Statewide IL - Editorial Writer

Communications Specialist

This position supports the organization's external and internal communications efforts by writing, reviewing and editing copy and developing content for the organization's digital communication channels, ensuring all messaging is clear, accurate, accessible and aligned with the organization's mission and goals.

• Develop, write and post content for the organization's website, social media channels, internal SharePoint site and Microsoft Teams, including news posts, events, resource listings, family stories, announcements and more.
• Review, edit and write copy for email blasts, newsletters, reports, forms, letters, promotional materials, reports, and other documents for both internal and external audiences, ensuring proper grammar, clarity, brand voice, accuracy, readability and accessibility.
• Maintain and update the organization's email distribution lists, and coordinate the translation of digital communications as needed.
• Support the organization's community outreach efforts by helping share outreach event opportunities with team members, coordinating staff participation as needed, staffing events and providing guidance on available promotional materials, outreach supplies and more.
• Assist with curating and scheduling social media and website content, monitoring social media channels and tracking the organization's posts by content type, and helping maintain the organization's content calendar and messaging schedule.
• Help coordinate responses to website inquiries and form submissions.
• Help maintain and update the organization's communications style guide, ensuring that all DSCC communications and documents follow its best practices, and provide guidance and feedback to staff as needed.
• Assist with photography, video and graphic design needs for the organization's website, social media, publications and digital channels.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English, or a closely related field
• Two (2) years (24 months) of experience writing for a newspaper, magazine, trade publication, news organization or writing in a public relations, research, or business communications environment

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience writing, editing and proofreading clear, accurate and audience-appropriate content for public-facing communications, preferably in health care, public health, human services, family services, disability services, education, nonprofit or government settings. Experience developing content for multiple platforms, such as websites, publications, newsletters, email communications, social media, fact sheets, presentations and other digital channels. Strong knowledge of plain-language writing, readability, health literacy or audience-centered communication practices, including the ability to simplify complex information without losing accuracy.

Familiarity with Associated Press style, organizational style guides, editorial review processes and quality-control practices such as fact-checking, link checking, consistency review and proofreading. Familiarity with digital accessibility best practices, including accessible web and document content, heading structure, descriptive links, alternative text and WCAG/Section 508/ADA accessibility concepts. Experience using content management systems, web publishing tools, Microsoft 365 applications, SharePoint/Teams or similar collaboration tools;

familiarity with social media publishing, email/newsletter tools, analytics, SEO or project-tracking tools is a plus. Ability to collaborate with subject-matter experts, designers, web staff, translators and reviewers to produce accurate, accessible and publication-ready content on deadline. Knowledge of inclusive, person-first/person-centered and culturally responsive communication practices, with the ability to respect individual language preferences. Strong attention to detail, project organization, collaboration skills and the ability to incorporate feedback constructively.

Experience reviewing, adapting or coordinating bilingual English/Spanish content is a plus.