Lead Writer

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Inquiries Regarding Application Status
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of submitted applications. Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted using the email and/or phone information provided in the online application. For information regarding our general staff recruitment process, please click here to visit our FAQs web page to see answers for frequently asked questions, including what to expect, timelines, requests for special accommodation, and interviews. 

Location:

Claremont, CA

Job Posting Title:

Job Details and Requirement:

Department: Communications and Marketing        

Supervisor: VP for Communications and Marketing  

Last Updated:  6/2/2026         

The Lead Writer serves as a lead storyteller for Pitzer College, developing compelling content that advances institutional priorities across admissions, advancement, reputation, and community engagement. 
 
Working closely with the Vice President for Communications and Marketing, this position transforms story assignments into high-quality content for multiple audiences and channels. The Lead Writer researches, interviews, writes, and edits stories that showcase the people, ideas, and experiences that define Pitzer while helping extend the reach of those stories across the website, email communications, social media, admissions marketing, advancement communications, campaign materials, digital advertising, and the College magazine. 
 
This role is ideal for a prolific writer who enjoys interviewing people, uncovering meaningful details, and crafting stories that connect with audiences. The successful candidate understands how to take one story and adapt it into multiple formats, ensuring content works effectively across channels while maintaining a consistent voice and narrative.                                              

The Office of Communications and Marketing operates through an integrated studio model in which storytelling, design, digital engagement, visual media, and strategic communications are developed collaboratively across teams. 

• Write feature stories, profiles, news stories, research stories, donor stories, and institutional narratives. 
• Conduct interviews with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, trustees, and community partners. 
• Research and develop compelling content that reflects the mission, values, and priorities of Pitzer College. 
• Produce clear, engaging, and accurate content on deadline. 
• Adapt stories for publication across multiple channels, including the website, email communications, social media, admissions marketing, advancement communications, campaign materials, digital advertising, and the College magazine. 
• Identify opportunities to extend the life and impact of stories through multiple formats and audiences. 
• Collaborate with social media, photography, design, and digital teams to maximize the reach and impact of content. 
• Work with the Vice President and communications team to execute editorial priorities and institutional storytelling goals. 
• Contribute story ideas and identify emerging opportunities across campus. 
• Collaborate with the Vice President and communications team to translate institutional priorities into compelling audience-centered stories. 
• Mentor student writers and contributors as assigned. 

The individual must possess knowledge, skills and ability to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the position or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

• Editorial writing, journalism, and feature-story development.
• Content strategy and audience engagement principles.
• Storytelling techniques across digital and print platforms.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills with a commitment to a team-based work environment.
• Natural aptitude for technology and expertise with MS Office, including expert level use of Excel.
• Ability to problem-sol