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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Writing Coordinator

💰 $45,000 - $70,000

ContentCommunicationsEditorialProject ManagementWriting

🎯 Role Definition

The Writing Coordinator is the operational and editorial backbone of a content team, responsible for managing the end-to-end content production workflow, coordinating internal and freelance writers, enforcing style and quality standards, optimizing content for SEO, and ensuring timely delivery of copy that meets brand, legal, and editorial guidelines. This role requires strong project-management instincts, exceptional written communication, meticulous attention to detail, familiarity with content management systems (CMS), and the ability to translate strategic priorities into executable editorial plans.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Editorial Assistant / Junior Editor
  • Content Specialist / Junior Content Writer
  • Communications Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Writing Coordinator / Editorial Lead
  • Content Manager / Editorial Manager
  • Communications Manager / Head of Content

Lateral Moves:

  • Content Strategist
  • Copywriter / Senior Copywriter
  • SEO Content Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Coordinate the full editorial calendar: plan, schedule, and prioritize articles, blog posts, email copy, social media content, and long-form assets to align with marketing campaigns, product launches, and editorial goals while maintaining on-time delivery.
  • Manage relationships with internal stakeholders (marketing, product, legal, design, PR) to gather content briefs, align objectives, obtain approvals, and communicate timelines and requirements clearly across teams.
  • Recruit, onboard, and manage a network of freelance, contract, and staff writers—assigning briefs, setting expectations, negotiating rates, and maintaining a roster of reliable contributors for varied content needs.
  • Create clear, search-optimized content briefs that include target audience, tone of voice, SEO keywords, desired word counts, calls-to-action, internal/external links, and performance goals to ensure consistent execution by writers.
  • Perform line-by-line editing, developmental editing, and copyediting to ensure accuracy, clarity, brand voice consistency, grammar, punctuation, and compliance with style guides (AP, Chicago, or custom brand guides).
  • Implement and maintain the organization's editorial style guide and voice guidelines; train writers and stakeholders on standards and update guidelines based on brand evolution or analytics insights.
  • Publish and format content in the CMS (WordPress, Drupal, Contentful, etc.), including proper use of headings, metadata, alt text, internal/external linking, canonical tags, and template formatting to maximize readability and SEO performance.
  • Collaborate with SEO specialists to conduct keyword research, integrate on-page SEO best practices, optimize headlines and meta descriptions, and ensure content meets search intent and ranking targets.
  • Track editorial KPIs (traffic, engagement, time on page, conversions, bounce rates) and deliver regular content performance reports to stakeholders, using findings to refine editorial priorities and content formats.
  • Coordinate content reviews and approval workflows, including legal and compliance checks, ensuring that regulated or sensitive content receives appropriate clearance prior to publication.
  • Manage content production timelines and resource allocation, proactively identifying bottlenecks and reallocating assignments or extending resources to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality.
  • QA published content for accuracy, broken links, formatting issues, and cross-device display; promptly correct issues and maintain a post-publication update log for evergreen content maintenance.
  • Develop and maintain templates for briefs, editorial checklists, style snippets, and content operations documentation to increase team efficiency and knowledge sharing.
  • Lead editorial meetings, stand-ups, and content planning sessions; prepare agendas, synthesize discussion outcomes, and assign action items with clear owners and due dates to maintain momentum.
  • Coordinate multimedia and cross-functional production (infographics, video scripts, podcasts) by liaising with designers, video producers, and audio teams to ensure copy integrates seamlessly with visual/audio assets.
  • Assist in content ideation and editorial calendar strategy by researching audience trends, industry topics, competitor content, and social signals to propose content pillars and campaigns that drive organic growth and lead generation.
  • Manage content localization and adaptation for regional markets—work with translators and regional editors to ensure tone, cultural sensitivity, and SEO localization are maintained.
  • Maintain budget oversight for content creation, including freelance fees, subscriptions, and tools; negotiate contracts and payment timelines with vendors and freelancers.
  • Build and maintain a content inventory and taxonomy, tagging assets for discoverability, repurposing potential, and lifecycle management to reduce duplication and surface high-performing pieces for amplification.
  • Provide hands-on support as a writer when needed: draft blog posts, social copy, email headlines, and short-form marketing copy that align with brand voice and campaign objectives.
  • Facilitate ongoing training and development for content creators (writing workshops, editorial feedback sessions) to raise the overall quality and consistency of produced material.
  • Implement quality-control processes for fact-checking, source attribution, and the use of primary sources to maintain editorial credibility and trust with audiences.
  • Manage crisis communications content under tight timelines by coordinating rapid drafting, approvals, and dissemination across relevant channels, ensuring messages are consistent and compliant.
  • Evaluate and implement editorial tools and workflows (project management systems, style-checkers, plagiarism detectors) to streamline production, reduce errors, and improve throughput.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc content analytics requests and prepare executive summaries that translate performance data into actionable editorial recommendations.
  • Maintain and update content production documentation, SOPs, and training materials to ensure team continuity and onboarding efficiency.
  • Assist with audience research efforts, including surveys and qualitative feedback loops, to refine personas and content strategies.
  • Coordinate internal communications related to editorial changes, campaign launches, and content-related policy updates.
  • Help manage content syndication partnerships, guest contributors, and external distribution channels to expand reach and backlinks.
  • Oversee archive and evergreen content maintenance programs to refresh outdated information and preserve SEO value.
  • Support the creation and rollout of seasonal or campaign-specific editorial initiatives, including promotional copy, landing pages, and email nurture sequences.
  • Liaise with marketing operations to ensure tracking parameters (UTMs, campaign tags) are applied consistently across published content.
  • Coordinate photo, graphic, and asset requests, ensuring proper licensing and alt-text standards are applied before publication.
  • Participate in vendor evaluations and onboarding for transcription, translation, or editorial support services as needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Strong copyediting and proofreading skills with demonstrated experience applying AP, Chicago, or brand-specific style guides.
  • Experience with content management systems (WordPress, Drupal, Contentful, or similar) including publishing, templating, and metadata entry.
  • SEO knowledge: keyword research fundamentals, on-page optimization, headline/meta description writing, and familiarity with SEO tools (e.g., SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, Google Search Console).
  • Proficiency with editorial project-management and collaboration tools (Asana, Trello, Monday.com, Jira, or Basecamp) to manage workflows and production calendars.
  • Familiarity with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office for content collaboration and document version control.
  • Ability to create clear, actionable content briefs and editorial templates that translate strategy into execution.
  • Experience with content analytics and reporting (Google Analytics, Looker Studio/Data Studio, or equivalent) to monitor performance and inform editorial decisions.
  • Basic knowledge of HTML/CSS for minor content formatting tasks and troubleshooting CMS-related display issues.
  • Experience managing freelance contracts, invoicing procedures, and vendor relationships.
  • Familiarity with content localization workflows and tools for translating or adapting content for different markets.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to translate complex ideas into clear copy and instructions.
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills with proven ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Detail-oriented mindset with a commitment to high editorial standards and accuracy.
  • Collaborative team player who can work cross-functionally with designers, product managers, and legal teams.
  • Problem-solving orientation; anticipates bottlenecks and proposes practical solutions to keep production on schedule.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, changing editorial environments.
  • Coaching and feedback skills to mentor writers and improve team quality over time.
  • Stakeholder management and diplomacy; comfortable balancing competing priorities and negotiating compromises.
  • Critical thinking and an analytical approach to interpreting content performance data.
  • Customer- and audience-focused perspective with empathy for reader needs and content consumption behaviors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Marketing, or related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree with coursework or minor in Digital Media, Marketing, or Technical Writing. Certifications in SEO, content marketing, or copyediting are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Journalism
  • English / Creative Writing
  • Communications
  • Marketing
  • Media Studies
  • Technical Writing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of professional experience in editorial coordination, content production, or communications roles.

Preferred: 3–5+ years managing editorial workflows or coordinating content teams, with demonstrable experience in CMS publishing, SEO collaboration, and freelancer management; experience in a B2B or B2C digital content environment is highly desirable.

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