Company Description:

Job Description

Content Writer/Editor

The Commonwealth Fund

THE ORGANIZATION

The Commonwealth Fund — among the first private foundations started by a woman philanthropist, Anna M. Harkness — was established in 1918 with the broad charge to enhance the common good. Today, the mission of The Commonwealth Fund is to promote a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, and people of color. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. An international program in health policy is designed to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries.
 
ROLE OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Fund’s communications strategy is designed to position the foundation as a widely recognized leader in generating timely, authoritative information for health care industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and the news media and to stimulate action to expand health care access and coverage and improve the quality of health care services. The Fund places a high priority on developing a public presence as an independent and nonpartisan information resource on health policy and health care issues.
 
The communications team has two operational areas: 1) harvesting the results of grant-sponsored and staff research by producing content such as publications, data visualizations, digital interactives, blog posts, and social media graphics  and 2) disseminating research and analysis through the foundation’s website, e-alerts, and social media presence, as well as by assisting Fund executives in developing working relationships with key journalists and drawing media attention to the Fund’s work. The Fund’s annual communications budget is $3 million.
 
Over a typical 12-month period, the Fund produces more than 200 publications and other products, including interactive tools and features, reports and issue briefs, blog posts, newsletters, infographics, videos and podcasts. The Fund’s Communications department manages a robust dissemination effort to promote the research conducted by grantees and Fund staff through email marketing, media outreach, social media, and other vehicles and the Fund overall conducts some 60 annual forums for expert and health policy audiences, including a retreat for Congressional health leaders.
 
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Reporting to the Vice President for Content & Strategy, the Content Writer/Editor will be an important member of the Commonwealth Fund’s Communications Department. The position’s primary responsibility will be to provide general writing and editing support to the Fund’s health care policy research programs, collaborating with on-staff and external grantee researchers and policy experts to develop a wide range of publications for both policy and lay audiences. Essential to this work is a demonstrated talent for translating academic, technical, or dense material into accessible, engaging, and concise pieces suitable for nonexperts. The Content Writer/Editor will also help draft and edit written materials produced by the Communications team, such as email alerts and website copy; materials produced for the Fund’s board of directors; and various internal documents and communications, as needed.
 
 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• Collaborating closely with health care policy experts and academic researchers, both those on staff and based in our grantee institutions, to help conceive, develop, shape, write, and/or edit a variety of written content, from issue briefs and explainers to feature articles, blog posts, and op-eds
• Meeting regularly with staff from our individual research/grant programs to learn about, prioritize, and schedule their writing projects
• Help draft, edit, and proof materials produced by Communications, such as email alerts to promote new publications; Commonwealth Fund newsletters; descriptive copy for the website; and press releases and other media communications
• As needed, assist the Director of Editorial Services with editing posts for the Fund’s To the Point blog
• Participate in meetings with the VP for Content & Strategy, the VP for Outreach & Strategy, and program staff to develop individual communications strategies and timelines for proposed grant projects
• Help edit the docket of grant proposal summaries that is produced three times a year for the Fund’s board of directors

 
QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in writing, journalism, or communications, preferred; health-related degree a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of writing and editing experience. A journalism background is preferred but not essential
• Ability to translate often complex research findings and analysis into clear, accessible, succinct pieces for a broad audience
• Knowledge of and interest in health care and/or health and social policy issues, including those related to health care delivery, Medicaid and Medicare, racial equity, mental and behavioral health, maternal health, health insurance markets, prescription drug pricing/costs, and international health system comparisons, among other topics

• Ability to work collaboratively with academic researchers, policy experts, and Commonwealth Fund program and communications team members
• Excellent communication and project management skills

 
 
The Fund has a relatively small staff, and judgement, integrity, and the ability to listen with sensitivity to others are traits that are particularly important in an organization of the Fund’s size, where teamwork is essential to effectiveness. The ability to work collegially with a variety of Fund staff and interest in and strong commitment to the Fund’s mission and grants programs are key qualifications.
 
LOCATION
Position can be based out of our NYC or DC locations. As of January 2022, The Commonwealth Fund Staff will be working in a hybrid environment, with the expectation of at least two days a week working in the office.
 
HOW TO APPLY
Please send cover letter (including salary expectations) and resume with the subject line: “Content Writer/Editor-[Your Name]” to: HR@cmwf.org
 
COMPENSATION
Commensurate with background and experience. The Fund offers an excellent benefits package (medical/dental insurance, life/disability insurance, pension plan, tuition reimbursement, ample time off).
 
Employment at The Commonwealth Fund is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual preference, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, medical condition, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.