Editorial Specialist

Overview

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Communications, Events & Donor Relations, University Development and Advancement Solutions, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and AA&D Administration.

This role is responsible for the editorial production and mailing of three to four Anniversary Reports annually as part of Harvard College’s historic Red Books program for alumni, a tradition dating back to the mid-1800s. The editorial specialist is responsible for leading and managing all phases of book production of assigned books, which includes alumni volunteer management, marketing and communications, all editorial work, design and layout, printing, and distribution of books.

• Works closely with volunteers and staff on the production of three to four Class Reports annually, providing excellent customer service and alumni relations at all times.
• Writes marketing communications utilizing both alumni and institutional voice (email messaging decks, web copy, print mailings and postcards, social media), adapting for alumni demographics and segmentation.
• Works with alumni report chairs to prepare and schedule class mailings; write/send emails and social media posts; and provide recommendations on mailing design and content.
• Provides developmental edit, copyedit, fact-check, and proofread of alumni-authored personal narratives for assigned books annually, editing for the alum’s colloquial voice and following an in-house style guide, the Chicago Manual of Style, and publishing laws around copyright, fair use, libel, slander, and defamation.
• Writes drafts of front matter pieces for assigned book as needed for alumni volunteers.
• Researches and writes obituaries. Provides training to alumni volunteers on how to research and write an obituary.
• Manages and resolves all book queries to alumni authors as early in editorial production stage as possible to ensure accuracy of entries in books.
• Accepts and inputs both digital and hardcopy edits (utilizing proofreading marks) to books from managers and colleagues. Familiarity with interpreting proofreading marks in hardcopy and the ability to input corrections with accuracy to book files using Adobe InDesign is critical.
• Manages alumni and staff on communications, class participation, editorial decisions, potential issues, etc. Handles correspondence with authors, class secretaries, report chairs, printers, and others.
• Manages reunion committee volunteer outreach to assigned classes to promote participation in Class Reports and oversees volunteer confidentiality forms and assignment of data lists and updates.
• Develops…