SENIOR COPY EDITOR
The role
We engaged our first copy editor two years ago and this role has made a big difference to the clarity of our communication in an organisation where our primary regulatory tool is our voice. We are seeking to bring someone on board who can continue to elevate our written communications and provide wider communications support to our team. This will contribute to our mission of ensuring that statistics serve the public good and to enhance our regulatory voice and campaign messages.
As a Senior Copy Editor with additional communications responsibilities, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the clarity, consistency, and impact of our written communication both internally and externally. This will make our voice stronger by building our internal capability to have more impact and greater external reach. To support flexible working as part of a small communications team, an ability to assist with publishing and media queries would be advantageous.
Key Responsibilities
This role is predominantly about improving the impact of our writing, but also includes some wider communications support for our regulatory work
Copy Editing
o Edit and proofread papers, reports, and publications to ensure a clear narrative, accuracy, grammar, and style conformity.
o Develop, maintain, and enforce the organisation's style guide, ensuring consistency in all written materials, including developing and embedding a common voice that aligns with our organisational values and our new strategy.
o Collaborate with our team to enhance the overall quality and readability of our work.
o Ensure that any OSR copy is accessible and aligns with current accessibility guidelines.
Building Capability
o Assess the writing needs of the organisation and implement strategies to address them effectively.
o Provide one-on-one coaching and feedback to writers, helping them refine their writing style and communication.
o Develop training assets and deliver training programs and workshops to improve the writing skills of staff members.
Impact Enhancement
o Work closely with our subject matter experts to ensure our messages are clear and accessible, ensuring our written regulatory work has the desired impact.
o Conduct content reviews to identify opportunities for enhancing the impact and clarity of our written materials.
o Ensure that all communications adhere to best practice.
Support the work of our communications team:
• Assist with drafting media, blogs and digital content and website publishing tasks to help a small communications team manage peaks and troughs.
• Be a key member of the wider OSR Communications Team, to support forward planning, wider digital communications, and engagement activities.
Person Specification
Essential
• Degree or equivalent experience in English, Journalism, Communications or a related field with proven experience in copy editing.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills - able to produce a clear narrative with a keen eye for detail and a strong command of grammar and style.
• Ability to align your work with our broader strategic objectives and take a forward-thinking approach to your role, considering the long-term impact of your work on OSR’s reputation and vision. Experience of developing and aligning to a corporate voice.
• Support the growth and development of colleagues by providing constructive feedback and mentoring.
• Inspire others to understand and embrace the importance of clear and accurate written communication.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively speak and collaborate with diverse teams and external stakeholders.
• Experience in delivering writing training and workshops.
Desirable
• Experience supporting broader communication team activities such as digital publishing or media enquiries and/or an openness to contribute to these activities.
• Previous experience working with scientific/technical authors.
• Awareness of the UK Statistics Code of Practice