Manager Professional Writing

This leader is responsible for transforming a team of writers and editors into trusted messaging strategists who shape how our marketing — and, to a lesser extent, internal — campaigns connect with audiences. This role elevates the team to strategic partners, ensuring every piece of content is purposeful, on-brand, audience-centered and designed to influence behavior.

This is a player/coach position. The leader will help redefine messaging strategy and production while remaining deeply involved in the work — actively crafting, refining and shaping content alongside the team. Success in this role requires both strategic vision and hands-on execution.    

This role also plays a key part in modernizing how content is created, helping the team adopt responsible AI-enabled practices that enhance strategy, speed and quality while preserving trust, voice and human insight.

Location: This is a hybrid role requiring 2–3 days per week in the office. Preference will be given to candidates based in or near the Charlotte area

• Education: 4 Year / Bachelors Degree, required. Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications or related field.
• • Graduate Degree, preferred. 
• Experience: Eight years content development across multiple media and channels, required. 
• Additional Skills (required): Ability to manage others. Ability to proactively reach out to media and build relationships.

Key responsibilities

Messaging strategy and craft

• Lead the development of compelling, on-style prose that resonates emotionally and motivates action.
• Translate complex ideas into clear, engaging narratives tailored to defined audiences and campaign goals.
• Personally contribute high-quality content, serving as a standard-setter for voice, clarity, and effectiveness.
• Ensure content aligns with brand standards while remaining fresh, relevant, and adaptable across channels.
• Bring an external lens to the work by applying modern marketing and storytelling trends — particularly from consumer industries where content drives behavior change.
• Build confidence and fluency across the team in modern content tools and practices, including responsible AI usage, to future‑proof skills and ways of working.

Team leadership and development

• Lead, coach and mentor a team of writers and editors, guiding their transition into trusted messaging strategists.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Provide clear feedback, coaching, and development opportunities to elevate skills and confidence.
• Model excellence through both leadership presence and hands-on contribution.

 Traffic management and operational excellence

• Serve as the primary traffic manager for the team, overseeing a high volume of messaging requests.
• Prioritize work strategically, balancing urgency, impact and available capacity.
• Set and manage internal expectations while ensuring commitments are realistic and transparent.
• Protect team well-being by monitoring workload, mitigating burnout and promoting sustainable ways of working.
• Continuously refine workflows and processes to improve efficiency and quality.

 Strategic partnership

• Partner closely with marketing leaders and stakeholders to shape messaging approaches that strengthen campaigns.
• Provide sound judgment and consultation on what content is needed — and what is not — to achieve objectives.
• Help stakeholders understand and leverage the value of strategic content, not just deliverables.

 AI adoption and modern content practices

• Lead the thoughtful adoption of AI-enabled tools and workflows to enhance messaging strategy, production and refinement.
• Establish clear standards and guardrails for using AI in messaging development, ensuring quality, originality, brand voice and ethical use are maintained.
• Identify opportunities where AI can improve efficiency, insight generation, messaging rigor, or creative exploration — without replacing critical human judgment.
• Coach the team on when and how to use AI as a creative and strategic aid, elevating their work rather than accelerating output alone.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to align AI usage with enterprise policies and evolving best practices, translating those requirements into practical guidance for the team.

 Qualifications and experience

• Prior people leadership experience is required, with a demonstrated ability to coach, motivate, and develop talent.
• Significant experience writing, editing, and shaping copy for campaigns that influence attitudes or behaviors.
• Strong strategic instincts paired with exceptional messaging judgment.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
• Comfort balancing business expectations with advocacy for team health and sustainability.
• Healthcare experience is not required, but familiarity with healthcare or regulated environments is a plus.
• Experience in consumer industries — and exposure to marketing trends outside healthcare — is highly valued.
• Demonstrated experience adopting AI-enabled tools in a creative, messaging or marketing environment.
• Ability to pair strong messaging judgment with emerging technology, knowing when automation adds value — and when it does not.
• Comfort serving as a guide and translator between evolving technology, organizational expectations, and day‑to‑day creative work.

 What success looks like

• The messaging strategy and production team is viewed as a trusted partner.
• Campaign content consistently resonates with audiences and supports measurable outcomes.
• Writers and editors operate with confidence, clarity, and strategic intent.
• Stakeholders understand expectations and experience high-quality, reliable collaboration.
• Team members feel supported, challenged and energized by their work.