SFMOMA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Location
San Francisco, CA | United States
Job description
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever, these connections matter and are aligned with our values.
Inclusive: We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.
Passionate: We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship - it's a way of life.
Brave: We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure.
Empathic: We aim to act like a person, not an institution.
SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore, support, and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think, view the world, and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy, nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose—where difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.
Schedule: Full Time, 35 hours/week, approximately 3 days working onsite
The Associate Editor reports to the Managing Editor and is responsible for writing, editing, and proofreading content for print and digital marketing and communications that engages SFMOMA's many audiences to visit, join as a member, and participate in and support the museum's programs and events. The Associate Editor also serves as project manager for visitor guides and partner on member calendar production, key editorial publications that enhance the member and visitor experience.
The Associate Editor is part of the in-house Editorial team within the Communications department of the Marketing + Communications division. The position contributes to departmental goals to increase attendance and revenue, strengthen community and visitor outreach, deepen engagement with existing audiences, and build new audiences. The Editorial team works closely with departments across the museum to produce digital and print communications, including email newsletters, biannual magazines, quarterly calendars, web content, ad campaigns, press releases, and event and in-museum collateral that reach visitors, members, donors, press, and the public.
After 30 days, the Associate Editor will be familiar with the museum’s workflow in Asana and work on editorial projects under supervision. They will shadow the Managing Editor to learn the production process for the member magazine, member calendar, and visitor guide. By the end of the first quarter, they will be fluent in Asana and the Creative Services workflow, work independently on stakeholder projects as an editor; write magazine articles; own visitor guide production; and partner with the Managing Editor on member calendar production. By the end of the first year, the Associate Editor will be fully integrated as a team member, serving as a trusted leader and resource to colleagues.
Responsibilities & Duties
- Provide editing services for print and digital channels across museum departments, including event and program descriptions for websites and newsletters, on-site signage, brochures, invitations, press releases, and other projects as assigned
- Manage a portfolio of SFMOMA exhibitions as Editorial lead, representing the team at exhibition meetings and delivering comprehensive editorial services on content, collateral, and advertising for these presentations
- Partner with the Managing Editor to produce four quarterly member calendars on time, including partnering with stakeholders across the museum to gather, edit, and rework content as needed, obtain images and credit information, and work with Design to optimize layout
- Lead the production of three multilingual visitor guides annually, including partnering with curatorial staff to gather, edit, and rework content, secure images and credit information; work with Design to optimize layout; manage external vendors on translation and the review process
- Write at least five articles per year on upcoming exhibitions and programs for the biannual print member magazine plus articles for the SFMOMA website as time permits; secure stakeholder feedback, photos, and image and funder credits.
- Contribute to the on-time production of the member magazine, including content brainstorming, line editing, copy editing, proofreading, and fact-checking
- Collaborate with curators and marketing staff to propose and refine engaging and accessible long- and short-form marketing copy for exhibitions
- Contribute to the review and updating of the Editorial Style Guide and editorial templates
- Apply rigorous standards across all work products to ensure factual accuracy and adherence to SFMOMA brand and house style guidelines to maintain a consistent institutional voice
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in art history, English, journalism, or related experience
- A minimum of five (5) years of writing, editing, copyediting, proofreading, and production experience in digital or traditional publishing.
- Demonstrated experience bringing complex editorial projects with multiple stakeholders and strict timelines to successful completion.
- Understanding and interest in issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and how it might relate to the mission and work of a community cultural organization.
- Exceptional writing, editorial, and storytelling skills with a keen ear for engaging copy and a meticulous eye for editorial consistency, factual accuracy, spelling, and grammar.
- Demonstrated competence as an editorial project manager with ability to work autonomously, take ownership of projects from start to finish, coordinate multiple projects concurrently, set priorities, and meet stringent deadlines.
- Experience with developmental editing and discerning editorial judgement; familiarity with marketing approaches preferred; an eye for effective editorial layout and design a plus
- Creative thinking and problem solving in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication, with an ability to work confidently, effectively, and tactfully with writers, colleagues, freelancers, artists, printers, and other vendors
- Experience working with designers/design projects/layout
- Ability to lead meetings a plus
- Facility with Asana or similar project management software;
- Experience with an email service provider such as Constant Contact or Prospect2
- Experience with WordPress or similar content management system preferred
- Working knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style, basic familiarity with The AP Stylebook
- Familiarity with modern and contemporary art history and art terminology
- Computer fluency with an ability to learn new applications quickly
- Flexibility, adaptability, discretion, and ability to work independently
Job posting open date:
All jobs posted will remain open for at least five business days.
We encourage both internal and external candidates to apply within the initial open posting period as the application close date may or may not be extended beyond that initial period. Applications will not be accepted after a posting has been closed.
Location: San Francisco, 151 3rd Street.
COVID-19 Environmental Factors: In keeping with city, county, and state regulations regarding large gatherings, and to contain the spread of coronavirus, the museum is following the city of San Francisco guidelines. As a part of our commitment to health and safety, COVID-19 vaccination is required for all current and newly hired employees and contractors.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
SFMOMA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. No person shall be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, genetic information, ancestry/national origin, marital status, disability, medical condition, HIV status, sexual orientation, veteran/military status, and any other category protected by federal of state law.
You may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable to or are limited in your ability to access job postings or provide additional information asked in the job posting.
You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting the People team at
[email protected].
$33.15/hour (starting); $39.78/hour (position)
This is a union position subject to the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
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