni Association is a dynamic organization of 60+ individuals whose purpose is to strengthen bonds between the University’s nearly 270,000 alumni and between those alumni and the University. The Association is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

The Editor in Chief leads Virginia Magazine in service of its three-fold editorial mission:
• Connectedness: To use our media channels to strengthen the sense of community among alumni and to strengthen their connection to UVA.
• Integrity: To follow an alumni-first, reader-first journalistic ethic while maintaining the highest professional and qualitative standards.
• Independent voice: To represent the voice and perspectives of alumni.

The EIC leads the strategic and operational aspects of the Virginia Magazine – from big-picture, long-range planning; to all phases of the magazine cycle; to oversight and execution of the finer points that make Virginia Magazine best in class. In addition, the EIC manages the magazine team and the department P&L, serves as a resource to the Association’s President & CEO, and facilitates a strong working relationship with the University’s Communications team.

Job Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Editorial strategy
• Develop, execute, and continually refine Virginia Magazine’s editorial strategy in fulfillment of the Alumni Association’s mission.
• Continually strengthen Virginia Magazine’s credibility as a trusted information source that strengthens community among alumni, reinforcing their connection to the University.
• Cultivate and nurture Virginia Magazine’s distinct character, style, wit, voice, and aesthetic.

B. Audience strategy
• Know the audience, continually deepen our understanding of the alumni’s sensibilities and passions—what they care about, what they need to care about, what excites them, what strikes a chord, and what engages them.
• Expand the magazine’s reach and readership by optimizing existing channels (i.e., print, digital) and exploring new ones (e.g., social media, engagement programming).
• Understand and connect with the audience in aggregate and within its diverse variations and segments among generations, demographics, and distinct interests.
• Lead the annual Vox initiative to collect and share the voice of our alumni community to gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of our evolving alumni community to provide alumni, the University, and the Association with more textured and actionable insights.

C. Operations
• Planning and ideation: Engage in long-range, mid-range, and more immediate and time-sensitive planning of quarterly print magazine editions and digital media, content packages, special projects, and special issues.
• Story development: In close collaboration with the magazine team and Alumni Association leadership, develop and assign story ideas, work with writers on information gathering, edit and review copy.
• Presentation: Take the lead in overseeing and crafting the magazine’s power to engage, including working closely with the creative director on cover designs, composing cover lines, the table of contents, headlines, photo captions, pull quotes, and the magazine’s other display copy.
• Team management: Lead and manage a high-performing, creative and collaborative team, see to team members’ professional fulfillment, engagement, and positive morale.
• Business management: The EIC has P&L responsibility for Virginia Magazine, including managing the budget and negotiating contracts with printers and other vendors.

D. Support and serve the President & CEO
• Keep the President & CEO apprised of the work of the magazine, including upcoming projects, stories, key University communications, and insights regarding University currents and cross-currents.
• Collaborate with the President & CEO in developing story ideas and crafting the Virginia Magazine’s publisher’s letter and the Around Alumni Hall section.
• Serve on the Alumni Association’s leadership team, collaborating with and supporting other managers and programs.
• Support the work of the Alumni Association through the above and other duties as assigned.

E. Facilitate a strong working relationship with the University’s Communications team.
• Build strong trust and rapport with University leadership in balance with editorial independence.
• Serve as the key point of contact for University Communications; conduct regular check-in meetings with University stakeholders.
• Proactively stay informed of key University-wide/alumni-facing communications, especially during crisis response; when necessary, factor into Virginia Magazine timing and publication.
• When potential areas of conflict arise, actively surface issues to President & CEO and seek a productive resolution.

CULTURE, VALUES, AND ATTRIBUTES
• Live the core values of the Association and serve as an advocate for continual improvement and enhancement of the organizational culture.
• Conduct all aspects of the role with honor and journalistic integrity with a high level of diplomacy.
• Foster a sense of belonging by being open to ideas and insights of fellow team members across the Alumni Association and the University.
• Build community by working collaboratively, sharing expertise, and cultivating an environment of psychological safety for others to do the same.
• Inspire a bias toward action through innovation, anticipating the needs of the Association and leaning into new, efficient, and enhanced ways of accomplishing our goals.
• Listen, stay curious, extend kindness, and follow through on commitments large and small.
• Be open to supporting new initiatives and other duties as strategic and business priorities evolve.
• Strong interpersonal skills including technical and non-technical writing and presentation skills.

Skills Required

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A bachelor’s degree is required.
Experience:
• 10 to 15 years of direct experience in journalism, publishing, marketing communications, or advertising, preferably in higher education.
• Experienced and highly skilled in a mix of the following: planning and budgeting, creative thinking, idea conception, problem-solving, writing and editing, advertising, client relations, print design, web design, digital media, and project management.
• Proven track record as a leader of a high-performing team with the ability to coach, provide support, and develop team members to meet their personal, professional needs in concert with the needs of the Association.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with existing technologies including MS Office, project management tools and the ability to evolve as new technologies (software/hardware) are implemented.

ENVIRONMENTAL/WORKING CONDITIONS:
Fast-paced hybrid work environment with a minimum of 2+ days in the office each week and the remaining days working from home. This job is based in the Commonwealth of Virginia.