Writing Director

Writing Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY:

Snow Companies is the world leader in patient engagement and patient-centric storytelling. We help pharma brands find people living with chronic conditions who can share their experiences with others who are looking for answers about their disease and treatment. When these Patient Ambassadors share their authentic stories, they provide more than answers: They provide perspective and hope. We know the power of these authentic voices and real stories. We have seen how this experience unites people living with chronic illness and their loved ones and ultimately elevates their voices.

Snow’s Writing Team collaborates with our Patient Ambassadors, clients, and internal account teams to create stories, educational materials, advertising copy, and digital content. The Writing Director is responsible for leading small writing teams, developing strategic messaging for projects, and of course, writing powerful patient stories. This role demands a seasoned command of storytelling and writing acumen, as well as attention to detail, diligence to process, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to synthesize our clients’ marketing objectives as well as legal and regulatory processes while maintaining creative integrity. The Writing Director is also responsible for mentoring Junior and Senior Writers, monitoring their professional development, and designing continuing education opportunities for the Writing Team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Writing Director must be able to perform the following essential duties and functions:

• Write and oversee the creation of patient stories, advertising/marketing copy, video/audio scripts, blog posts, standard business reports and correspondence, and short-form copy for digital projects such as web, display ads, email, and other online user experiences
• Collaborate with Account Teams to hone creative briefs with brand strategy, marketing goals, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and legal and regulatory requirements
• Empathetically interact with Patient Ambassadors throughout the writing process to help them create powerful narratives
• Work closely with Project Managers to define deadlines and troubleshoot challenges as they arise
• Oversee Senior and Junior Writers and provide senior reviews of their work
• Guide and mentor Senior and Junior Writers to help them create attainable goals and continue to hone their writing skills
• Collaborate with Designers on visual projects to help inform the packaging of content
• Interface with clients in formal and informal settings as requested by Account Teams
• Meet deadlines and deliver high-quality pieces that reflect professionalism and strengthen our company’s reputation
• Facilitate video calls with Account Teams, Ambassadors, and Creative Teams
• Lead creative brainstorming sessions
• Compile creative options with strategy for program names, taglines, etc., to be presented to clients

The primary job functions and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, those listed.

Weekend and Night Work:

Although your day-to-day work should primarily take place during regular office hours (8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday–Friday), there will be occasions when you are required to work late into the evening and/or over the weekend. The candidate selected for the Writing Director position should have the expectation that the workload and nature of the work will require hours that may extend past the normal business hours of the company.

Collaboration/Teamwork:

The size and nature of Snow Companies will require collaborating with people in other departments. Employees must demonstrate their willingness/ability to step into other roles as needed to drive the success of the company. Employees need to demonstrate their ability to be a contributing member of a team that has goals that are broader than an individual job description or function.

Language Skills/Communication:

• Superior writing, brainstorming, and proofreading skills
• Demonstrate ability to effectively and professionally communicate with clients, Patient Ambassadors, and the general public
• Working with patients requires discretion and empathy as patients are living with chronic conditions
• A mastery of the English language and a strong eye for detail
• Fluency in a foreign language is a plus

Travel: 

• Travel is a fundamental part of the Writing Director position. On average, writers travel once a month to support the team and/or complete job tasks. Employees must be able to accommodate the specific travel requirements of their role

Patient Privacy:

The core of our business is working with patients. Employees will come in contact with Personal Consumer Information (PCI) of patients living with chronic illness. It will be required that employees take training courses that include, but are not limited to:

• Snow Companies Policy Training
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Adverse Event (AE) Reporting Training
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Training

Computer Skills:

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Mathematical Skills: Ability to comprehend and utilize basic mathematics as well as business statistics to include percentages, ratios, discounts, interest, commissions, and proportions.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to identify and define problems while applying effective problem-solving skills through collecting data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions
• Ability to deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Capable of applying industry benchmarks to create standardized practices

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment/Environmental Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with no or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations: Candidates must have a valid driver’s license. In some instances, a passport may be necessary.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university and five-plus years of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.