Senior Digital Content Writer

XQ Institute is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in life. We work in communities throughout the country, with individual schools and entire school systems, to help them dream big about what high school could be, turn their innovative ideas into action, and create more rigorous and equitable schools.

The Opportunity

To advance our mission of high school transformation, XQ is seeking a Senior Digital Content Writer who will be instrumental in creating and executing compelling multimedia content. This role entails leading the development and execution of written publications, collaborating closely with executive leadership, and contributing to XQ's "always on" content strategy. The ideal candidate will possess strong writing skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. This position reports to the Oakland and requires a minimum of four days per week at our Oakland, California headquarters.

Requirements

• Lead the development and execution of high-quality content across various platforms, including print and digital publications, website, social media campaigns, and internal/external publications.
• Conduct research on educational content trends and best practices to inform editorial strategy and team goals.
• Drive XQ's "always on" content strategy in collaboration with the MarComm and Community team, developing content production and distribution strategies.
• Serve as the primary writer for senior leadership articles, speeches, communications, and newsletters, collaborating closely with leaders to ensure polished content for publication.
• Write, edit, and develop multimedia content for various platforms, ensuring consistency in messaging and optimizing content for language and tone.
• Analyze editorial content performance using data and analytics to inform ongoing optimization and strategy development, demonstrating proficiency in data storytelling and case-making.
• Conduct background research, build relationships, fact-check, and follow up on story leads by interviewing school staff and partners as needed.
• Manage relationships with external contributors and thought leaders to ensure the production of high-quality, engaging content that is relevant and informative.

Additional Skills & Characteristics

• “Self-starter” willingness to take initiative and works well both independently and collaboratively
• Masterful management and follow-through of short-term and long-term tasks simultaneously
• Strong work ethic and independence, with a high degree of motivation to collaborate, learn, and iterate
• Flexibility and willingness to perform other tasks as assigned and to learn, grow, and stretch
• Mission-oriented commitment to understanding and articulating the mission, programs, and activities of XQ

• Responds rapidly and thoroughly to inquiries and requests
• Desire to work in a lively, rapidly-changing, high-intensity environment with a diverse team that often collaborates fluidly across projects
• Provides flexibility to adapt effectively to changing circumstances and shifting priorities.

Qualifications

• 10+ of experience in journalism, publishing, and/or communications, ideally with cross-cutting experience in education, social issues, and policy
• Proven success in collaborative writing and editing with senior, high-profile leaders
• Bachelor’s degree; postgraduate degree preferred
• Ability and eagerness to travel up to 25% time as needed to events and activations, to visit schools, etc.
• Ability and eagerness to work four days a week at minimum in the Oakland, California headquarters alongside senior leadership, outside of traditional office hours as needed

XQ Mindsets: 

Ours is a world defined by uncertainty, a society in flux, a state of unprecedented upheavals. While we don’t anticipate any quick fixes, we can anchor ourselves to what we see emerging. That’s why we have established a set of collective XQ Mindsets to ground us.

• 100% accountability: This doesn't mean you have 100% ownership. It doesn't mean you are responsible for every last thing that needs to be done. It means choosing to take responsibility for our collective success and impact.
• Maker mindset: We build stuff. We won’t always get it right the first time—in fact, we rarely will. But by quickly making and testing our work, we can learn what works and what doesn’t.
• We are the ones we’ve been waiting for: Critique is not enough. It is on us to create the solutions—no matter where we sit in the organization. We are a well-resourced organization filled with brilliant people. No one else is coming to our rescue.
• Opportunity knocks: We are ready, willing, and able to take on anything that is thrown our way. Pivots are a natural part of our approach, so let’s embrace them so that we can experience them joyfully.
• Stand on the shoulders of giants: We honor those who came before us, who aren’t seated at our tables, and build on others’ and our own earlier work with respect and reverence.

Benefits

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $210,000/annually. XQ offers excellent organizational benefits. 

Location

XQ is based in Oakland, CA, with offices in Washington DC, and New York City. This role will be based in Oakland, CA, with four days required in the office at minimum each week and more during peak times of the year for this role. 

To Apply

Please apply via the application below. In your cover letter, please address why your skills, interests, and experience align with the requirements for this role.

XQ is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace. At XQ, promoting, celebrating, and supporting diversity is a core value. Individuals are considered without regard to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual expression, religion, color, veteran status, disability, marital status, or ancestry.