JOB TITLE: Brand Creative Content Writer
DEPARTMENT: External Relations
REPORTING TO: Brand Creative Director
STATUS: Salary/Exempt
HOURS: Full-time; 40 hours/week
LOCATION: Brooklyn Park, MN / Hybrid
Important Application Requirement: As part of your application, please share a portfolio, writing samples, or examples you have managed, created, or edited. These can be uploaded in the Attachments/Documents section before reaching the application questions. This information is required for consideration and allows us to evaluate your writing experience and style. Please ensure all links are active and accessible.
ABOUT SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND
Second Harvest Heartland is the second-largest food bank in the United States, sourcing and delivering food to nearly 1,000 food shelves and food distribution partners throughout 59 counties across central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our work begins with a bold vision: a community where no one goes hungry. We help fill plates, shelves, and fridges throughout the region while shining a light on food insecurity and its root causes and inspiring action at home and across the country. By utilizing new and better data, engaging and mobilizing partners, and advancing innovative solutions, we are on the leading edge of a new movement to address hunger and food insecurity in our communities.
If you’re ready to turn your passion into purpose, join us and help build a future where every neighbor has the food they need to thrive.
POSITION SUMMARY
Join Second Harvest Heartland as a Brand Creative Content Writer. This position leads the development of brand-aligned storytelling and writing copy to support the organization’s strategic priorities and create compelling stories that elevate hunger awareness and inspire audiences to take action towards ending hunger. This position is part of the Creative team within the External Relations department and works closely alongside the Marketing and Communications teams. The Brand Creative Content Writer serves as a strategic writing partner and subject matter expert, translating complex organizational goals, campaign priorities, program work, and community stories into clear, compelling content across channels. This role will lead creative ideation; identify and develop storytelling opportunities and conduct interviews; write, edit and refine compelling, successful, brand-aligned stories about our work; and provide strategic writing and editing guidance for special projects/initiatives and program work. The person in this position must demonstrate excellent writing and interviewing skills, strong editorial judgment, big-picture thinking, and interpersonal communication skills. They must be able to take complex topics and simplify them with clarity and brevity, with appreciation for audience reception and action. They will have a passion for mission-driven work, a desire to educate and shift opinions around hunger, and a sensitive ear for what resonates with donor, volunteer, advocate, and food insecure audiences.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This list is not intended to be inclusive of all duties and responsibilities. As SHH grows and the community needs change, employees should expect that new and different tasks, temporary and on-going, will be part of one’s daily work.
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Serve as a strategic steward of our organization’s voice. Share ownership of our Editorial & Storytelling Style Guide, guide others in its use and ensure consistent adherence.
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Lead the identification of storytelling opportunities, support content capture and production, and conduct interviews and connect with a broad range of individuals and communities
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Lead the development, production and editorial refinement of compelling and effective stories for digital, email, and print to be used internally and externally to support our organization’s strategy and program work
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Translate broad strategic goals, campaign-level objectives, and messaging priorities into strong, brand-aligned writing tailored to audience, purpose, and channel
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Oversee digital asset management (DAM) system in service to External Relations Team and other internal teams; recommend improvements to maximize accessibility and utilization of content and work with the team to maintain integrity
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Lead regular content audits and recommend improvements to increase consistency, accessibility, reuse, and strategic alignment
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Mine for stories across the organization and partner network in service to annual plans and right-time opportunities. Foster a culture of story scouting by guiding internal partners on ethical, audience-centered storytelling practices
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Effectively and convincingly prepare and present content strategy recommendations
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Advise the organization on content best practices and serve as subject matter expert to internal teams to support External Relations recommendations
VALUES
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We Deliver: We use our head and heart to make decisions, we make the best use of donor dollars, and we achieve results safely and reliably.
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We Lead with Our Hearts: We keep our neighbors, partners, and teams at the center of our work. We seek to understand and anticipate their needs.
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We are all in this Together: We collaborate, internally and externally. We communicate openly, seeking feedback and sharing knowledge.
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We Innovate: We seek out bold new ideas, we embrace change, and we commit to continuous improvement for ourselves and our work.
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We Believe our Differences Make us Stronger: We value inclusion and embrace the variety of backgrounds that make up our team and our community. Our different experiences and perspectives empower us to fulfill our mission.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
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All relevant experience including work, education, transferable skills, and military experience will be considered
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6-10 years of progressive experience. Experience leading content strategy or brand storytelling preferred
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Demonstrated exceptional writing skills and ability to synthesize information from various external, internal, and senior level sources into clear and persuasive content
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Ability to work across team boundaries to gather information, influence direction, resolve ambiguity and keep projects moving
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Strong interviewing and listening skills; ability to relate and connect with all kinds of people and to conduct interviews and capture content with sensitivity and respect
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Self-directed and able to exercise sound judgment when balancing timelines, stakeholder needs, brand standards, and organizational priorities
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Comfortable with ambiguous situations or goals, with the ability to organize a plan, align stakeholders and implement a solution
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Demonstrated effective communications skills including content presentation skills and turning data points into understandable insights
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Demonstrated experience working within the creative process and how to manage content development from concept through final review and implementation
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Alignment with our values and deep interest in mission-driven work
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Demonstrated familiarity with Microsoft Office, Office365 and the ability to learn other computer software programs
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Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency and enthusiasm, both individually and as part of a team in a fast-paced, high-demand environment
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Demonstrated ability to plan, manage and follow through on multiple daily tasks and projects
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Strong editing skills and familiarity with AP stylebook
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Experience in plain-language and accessible writing a plus
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Fluency in English and another language(s) commonly spoken in Minnesota a plus
Second Harvest Heartland is an equal employment opportunity employer.
