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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Written Communications Manager

💰 $80,000 - $120,000

CommunicationsContentMarketingCorporate Communications

🎯 Role Definition

The Written Communications Manager is responsible for developing, editing, and executing written communications that strengthen brand reputation, engage key audiences, and drive business outcomes. This role leads editorial strategy, enforces style and brand guidelines, manages content calendars across channels (web, email, social, internal), and partners with marketing, HR, product, and leadership to produce clear, persuasive, and on-brand copy. The manager ensures all written materials meet SEO, legal, and accessibility standards while mentoring writers and optimizing workflows for timely delivery.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Writer / Senior Copywriter
  • Communications Specialist / Corporate Communications Coordinator
  • Content Strategist / Editorial Lead

Advancement To:

  • Director of Communications
  • Head of Corporate Communications
  • Senior Manager or Director, Content Strategy
  • VP of Marketing or VP of Communications (for enterprise paths)

Lateral Moves:

  • Content Strategy Manager
  • Brand Marketing Manager
  • Internal Communications Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop and own a comprehensive written content strategy aligned with brand positioning, business goals, SEO targets, and audience segmentation to drive awareness, lead generation, and engagement.
  • Lead end-to-end editorial planning and execution for external content (website pages, blogs, whitepapers, press releases, thought leadership) ensuring a consistent brand voice, legal compliance, and best-in-class readability.
  • Manage internal communications writing programs including executive messaging, company-wide announcements, intranet content, employee newsletters, and leadership talking points to support culture, change management, and retention.
  • Write, edit, and approve high-stakes communications such as executive bios, CEO letters, investor communications, crisis statements, and product launch announcements with meticulous attention to tone and accuracy.
  • Create and maintain the organization’s editorial style guide and brand voice guidelines, and train cross-functional partners and agencies to ensure consistent language across all touchpoints.
  • Collaborate with SEO specialists to research keywords, optimize on-page content, and implement SEO best practices in all web copy and metadata to increase organic traffic and SERP visibility.
  • Oversee content production workflows—setting timelines, assigning writers, coordinating reviews, and ensuring quality control from draft through publication in CMS (e.g., WordPress, Drupal).
  • Manage, mentor, and hire a team of writers, editors, and contractors; conduct performance reviews, set development plans, and cultivate a high-caliber editorial culture.
  • Partner with product marketing and product management to translate complex technical product features into clear, benefits-focused copy for product pages, release notes, and user documentation.
  • Develop email and nurture campaign copy in partnership with demand generation, including segmentation-based messaging, A/B testing hypotheses, and performance-driven iterative optimization.
  • Prepare and edit content for external PR and media relations in close collaboration with the communications/PR team, ensuring alignment of messaging for press releases, media kits, and spokesperson speaking notes.
  • Measure and report on content performance using analytics tools (Google Analytics, Looker, HubSpot) and use data insights to refine editorial strategy and content priorities.
  • Ensure all written materials meet accessibility best practices (plain language, alt text guidance, heading structure) and legal/regulatory requirements where applicable.
  • Lead cross-functional messaging workshops and stakeholder interviews to gather inputs, align on target outcomes, and ensure messaging consistency across campaigns and touchpoints.
  • Manage freelance and agency relationships for copywriting, editing, and content production; negotiate scopes, review deliverables, and maintain editorial standards.
  • Drive cross-channel repurposing strategy—turn long-form content into social posts, emails, and internal briefs—to maximize the value and reach of key messages.

Secondary Functions

  • Support measurement and dashboarding of content KPIs, contributing to monthly reporting and quarterly reviews that inform budget and resourcing decisions.
  • Provide rapid-response writing and review in time-sensitive situations (product incidents, customer escalations, industry developments) to preserve brand reputation.
  • Contribute to employer branding and recruiting content—job descriptions, candidate communications, and career site copy—to help attract mission-fit talent.
  • Collaborate with legal, compliance, and privacy teams to vet messaging, contractual content, and public copy for regulatory compliance.
  • Participate in agency selection and RFP evaluations for content, PR, and creative partners; assess vendor capabilities and fit with editorial standards.
  • Drive small-scale content experiments (headline tests, CTA variations, landing page copy changes), document learnings, and scale successful approaches across programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert copywriting and editorial skills with demonstrated experience producing high-quality content for web, email, press, and internal channels.
  • Strong working knowledge of SEO best practices including keyword research, on-page optimization, meta descriptions, and content gap analysis.
  • Experience with content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Drupal, or Contentful and familiarity with basic HTML for formatting.
  • Proficiency in analytics and reporting tools (Google Analytics, Google Search Console, HubSpot, Looker) to measure content performance and inform strategy.
  • Deep familiarity with style guides (AP Style, Chicago Manual of Style) and the ability to create and enforce a company-specific editorial style guide and brand voice guide.
  • Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp, Marketo) and A/B testing frameworks for subject lines and content variants.
  • Experience drafting executive-level communications, press releases, and crisis messaging with rapid turnaround under pressure.
  • Ability to manage content workflows and projects using tools like Asana, Trello, JIRA, or Monday.com; basic budget and vendor management skills.
  • Understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and ability to apply plain-language principles to improve comprehension and usability.
  • Familiarity with content design, information architecture, and user-centered writing principles (UX writing) to improve conversions and user experience.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail and editorial judgment—able to catch nuanced tone, grammar, and factual inaccuracies before publication.
  • Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills; comfortable negotiating, aligning priorities, and influencing without direct authority.
  • Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage concurrent deadlines and shifting priorities.
  • Leadership and people management aptitude—coaching, developing writers, and building high-performing editorial teams.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to connect content initiatives to business outcomes and communicate impact to senior leaders.
  • Creative storyteller who can translate technical or complex subjects into accessible, persuasive narratives tailored to different audiences.
  • Calm and decisive in high-pressure situations such as crisis communications or product incidents.
  • Adaptability and continuous learning mindset—stays current on content marketing, SEO trends, and communications best practices.
  • Strong interpersonal communication and presentation skills for workshops, trainings, and leadership briefings.
  • Data-informed decision-making: comfortable interpreting analytics and testing results to iterate on content performance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Business Communication, or MBA with communications concentration is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Communications
  • Journalism
  • English / Creative Writing
  • Marketing
  • Public Relations

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5–8 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, content, or editorial roles, including at least 2–3 years managing writers or cross-functional projects.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years of experience with a demonstrated track record in content strategy, SEO-driven copywriting, and managerial experience leading small teams or agencies. Experience in B2B SaaS, technology, finance, healthcare, or enterprise communications is often preferred.
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