Senior Vice President, Content Marketing / Editor in Chief

Chicago

USD 200,000 - 250,000

About us: Highwire is a modern strategic communications and digital marketing agency designed for disruptive companies. We work with high-growth technology companies and established brands looking to reinvent themselves.

At Highwire, we believe that storytelling fuels transformation. And the most impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives. As a values-driven agency, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of age, race/ethnicity, size, shape, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and different abilities–can feel safe, celebrated and worthy.

We ensure every Highwire Walker has unique support to climb to success. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging is permanent and foundational to our business and culture.

The Senior Vice President of Content Marketing / Editor in Chief is an integral part of Highwire’s leadership team, championing our content marketing strategies, fostering integration across departments, and maximizing the client value of content across earned media contributions, paid placements and SEO-driven content marketing.

Acting as our departmental lead and Editor in Chief, this role will establish a new benchmark for branded content, developing reach, relevance and engaging both new and existing audiences with high-quality deliverables that meet client needs, adhere to brand and publication standards and, crucially, show demonstrable value and ROI.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our content marketing efforts, drive integration and make a significant impact on our business growth. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker, a strong leader, and a skilled collaborator who can navigate complex organizational and interpersonal dynamics while delivering exceptional results for our clients.

Key Responsibilities

Lead new business and organic growth, with responsibility and ownership of a new business pipeline, built in partnership with practice leads and in response to standalone content marketing growth opportunities.
Oversee a team responsible for the development and execution of innovative content marketing and editorial strategies that drive growth, engagement and thought leadership for our clients and their executives.
Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices to keep our content marketing efforts cutting-edge, including the impact of AI on content generation, dissemination and consumption.
Evaluate and build upon existing programs through strategic direction, strategy, and content development. Establish yourself as senior counsel to our most important clients, helping them navigate new challenges and apply content marketing or editorial solutions.
Serve as the ultimate guardian of content quality, ensuring all our deliverables meet the highest standards in both writing and strategy.
Team Management and Development:
Lead and manage the Editorial and Content Marketing teams (including Writers and Editors).
Hold regular one-on-one meetings and execute performance evaluations for direct reports, leveraging individual OKRs and quarterly targets.
Set departmental OKRs in conjunction with the team and agency leadership.
Mentor, coach, and provide feedback for career path development of team members.
Foster a positive, collaborative culture that contributes to job satisfaction for all teams.
In partnership with our Delivery and Operations (project management) teams, ensure effective work distribution, optimized staffing and timely delivery.
Establish and monitor freelance and contractor budgets, ensuring additional capacity is deployed where necessary, and justified against the above.
Client Strategy and Relationship Management:
Actively consult on client strategy through face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings, email and IM.
Maintain a strong understanding of key clients' businesses, verticals, voice, preferences, and operational nuance.
Oversee high-profile client relationships, ensuring satisfaction and retention.
Identify client growth opportunities and prepare proactive proposals to continually enhance the programs we deliver. Identify clients at risk of churn and create tailored retention strategies.
Work closely with CRMs and Account Managers on key client relationship development, satisfaction and retention beyond editorial and content marketing.
Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency:
In collaboration with our Delivery and Operations teams, design, document, and implement processes that improve internal efficiency, ensure quality and elevate the client experience.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency or reduce costs via process enhancements, technology or staffing optimization.
Develop and deliver team training (both in person and via on-demand materials), ensuring standardization of approach and scalability of delivery.
Ensure that every account is properly resourced for client satisfaction. If this requires additional resource, be prepared to make the business case leveraging your familiarity with standardized metrics: Revenue, capacity and utilization.
Business Development:
Support business development by contributing to the development of new business pitches, reviewing proposals, and approving new scopes of work (designed in collaboration with our Delivery and Operations teams).
Establish yourself as a thought leader, and continually contribute to Highwire marketing materials.
Collaborate with business development teams to expand our client base through networking, speaking engagements and acting as an ambassador for the agency.
Cross-Functional Integration:
Spearhead the integration between Content Marketing, Editorial and the wider agency.
Work particularly closely with our Insights and Analytics teams, leveraging analyst input for more sophisticated, cross-channel content marketing strategies and approaches.
Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams to create more sophisticated understanding and application of our integrated abilities.
Work closely with CRMs, account and practice leads to ensure clients are consistently presented with content solutions which anticipate need, enhance their competitive advantage and deliver tangible, measurable value.

Qualifications

10+ years of experience in content marketing, editorial, or related field, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
Proven track record of developing and executing successful content marketing and editorial strategies.
Expert knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) and inbound marketing concepts. Practical experience in-platform across Google Search Console, Ahrefs or SEMrush is an advantage.
Strong understanding of the digital marketing landscape, including paid, earned and social media. A background or experience in PR is beneficial.
Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, including proficiency in AP style.
Experience managing and mentoring teams of 5+ writers, editors, and content marketing strategists.
Working knowledge of HubSpot, Salesforce, Adobe Experience Manager, Marketo, WordPress and Google Analytics.
Proficiency in web-based project management software such as Asana, Monday.com, Wrike, Kantata or similar.
Strong understanding of technology industry, players, and trends, especially in the B2B or healthcare spaces.
Experience in change management and organizational development.
Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Marketing, Communications, or related field.
Previous experience within journalism or publishing is beneficial and advantageous.

Personal Attributes

Visionary and personable leader with the ability to inspire and motivate teams and clients alike.
Adaptable and resilient, able to thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment and structure.
Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills.
Results-oriented with a focus on driving growth and innovation.
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Comfort and confidence in reviewing large volumes of content (3,000-5,000 words per day if necessary).
Ability to work in front of a computer screen and type for the majority of the business day.
Capable and confident in performing phone or video calls on behalf of the company and at short notice.

Additional Requirements

Available to work Monday through Friday during standard business hours in a U.S. timezone (ET or PT preferred).
U.S. citizen or permanent resident legally allowed to work in the U.S.

We are actively seeking candidates who possess a genuine passion for tech PR and are excited to expand our team. If you are enthusiastic about the world of tech PR and are eager to embark on a rewarding career in this field, we encourage you to start the conversation by applying today. We value your interest in our agency and look forward to hearing from you.

Apply now and let's explore the possibilities together!

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Senior Vice President, Content Marketing / Editor in Chief