Lead Writer

Job Details and Requirement

Department: Communications and Marketing

Supervisor: VP for Communications and Marketing

Last Updated: 6/2/2026

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Lead Writer serves as a lead storyteller for Pitzer College, developing compelling content that advances institutional priorities across admissions, advancement, reputation, and community engagement.

Working closely with the Vice President for Communications and Marketing, this position transforms story assignments into high-quality content for multiple audiences and channels. The Lead Writer researches, interviews, writes, and edits stories that showcase the people, ideas, and experiences that define Pitzer while helping extend the reach of those stories across the website, email communications, social media, admissions marketing, advancement communications, campaign materials, digital advertising, and the College magazine.

This role is ideal for a prolific writer who enjoys interviewing people, uncovering meaningful details, and crafting stories that connect with audiences. The successful candidate understands how to take one story and adapt it into multiple formats, ensuring content works effectively across channels while maintaining a consistent voice and narrative.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Office of Communications and Marketing operates through an integrated studio model in which storytelling, design, digital engagement, visual media, and strategic communications are developed collaboratively across teams.

• Write feature stories, profiles, news stories, research stories, donor stories, and institutional narratives.
• Conduct interviews with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, trustees, and community partners.
• Research and develop compelling content that reflects the mission, values, and priorities of Pitzer College.
• Produce clear, engaging, and accurate content on deadline.
• Adapt stories for publication across multiple channels, including the website, email communications, social media, admissions marketing, advancement communications, campaign materials, digital advertising, and the College magazine.
• Identify opportunities to extend the life and impact of stories through multiple formats and audiences.
• Collaborate with social media, photography, design, and digital teams to maximize the reach and impact of content.
• Work with the Vice President and communications team to execute editorial priorities and institutional storytelling goals.
• Contribute story ideas and identify emerging opportunities across campus.
• Collaborate with the Vice President and communications team to translate institutional priorities into compelling audience-centered stories.
• Mentor student writers and contributors as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The individual must possess knowledge, skills and ability to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the position or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

• Editorial writing, journalism, and feature-story development.
• Content strategy and audience engagement principles.
• Storytelling techniques across digital and print platforms.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills with a commitment to a team-based work environment.
• Natural aptitude for technology and expertise with MS Office, including expert level use of Excel.
• Ability to problem-solve and use analytical skills to develop and implement creative solutions.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to take initiative to work proactively, meet deadlines, organize and prioritize multiple projects, think strategically, and work with numbers and data.
• Exhibit personal integrity and ability to appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Exhibit a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and sound professional judgment.

Experience/Education

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, marketing, or a related field.
• Five or more years of professional writing, journalism, communications, marketing, or editorial experience.
• Exceptional interviewing, writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Ability to translate complex topics into engaging, audience-centered content.
• Experience writing for multiple audiences and communication channels.
• Strong collaboration and project management skills.
• Commitment to inclusive, mission-driven communications.

Licenses/Certifications: None

Supervisory Responsibility: No

Time Type: Full Time

Work Schedule: This is a regular, non-exempt, staff position, working 12 months per year. The regular schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours may vary depending on the operational needs of the College or department, including evenings and weekends as required.

Compensation: Budget Salary Range: $32.00-$34.00 per hour

Pitzer College is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, tuition exchange program participation and more.

Work Model: Hybrid* (2 Days/Wk Remote)