Creative & Technical Writer/Editor

The Creative and Technical Writer writes and proofreads content for print and digital publications, including, but not limited to, instructional materials, curriculum, website content, news and feature articles, blogs, social media posts, and press releases. 

Edits Content
The Creative and Technical Writer/Editor edits, posts, and updates instructional content that will be placed within K20’s instructional resource repository (learn.k20center.ou.edu). 

• Content Quality Enhancement: Ensure clarity, coherence, and overall quality by reviewing and refining written materials. Enhance creative elements to engage the target audience effectively and present technical details clearly and accessibly.
• Grammar and Style Consistency: Meticulously edit content to maintain a consistent, professional style, adhering to brand guidelines. Correct grammatical errors, refine sentence structures, and harmonize writing style for a seamless, polished final product aligning with communication standards.
• Technical Accuracy and Precision: Pay careful attention to technical details, including fact-checking, validating data, and ensuring accuracy. Collaborate with experts to guarantee authenticity and reliability while making technical content accessible to a diverse audience.

Writes Original Content

The Creative and Technical Writer/Editor writes original content for curriculum, print, web, and press use by compiling information collected through research, interviewing, and gathering materials from participating stakeholders.  

• Creative Conceptualization: Develop innovative ideas for content across mediums, aligning with the brand’s voice. Demonstrate creativity and technical acumen to captivate the target audience through unique concepts.
• Thorough Research and Analysis: Conduct in-depth research for accurate, credible content. Synthesize technical details into clear, concise narratives, using industry trends to enhance quality and relevance.
• Adaptability and Diversification: Tailor writing style to diverse channels, adapting content for varied audiences while maintaining messaging consistency. Explore new styles and formats to diversify the content portfolio and stay industry-relevant.

Project Management

The incumbent will work with requesting parties to ensure an understanding of project needs, gather a sense of the target audience, and support the planning and implementation of the team’s projects and initiatives. Key responsibilities include: 

• Task Execution: Engage in executing assigned project tasks, ensuring they are completed in accordance with the project plan and within the specified time.
• Communication and Reporting: Engage in established communication channels to inform stakeholders about the progress of assigned tasks. Fully participate in regular updates, reports, and status meetings.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Foster positive relationships with project stakeholders, including community members, partners, and team members. Address their needs and concerns while keeping them informed about project developments.

Evidence-Based Practice and Research

The Creative and Technical Writer/Editor will collect data and information from peer-reviewed publications to produce a comprehensive annotated bibliography and detailed literature review. This will be used by field staff to guide and direct interventions and services.  

• Conducting Comprehensive Literature Reviews: The candidate conducts in-depth literature reviews, utilizing research databases and journals to compile up-to-date summaries. Synthesizing complex information is crucial to support evidence-based practices in content creation.
• Translating Technical Information into Accessible Content: Collaborate to distill technical information into clear, accessible content. Translate scientific jargon into layman’s terms without sacrificing precision. Play a key role in making research findings understandable to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, aligning with evidence-based practices.

Communications

The incumbent will ensure the messaging is accurate, clear, and fits within K20 branding guidelines. This will enable staff to facilitate effective communications within and outside the K20 Center by ensuring that information flows efficiently and accurately while fostering collaboration. Key responsibilities include: 

• Internal Communication: Establish internal communication strategies to stay informed about organizational updates, policies, and relevant news. The professional will actively use the organization’s various channels, such as email, Microsoft Teams, and team meetings, to keep staff informed.
• External Communication: Manage external communications, including interactions with students, families, educators, school leaders, and partners. Create and maintain a positive working relationship and ensure all external messages align with the organization’s mission and values.
• Content Creation: Develop and distribute content, including written materials, graphics, presentations, and multimedia, to convey key messages and information. Ensure content is clear, consistent, and engaging.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including students, families, educators, school leaders, and partners. Keep them informed and engaged in the sponsored project’s activities and initiatives.
• Communication Strategy Development: Collaborate with the management team to develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies that support the sponsored project’s objectives and goals.

As Needed

The incumbent will perform various additional duties as needed to successfully fulfill the position’s function.  

Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or related field, AND: 

• 36 months experience in writing, editing, and print or digital publications.

Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept 48 months of related experience in lieu of the bachelor’s degree for a total of 84 months related experience. 

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Proficient in copy writing, editing, proofreading, and composition.
• Knowledge of the different media sites or sources.
• Ability to be organized and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
• Interpersonal skills.

Certifications:

• None

Working Conditions:

• Must be able to communicate effectively and listen.
• Sit for prolonged periods.
• Frequent keyboarding.
• Ability to engage in repetitive motions

Departmental Preferences:

• 3 or more years of experience as a creative and/or technical writer.
• 2 or more years of experience as a professional writer for a learning/educational organization.
• Ability to write, edit, and proofread in Spanish is a plus.
• Knowledge of APA style is a plus.
• Knowledge of instructional design processes is a plus.

Supervision: No Supervisory Duties

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing .

Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma fosters an inclusive culture of respect and civility, belonging, and access, which are essential to our collective pursuit of excellence and our determination to change lives. The unique talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community enrich the learning, and working environment at OU, inspiring us to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, and health care services that the University operates or provides.