Job Description

Copy Editor [JRP-02234]

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

We are currently seeking an assistant Copy Editor to fill a one-year term. In this role, you will provide professional, detailed editing of university communications for factual accuracy, style, clarity, and appropriateness. This includes substantive editing, copy editing, fact checking and proofreading of print and electronic communications for Public Affairs and a variety of campus clients. Projects include, but are not limited to, periodicals such as Rice Magazine and Rice Research Review as well as materials for campus marketing, departmental brochures, event programs, invitations, newsletters, websites, monthly metrics and measurement reports, and other projects as assigned. Applicants must have a comprehensive knowledge of Associated Press style and the university’s brand guidelines. In addition, you must be able to work on multiple projects at the same time. Attention to detail and accuracy is imperative. You will complete editing projects on deadline and often without advance notice. The selected candidate will have possible writing opportunities for Rice Magazine and you will have opportunities for writing marketing copy.

This is a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Editors typically work three to four days in the office and one to two days remote, though weekly schedules are based on coverage needs. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. The salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. This role is exempt and is not eligible for overtime pay, and your salary covers all hours you work in a week.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide substantive editing, copy editing, fact checking and proofreading for print and electronic university communications including Rice Magazine, commencement, newsletters, the Rice.edu homepage, websites, monthly metrics and measurement reports and various projects.
• Prepare Owlmanac, a 20-plus page section of Rice Magazine, three times per year. This includes receiving deadline driven updates, compiling, editing, and fact-checking all submitted copy, while providing guidance to 70-plus alumni class recorders. Additionally, the assistant editor compiles, edits and produces the In Memoriam, Grad Notes, New Arrivals and Association of Rice Alumni announcements for each issue.
• Work with the magazine managing editor and art director in editing and producing the Rice Magazine newsletter, three times a year through OwlConnect, the university’s database.
• Manage and collaborate closely with alumni class recorders (alumni coordinators), fielding questions and supplying submission deadlines.
• Recommend changes and amendments to communications and publications.
• Advise clients on editorial accuracy using own judgement in critiquing the work.
• Serve as a resource for Associated Press style.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree (in lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year for year basis of related professional experience in editing and writing).
• Two plus years of related professional experience in writing and editing.
• Proficient editing, including substantive editing, copy editing, fact checking and proofreading of print and electronic communications.
• Strong people skills and ability to work in a deadline-driven, results-oriented environment with media and PR professionals and with a wide variety of alumni, faculty, administrators, and students.
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision, adhering to priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Strong mastery of Associated Press style and ability to explain best practices among staff.
• Working knowledge and understanding of job-related software applications, including Asana, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Docs, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word.
• Demonstrated ability to use ingenuity and creativity in applying the editing process to complex stories with exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience with magazine writing, editing, and production.
• Experience working in a college or university environment.
• Five years of related professional experience in editing and writing.

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities.

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