Digital Writer / Editor

With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life.

Overall Function:

The DigitalWriter / Editor writes, edits, and publishes content for the organization’s main website, edf.org, with a focus on pages that will be promoted to support our brand campaign and EDF’s thought leadership. Working closely with the Digital Content Strategy team, he or she crafts the angles and tone that will most appeal to and engage our target audiences, strengthening EDF’s thought leadership and influence among legislative allies and influencers, plus attracting potential donors.This role reports to the Associate Vice President, Creative Director; and can be located either in New York, NY or Washington, DC. If you are a skilled, proactive digitalwriter who excels at collaboration and crafting sharp copy to support strategic marketing objectives, this position is for you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Give input into “Page Guides” and/or campaign briefs, to determine purpose, audience, and intended outcome from each new page or feature
• Synthesize those goals and insights into content that will achieve the objectives; tailoring angle and tone to specific audience and goals
• Tighten and cut text, making sure every word earns its place
• Evaluate and improve the flow of a page / piece / series (often in collaboration with a UX specialist and/or designer)
• Ensure that each piece as a whole fits its intended role, as designated by Digital Strategy Team
• Check facts and manage revisions per feedback from topic experts
• Find or help develop accompanying visuals (graphics, photos, videos, and other interactive formats)
• Publish content via CMS
• Identify when content should be updated or improved
• Collaborate with promotions and membership team to help find topic opportunities based on campaigns or current news
• Attend planning and report-back meetings; apply learnings from metrics and user testing
• Keep current on EDF program work, including attending program update meetings and conducting informational interviews
• Attend staff meetings and other organizational meetings

Qualifications

• Minimum 4-year Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 5 years experience in online writing and editing, with at least 3 years in a marketing and/or fundraising-driven environment with clear business goals / objectives
• Experience cultivating a specific brand voice
• Familiarity with major online channels and social media platforms
• Working understanding of audience personas; experience working with content strategists and user experience specialists
• Proven experience transforming complex intellectual, scientific, or academic material into compelling content; ability to understand nuanced material
• Ability to write for an audience that typically reads publications such as The Economist and the Wall Street Journal
• Experience selecting photos / helping to develop editorial graphics and infographics
• Pro-active and independent, yet thrives working quickly, collaboratively, and responsively
• Ruthless about economical word use
• Meticulous about accuracy and grammar
• Hands-on experience working directly in a CMS platform helpful, but not required with the ability to learn a CMS quickly
• Experience writing marketing copy (e.g., acquisition emails, overlays, and/or online banner ads) preferred
• Working knowledge of environmental issues a plus
• Agency experience welcome

Serious candidates will be asked to complete a trial content creation exercise, which will be a key component in the selection process.

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.