Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Editorial and Content Associate

💰 $45,000 - $70,000

EditorialContentCommunicationsWritingDigital Marketing

🎯 Role Definition

The Editorial and Content Associate is responsible for producing, editing, and optimizing a steady cadence of content across digital and print channels to support audience growth, brand voice consistency, and business goals. This role combines copyediting, content strategy execution, SEO and analytics optimization, CMS publishing, and coordination with cross-functional teams (design, product, marketing) to deliver measurable content outcomes. The ideal candidate brings strong editorial instincts, attention to detail, content planning experience, and the technical know-how to publish content that performs in search and resonates with target audiences.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Content Writer / Copywriter
  • Editorial Assistant / Production Assistant
  • Social Media Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Editorial Associate / Senior Content Strategist
  • Content Manager / Editorial Manager
  • Audience Development Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • UX Writer
  • Content Marketing Specialist
  • Product Content Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, write, and edit clear, audience-focused long-form articles, listicles, how-to guides, product explainers, and shorter social-first pieces that align with editorial calendars and brand voice while meeting SEO and readability standards.
  • Own the end-to-end content lifecycle for assigned verticals: ideation, research, outline, drafting, fact-checking, editing, metadata tagging, SEO optimization, and CMS publishing with accuracy and timeliness.
  • Copyedit and proofread all published and pre-publish content to ensure adherence to grammar, AP/Chicago style (as assigned), house style, brand tone, and legal/ethical guidelines.
  • Execute on-page SEO best practices for every article, including keyword research, title and meta description optimization, header hierarchy, internal links, image alt text, and schema where applicable.
  • Maintain and update content calendars to coordinate cross-channel publication, campaigns, and evergreen updates; proactively flag schedule risks and resource constraints to stakeholders.
  • Perform subject-matter research and interview SMEs to ensure accuracy, add depth, and surface unique angles; synthesize research into clear, citation-backed copy.
  • Collaborate with designers, photo editors, and multimedia producers to brief creative assets (images, charts, video) that enhance storytelling and increase engagement.
  • Publish content through CMS (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) including content entry, formatting, image optimization, taxonomy assignment, redirects, and QA checks prior to live deployment.
  • Monitor content performance using Google Analytics, Search Console, and other analytics platforms; produce weekly/monthly performance reports and iterate content based on traffic, engagement, and conversion insights.
  • Optimize existing evergreen content through content audits and refresh cycles—improving search visibility, updating information, adding new links, and A/B testing headlines.
  • Support headline testing and copy experiments to improve CTRs across organic listings, newsletters, and social channels; document learnings and scale high-performing copy patterns.
  • Ensure brand and editorial consistency across all channels by maintaining style guides, voice documents, and content templates; train contributors and freelancers on standards.
  • Manage relationships with freelance writers, fact-checkers, and external contributors: assign briefs, provide editorial feedback, and ensure deadlines and quality standards are met.
  • Produce and QA content for newsletters and email campaigns in coordination with the email marketing team, including subject lines, preheaders, and content blocks optimized for open and click-through rates.
  • Implement accessibility best practices in all content (clear headings, alt text, readable language) to meet accessibility standards and broaden audience reach.
  • Develop content briefs and perform keyword gap analysis for topic clusters to support longer-term content strategy and topical authority development.
  • Coordinate with product and marketing teams to create content that supports feature launches, campaigns, and conversion funnels—align messaging to business objectives and KPIs.
  • Use editorial systems and workflow tools (Asana, Trello, Airtable) to track content status, manage approvals, and keep cross-functional teams informed of deliverables and timelines.
  • Actively use and evaluate generative AI tools (e.g., GPT-based assistants) to accelerate research and drafting while applying human editorial oversight to ensure factual accuracy, tone consistency, and originality.
  • Conduct competitor content audits and landscape analysis to identify content opportunities, topical gaps, and emerging formats to inform recommendations to the editorial strategy.
  • Maintain a repository of evergreen assets, templates, and best-practice examples to streamline content production and maintain consistent quality across contributors.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with social media copy and scheduling for organic channels; adapt long-form content into platform-appropriate snippets to increase reach and engagement.
  • Support ad-hoc content projects such as gated whitepapers, case studies, product help articles, and internal knowledge base updates.
  • Help analyze audience segments and user journeys to better tailor content to funnel stages, personas, and conversion goals.
  • Contribute to editorial experiments (formats, multimedia, interactive) and pilot new content types—reporting results and recommended next steps.
  • Train and support junior editorial staff and interns on CMS usage, style guides, and publishing workflows.
  • Participate in regular editorial planning and brainstorming sessions; provide data-backed input to refine topic prioritization and cadence.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced copyediting and proofreading proficiency with demonstrable knowledge of AP, Chicago, or house style guides and the ability to apply style consistently.
  • Practical experience with content management systems (CMS), especially WordPress, Drupal, or similar platforms, including post formatting, taxonomy, and media optimization.
  • SEO expertise: keyword research, on-page optimization, internal linking, metadata creation, and familiarity with tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, or Google Search Console.
  • Analytics literacy: experience using Google Analytics, Looker Studio (Data Studio), or similar platforms to track content KPIs and create actionable reports.
  • Content planning and workflow tools: experience with Asana, Trello, Airtable, or equivalent editorial/project management tools.
  • Strong research skills and the ability to synthesize primary and secondary sources into clear, attributed content.
  • Basic HTML and CSS familiarity for formatting issues and content troubleshooting in CMS environments.
  • Experience producing content for email platforms and knowledge of email best practices (subject lines, personalization, CTAs).
  • Competence with multimedia workflows: working with designers, basic image editing knowledge (Photoshop, Canva), and brief writing for visuals.
  • Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG basics) and SEO-technical content optimizations like schema markup and alt-text best practices.
  • Experience with or willingness to use generative AI tools responsibly for ideation, drafting, or editing, and knowledge of prompt techniques for content assistance.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong editorial judgment and a precise attention to detail.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Collaborative mindset: experience working cross-functionally with product, marketing, design, and analytics teams.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking: ability to diagnose content performance issues and propose evidence-based improvements.
  • Curiosity and continuous learning orientation to stay current with SEO trends, industry developments, and audience behaviors.
  • Stakeholder management and diplomacy: ability to give and receive feedback and negotiate editorial priorities.
  • Empathy and audience-first thinking: craft content that meets reader needs and anticipates questions.
  • Time management and reliability under tight publication schedules.
  • Adaptability and openness to experimentation with new formats, channels, and tools.
  • Creative thinking and a knack for generating compelling angles to differentiate content in crowded categories.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Marketing, Media Studies, or a related liberal arts field — or equivalent professional experience with a strong writing/editing portfolio.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree or postgraduate certificate in Journalism, Content Strategy, Digital Marketing, or a related area.
  • Additional certifications in SEO, analytics, or editorial production (e.g., Google Analytics, HubSpot Content Marketing).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Journalism
  • English / Creative Writing
  • Communications / Media Studies
  • Marketing / Digital Marketing
  • Information Architecture / UX Writing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–4 years of professional experience in editorial, content marketing, journalism, or corporate communications.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years of hands-on editorial and content production experience for digital-first publishers, brands, or SaaS companies with a portfolio demonstrating strong writing, editing, SEO impact, and published work.
  • Demonstrable experience managing a content calendar, working with CMS platforms, and using analytics to drive content decisions.
  • Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and managing external contributors or freelancers.
Explore More Careers