External Affairs Writer

Overview:

At ACT Your Work Makes a Difference

Education has power – a power that changes lives forever. It creates opportunities that lift up individuals, their families, and sparks societal change that echoes through generations to come. From our grassroots we have fought the good fight for equity in education, and we remain devoted to helping anyone who struggles to access that power. This is what matters to us and we must do better -- we’ve never been more sure of our purpose.

ACT Education Corp. team members are part of an organization dedicated to an important mission: Helping people achieve education and workplace success.  Advancing the mission internally, by helping team members achieve education and workplace success of their own, is core to our values. ACT values a diverse workplace and is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable environment in which every team member has an opportunity to grow.

We want our team members to have the well-being and confidence they need to do their best work, in an environment where both they and the company thrive. To support this, our total rewards include company paid life insurance, medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) with company contributions, paid holidays, paid time off, and so much more. You can find a comprehensive list of our benefits here.  

We are seeking a Senior External Affairs Writer to help us fulfill that mission. 

The Senior External Affairs Writer is a skilled communications professional and storyteller, responsible for creating compelling content that strategically enhances ACT’s public image and influence. This role primarily involves writing blogs, op-ed submissions, letters to the editor, and other external content aligned with divisional and organizational goals. As needed, the Senior External Affairs Writer also will develop speeches, talking points, and visual presentations for key leaders. The Senior External Affairs Writer will collaborate closely with subject matter experts, the Lead Communications Strategist, and other communications team members to produce high-quality content that positions the organization as a trusted and sought-after thought leader in the fields of assessments and college and career readiness. 

The finalist will be hired at the salary and level commensurate with their qualifications. For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary in the range of  $75,000 to $85,000 , depending on the experience. ACT manages salaries within the range based on relevant factors including, skills, experience, and internal equity. 

Location: Remote (can also be onsite or hybrid if in Iowa City, Iowa area)

What you will be working on:

• Aligning with the Director of Strategic Communications and the Lead Communications Strategist to determine content assignments and deadlines based on internal events, relevant external events, sales and engagement cycles, strategic communications plans, and organizational goals.
• Using internal and external resources – and collaborating with internal teams – to draft ACT blog posts, Op-Eds, and other external content to be published under the name of the writer, ACT leaders, third-party advocates, or subject matter experts.
• Collaborate with the Senior External Affairs Editor, as well as colleagues in Marketing and Legal (as necessary) to ensure that external content aligns with ACT style, voice, and Legal standards.
• Content Planning (30%) 
• Collaborate with internal and external teams to identify opportunities for external content that position the organization as an industry leader. 
• Contribute to ACT’s strategic communication planning through team meetings, monitoring external news and events, attending ACT summits, and other relevant activities.
• Content Creation (60%) 
• Draft engaging content for the ACT Leadership Blog, general and trade publications, and other outlets. 
• Ensure all content aligns with the organization's strategic communications plan and messaging guidelines.
• Issues Management Communications (10%) 
• Work with leaders in State Contract Implementation and Contract Operations, District Program Management, Customer Care, Legal, Technology, Scoring, Test Security, and other departments to effectively communicate with customers and external partners when internal or external events create potential, actual, or perceived issues between ACT and its customers or partners. 
• Draft or edit issues-related communications with a focus on accuracy, empathy, and clarity for the intended stakeholders.

Role Progression:

• Within 1 month, you will have a high-level understanding of ACT's products and customers. You also will have started to develop relationships with individuals across the organization.
• Within 3 months, you will be completing writing assignments for owned and earned media channels that are of high quality and reflect your understanding of organizational goals.
• Within 6 months, you will be able to identify high-value opportunities in owned and earned media, reflecting your understanding of product and external engagement lifecycles. You also will be coordinating with internal and external colleagues to execute against the most valuable opportunities for maximum impact.

This could be the job for you if you have (minimum requirements):

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in education-related corporate communications, journalism, or a related field
• Demonstrated success in developing content that generates action among targeted audiences
• Proven track record of successful ghostwriting and content creation for senior executives
• Experience working with subject matter experts and senior leaders
• Experience in crisis communication
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptional ability to maintain high standards while working quickly and frequently switching focus across key initiatives
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and subject matter experts
• Deep understanding of messaging and communications best practices
• Innovative approach to communications that embrace and promote diverse perspectives
• Ability to generate visual storytelling ideas
• Strong analytical skills and ability to effectively use data to inform content and content strategies
• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels in the organization
• Proactive and self-motivated with a strong sense of accountability
• An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or Marketing is preferred but not required for applicants with the required skills and experience.

 It’s a plus if you have:

• Experience in the fields of national and international assessments
• Experience in communications related to public policy or advocacy
• Experience collaborating with research professionals
• Experience working with government relations executives

When ACT was founded in 1959, it disrupted the assessment industry with a new approach to helping students better understand their readiness so they could take steps to improve it.  By leveraging our expertise and authority in assessment and research, we will again disrupt the industry—helping more people learn, better measure their progress, and improve their navigation through life’s transitions. 

More than ever before, ACT is fulfilling its mission of helping people achieve education and workplace success. We’re doing it by pushing the boundaries of learning innovation through the work of our people, who we call team members because we’re all in this together.

We know transformation does not come without challenge. That’s why ACT invests in a variety of experiences for team members to strengthen their connections, explore ideas, learn from customers, and celebrate success.

Learn more about working at ACT at act.org!