Senior Writer
Position Summary
The Senior Writer is a creative journalist and brand storyteller responsible for developing engaging, mission-aligned content that strengthens UTampa's reputation, enrollment marketing and alumni engagement. Reporting to the Editorial Director, the Senior Writer produces feature stories, faculty profiles, news briefs and digital content that highlight the University's impact, innovation and community. This role contributes to the University of Tampa Journal, leading storytelling for the Advancement section of the magazine, as well as the UTampa Digital Newsroom and other print and online channels to ensure the University's story is told with clarity, authenticity and purpose.
Key Responsibilities
- Proactively identify story opportunities by engaging with faculty, staff, students and alumni.
- Conduct interviews and background research to develop accurate, engaging and brand-aligned content.
- Write feature stories, news briefs, and profiles for the UTampa Journal, the UTampa Digital Newsroom, newsletters and other University communications. Will work with Advancement team to identify and tell stories focused on donors, giving and donor impact.
- Ensure all written content is clear, compelling and consistent with UTampa's editorial voice, style guide and brand standards.
- Collaborate closely with the Editorial Director, Director of Digital Strategy and Experience, Director of Brand and Creative Services, and Social Media Manager to align written content with visual storytelling and digital engagement strategies.
- Promote UTampa's identity and reputation through storytelling that reflects its values, mission and strategic goals.
- Champion inclusive storytelling by amplifying diverse voices and perspectives that reflect UTampa's vibrant community.
- Work closely with the Editorial Director to align content with editorial calendars and institutional priorities.
- Participate in editorial planning meetings and contribute creative ideas for future coverage.
- Collaborate with designers, photographers and videographers to support multimedia storytelling.
- Track readership, engagement and reach metrics for published content to assess effectiveness and inform strategy.
- Contribute data and performance insights to the division's editorial dashboard and quarterly reports.
- Ensure all content supports institutional messaging and enhances audience engagement.
- Meet established deadlines with 95% on-time content delivery across assigned projects.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, marketing, communications, English or a related field.
- 5+ years of professional writing experience, preferably in higher education, media or brand storytelling. Philanthropic writing experience a plus.
- Strong portfolio of published work demonstrating storytelling ability across multiple formats.
- Excellent writing, editing and interviewing skills with mastery of AP Style.
- Familiarity with digital publishing best practices, SEO and accessibility standards.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Experience using content management systems (Adobe Experience Manager preferred).
- Familiarity with analytics tools and social media content strategy.
Performance Indicators
- Timely and high-quality delivery of content for the UTampa Journal, UTampa Digital Newsroom and University publications.
- Growth in story reach, readership and engagement metrics across digital and print platforms.
- Positive feedback from internal stakeholders and institutional partners regarding storytelling quality and alignment.
- Contribution to the visibility of UTampa faculty, students and alumni through published stories and thought leadership features.
- Consistent adherence to UTampa's editorial standards, tone and accessibility requirements.
This position is ideal for a storyteller who thrives at the intersection of journalism and brand communications, combining creativity, curiosity and strategy to bring UTampa's mission and achievements to life.
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