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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Writing Specialist

💰 $ - $

WritingContentMarketing

🎯 Role Definition

A Writing Specialist crafts clear, persuasive, on-brand content across channels (blog posts, white papers, email, social, product UX, and technical documentation), optimizes copy for search and conversions, enforces editorial quality and voice guidelines, and partners with product, marketing, design, and analytics teams to drive measurable content outcomes. This role requires strong editorial judgment, SEO and analytics fluency, experience with CMS publishing, and familiarity with AI/LLM-assisted workflows to scale content production while maintaining accuracy and brand integrity.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Content Writer / Copywriter
  • Communications Coordinator
  • Marketing Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Senior Writing Specialist / Senior Copywriter
  • Content Manager / Editorial Manager
  • Content Strategist or Head of Content

Lateral Moves:

  • UX Writer
  • SEO Specialist
  • Product Content Designer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, write, and edit long-form and short-form content (blog articles, white papers, case studies, eBooks, product pages, email campaigns, and landing pages) that align with brand voice, audience needs, and business goals.
  • Create SEO-optimized content by conducting keyword research, integrating target terms naturally, and writing meta titles, descriptions, and on-page headings to improve organic visibility and CTR.
  • Produce conversion-focused copy for marketing funnels, including A/B test hypotheses, variant copywriting, and performance analysis to optimize lead generation and sales metrics.
  • Draft clear, concise UX microcopy (onboarding flows, CTAs, inline help, error messages, and tooltips) in collaboration with product and design teams to improve user experience and task completion rates.
  • Lead content planning and execution for editorial calendars: prioritize topics, define formats, assign writers or contractors, set deadlines, and ensure timely publication.
  • Write and maintain enterprise-level style guides and voice-and-tone documentation to ensure consistent language and brand positioning across teams and channels.
  • Research complex topics, interview subject-matter experts, synthesize technical information, and translate it into accessible, audience-appropriate content for both technical and non-technical readers.
  • Edit and proofread all deliverables for grammar, accuracy, clarity, structure, and legal/compliance considerations; ensure factual integrity and correct attribution of sources.
  • Collaborate with SEO and analytics teams to define content KPIs, monitor organic performance using Google Analytics/Search Console, and iterate content based on traffic, engagement, and conversion data.
  • Create detailed content briefs and outlines for internal writers and freelancers that include target audience, SEO targets, reference materials, tone guidelines, and success metrics.
  • Manage and mentor freelance writers and junior content creators: provide editorial feedback, coach on brand voice and SEO best practices, and review work before publication.
  • Publish, format, and maintain content in CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, Contentful), ensuring accessibility, proper tagging, canonicalization, and mobile responsiveness.
  • Repurpose high-performing content into multiple formats (social posts, infographics, video scripts, email sequences) to maximize reach and lifecycle value.
  • Coordinate localization and translation efforts, working with language leads or vendors to adapt messaging for regional markets while preserving brand intent.
  • Ensure all content complies with legal, regulatory, and privacy standards (disclaimers, disclosures, copyright), and coordinate reviews with legal/compliance teams when necessary.
  • Leverage AI/LLM tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, or in-house models) for ideation, first-draft generation, and iterative refinement while validating outputs and preventing hallucinations.
  • Create and maintain content templates, reusable components, and modular copy blocks to accelerate production while maintaining consistency across touchpoints.
  • Conduct content audits and gap analyses to identify underperforming assets, recommend consolidation or updates, and execute refresh strategies to regain or improve rankings.
  • Partner with design and multimedia teams to develop integrated content experiences (visuals, charts, interactive elements) that enhance storytelling and comprehension.
  • Lead stakeholder communication for content projects: gather requirements, manage feedback cycles, set expectations, and deliver on time and on budget.
  • Monitor industry trends, competitor content, and topical opportunities to inform content strategy and maintain thought leadership in target verticals.
  • Develop measurable reporting dashboards and summaries for leadership, interpreting content metrics and providing data-driven recommendations to optimize editorial priorities.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with ad-hoc content requests (press releases, executive communications, investor materials) and rapid-response messaging in time-sensitive situations.
  • Support content governance by tagging, archiving, and maintaining content inventories in collaboration with knowledge management teams.
  • Contribute to the organization’s content strategy and roadmap by proposing new formats, channels, and experiments backed by data and user research.
  • Collaborate with product managers and engineers to translate product updates into clear user-facing copy, release notes, and help center articles.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies to align content deliverables with product and marketing roadmaps.
  • Help estimate effort and scoping for content projects, identify resource needs, and recommend outsourcing or tooling when necessary.
  • Run small-scale content experiments (headline tests, audience segment tests) and synthesize learnings into process improvements and best practices.
  • Train internal teams on writing best practices, SEO basics, and effective use of AI-assisted drafting tools to uplift cross-functional content quality.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert copywriting and editing skills with a portfolio of published work across blogs, email campaigns, landing pages, and product copy.
  • SEO expertise: keyword research (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz), on-page optimization, metadata creation, and familiarity with Google Search Console.
  • Content management: hands-on experience with CMS platforms such as WordPress, Contentful, Drupal, or equivalent, including rich-text formatting and media embedding.
  • Analytics literacy: comfortable using Google Analytics, GA4, or equivalent analytics platforms to measure content performance and derive action items.
  • Familiarity with AI/LLM tools and prompt engineering for ideation and draft generation while applying robust validation and editing workflows.
  • Experience creating editorial briefs, content outlines, and structured templates to guide writers and streamline production.
  • Basic HTML/CSS knowledge for formatting, linking, and troubleshooting content rendering issues in web environments.
  • Proficiency with collaboration and project management tools (Asana, Jira, Trello, Notion) to track tasks, approvals, and content pipelines.
  • Competence with SEO/content tools and workflow integrations (Surfer SEO, Clearscope, MarketMuse, Yoast) to optimize content for search and readability.
  • Experience working with localization and translation platforms (Smartling, Transifex, Lokalise) and managing multi-market content rollouts.
  • Ability to write for conversion: experience with CRO principles, A/B testing, and composing persuasive CTAs that drive measurable outcomes.
  • Familiarity with accessibility and plain-language standards (WCAG) to ensure inclusive content for diverse audiences.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail with high standards for grammar, clarity, and factual accuracy.
  • Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills; ability to negotiate feedback and align cross-functional teams.
  • Strategic thinking: balances short-term content production with long-term editorial strategy and SEO growth.
  • Time management and prioritization: able to manage multiple deadlines and shifting priorities in fast-paced environments.
  • Curiosity and research orientation: quickly learns new domains, asks the right questions, and synthesizes complex information.
  • Coaching and mentorship: provides constructive feedback and develops writing capability across the organization.
  • Adaptability and resilience: comfortable working with iterative feedback, rapid pivots, and ambiguous briefs.
  • Clear verbal and written communication: presents ideas, data, and editorial rationale to non-content stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Technical Writing, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's in Communications, Journalism, or an industry-recognized certification in content strategy, SEO, or technical writing.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Journalism
  • English Literature / Composition
  • Communications
  • Marketing
  • Technical Writing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years writing, editing, or content production experience in agency, in-house, or publishing environments.

Preferred: 3–7+ years with demonstrated success in SEO-driven content creation, CMS publishing, cross-functional collaboration, and experience scaling content programs using freelancers and AI-assisted tools.

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