Copyeditor

Company Overview:

With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Health Department is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team. 

With grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Department is undertaking a new initiative that will meet critical infrastructure needs and make possible strategic investments that will have lasting effects on public health. Investments and improvements through this initiative will help modernize Health Department’s foundational capabilities and data infrastructure, enabling it to partner in complex health and health care environments and, in turn, support better public health outcomes, including COVID-19. This initiative supports larger efforts to rebalance investments in public health and more equitably serve communities and populations.

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will work be supervised by DOHMH. This is a grant-funded position ending in November 2027.

Program Overview:

The Office of External Affairs manages many of the agency’s most critical interactions with the public, from raising awareness and promoting healthy behaviors to advancing policies and responding to health emergencies. The Bureau of Communications, housed within the Office of External Affairs, develops culturally responsive public health marketing campaigns; generates and crafts materials to inform New Yorkers of health information and program services, ensuring accessibility for all; provides access to translation services for collateral materials and clinics; maintains the agency’s website; and publishes content on the agency’s social media platforms. Within Creative Communications, the Content and Copy team oversees the writing, editing, and creation of content to inform New Yorkers of key health topics and emergency situations.

Position Summary:

The NYC Health Department has an opening for a Copyeditor. Reporting to the Director of Content and Copy, the Copyeditor has excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills and is highly skilled in English-language rules, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The Copyeditor works closely with the Senior Copyeditor to maintain the Agency’s communication style guide. They enjoy reading and discussing language, have a keen eye for detail and design, are able to accept and provide tactful, constructive feedback and work independently and as part of a larger team.

Specifically, the Copyeditor will:

• Meticulously review and copyedit agency written communications and print graphics with great attention to detail, ensuring materials adhere to plain language principles.
• Work with Creative Communications leadership to review and proofread. Revise content for precision, clarity, and technical and structural accuracy. Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Advance the Health Department's mission and strategic plan generating relevant, accessible, and high-quality written content, ensuring that tone, language, and graphics are accessible, straightforward, and consistent across mediums.
• Advance the Health Department’s mission and strategic plan prioritizing health equity by editing for conscious and inclusive language and framing.
• Copyedit and proofread references and citations in AMA Style.
• Perform light design work in Microsoft Word and Adobe Express
• Coordinate and collaborate with other members of the Creative Communications team (Marketing, Digital Communications, Language Services, and Design) as projects call for interaction and support.
• Support emergency response communications as needed.

Qualifications:

• 3 to 5 years copyediting experience, preferably in a medical, pharma, health care, or public health setting.
• Highly skilled in copyediting with meticulous attention to detail.
• Expertise in plain language and knowledge of conscious and inclusive language trends. 
• Demonstrates knowledge of writing, storytelling, and strategic, creative, and critical thinking
• Clear and exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Self-motivated with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects, tasks, and timelines.
• Demonstrates a professional, courteous, and respectful attitude in dealing with colleagues, direct reports, leadership, and stakeholders.

Additional Desired Qualities:

• Experience line editing.
• Production or managing editorial experience.
• Familiarity with Word styling and creating accessible documents. 
• Experience working with the public health sector and coordinating projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and work in fast-paced environment with hard deadlines. 
• Fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and Adobe Express. 

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Schedule.
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefits.
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Disability Coverage.
• 403(b) + employer matching and discretionary company contributions.
• College Savings Plan.
• Ongoing trainings and continuous opportunities for professional growth and development.

Additional Information:

• This is a temporary grant-funded position ending in November 2027.
• This individual must reside in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) by their confirmed start date. 
• Preference may be given to individuals residing in New York City (5 boroughs) or surrounding New York State counties. 
• This individual will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies.

At PHS, we place immense value on diversity within our teams, understanding that varied backgrounds and experiences significantly enhance our community and propel us toward our goals. If you find you don’t have experience in all the areas listed above, we still encourage you to apply and share your background and experiences in your application. We are eager to discover how your unique perspective can bring positive transformations to our team and help advance our mission of creating healthier, more equitable communities.  

We look forward to learning more about you!  

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and veterans.