Writer/Editor – Remote

Job Description

NORC needs a writer who can craft compelling stories that connect our work and people to the impact they make in the world. Primary responsibilities include writing and editing project descriptions on NORC’s website, writing and editing stories for our monthly newsletter, and writing and editing press releases about recent hires, staff recognition, new business developments, and research findings. Other writing, editing, proofreading, and project management duties as needed.

As a NORC writer and editor, you will collaborate with research scientists, statisticians, research methodologists, and data scientists to create compelling narratives about the importance of their work. Strong interviewing and headline– writing skills are a must. Experience translating social science research or other scientific, technical, or data– based material for a general audience is a huge plus, as is experience working in a research or academic environment. Experience with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and MailChimp–or a willingness and demonstrated ability to learn–are also a plus.

While our main office locations are in Chicago, IL, and Bethesda, MD, we will consider qualified candidates who prefer to work remotely.

As a condition of employment, all NORC employees and contractors – including those working remotely – must be fully vaccinated (as defined by current CDC guidance) against COVID– 19.

DEPARTMENT: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Strategic Communications and External Affairs supports the entire NORC organization with expertise in corporate communications and creative services, external affairs, internal communications, and project– level communications.

We help promote NORC to the public: we work with members of the press to publicize our research projects and our expertise; we support external events where NORC experts present or speak; we publish the NORC annual report; we maintain the external NORC website, www.norc.org ; and we manage NORC’s social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Responsibilities

• Write, prepare, and review written content for web and print communications. While the writer’s primary role will be writing and editing project descriptions and other content for the NORC website, other writing assignments may include proposals, marketing materials, and project deliverables.
• Initiate and lead the preparation of company publications with various departments, particularly interviewing project leads for background on projects.
• Convene and participate in meetings to gain deeper knowledge, particularly as it relates to project pages and other pages on the website.
• Collaborate with designers on the integration of content and design,
• Confirms artwork and verifies facts.
• Ensure all work follows editorial policies and standards.
• Help write speeches, presentations, and blog posts for senior leadership, including president and CEO.
• Participate in naming new products, solutions, centers, etc.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills

The ideal candidate will have proven experience translating academic or scientific content for a generalist audience, particularly in a journalism or policymaking capacity. Particular qualifications include:

• 10 years writing and editing experience, including at least 5 years experience writing, editing, and managing web content
• Ability to manage multiple writing tasks with limited supervision
• Ability to work effectively with multiple departments, stakeholders, and internal clients and multiple layers of the organization (including C– level executives)
• Excellent computer skills, including the full Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Adobe Experience Manager
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite
• Working knowledge of MailChimp
• Strong interviewing skills
• Experience developing infographics and data visualizations
• Comfort/familiarity with working in academic/scientific/nonprofit environments
• Comfort/familiarity with technical writing, particularly in the social or statistical sciences
• Familiarity with/interest in the social or statistical sciences and survey research

What We Do

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non– partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

Who We Are

For over 75 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world– class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

Eeo Statement

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally– protected characteristics.