*This position is based out of Austin, TX. Relocation for out of market candidates is required (assistance provided).
We’re looking for a proven leader to guide our accomplished copy and editorial content team into the next era. The right candidate is part coach, part messaging strategist, part creative director, and part evangelist of the work. This role sits on our creative team – the writers, designers and thinkers responsible for turning strategy briefs into the customer-facing cool stuff that builds brand love and drives our business.

Responsibilities:

• Creates priority storylines for the brand ensures all content adheres to the vision laid out in brand architecture
• Advocates for brand/brand standards in internal meetings and select external meetings
• Ensures content adheres to best practices and objectives in program and channel-specific briefs. Implements recommended changes based on reporting from channels, consumer insights and analytics
• Responsible for creating and driving adoption of brand voice and tone guidelines for Whole Foods Market and exclusive brands such as 365 and Whole Foods Market to ensure our work is differentiated, inspiring, and human. Communicate standards and vision to outside vendors creating work on our behalf
• Coaches and sets the standard for our team of copywriters, editors and proofers that create the in-store and digital assets that communicate our story, reasons to believe, and sets the tone for the customer shopping experience
• Collaborates with senior design leads and partners with EL of Creative to review all pieces of creative (digital, print and in-store) before publication. Ensure the entire creative mix is channel specific and customer first
• Challenges the status quo and proactively looks for more effective ways to deliver on the brief and heighten brand impact
• Serves as the connective tissue between Creative and Category, Product and Channel teams. Works with all as partners and experts to create win-win-win outcomes for the business and the brand
• Partner with EL of creative to serve as mentor and coach to team members within the Creative dept. Lead decision making and innovation within the team during program and project development
• Engages cross-functionally with marketing, creative, and other stakeholders to ensure effective quality control across all material before it’s printed for in-store or published digitally
• Plays a leadership role in defining and developing voice and tone guidelines; ensures widespread publication, dissemination, and understanding
• Engages with marketing and creative teams to ensure material development processes are well understood, commonly applied, and adapted to specific needs and requirements
• Monitors feedback metrics to identify process, content, or practice issues and recommend / drive improvement

Skills

• Best-in-class writing and editing skills and the ability to inspire great work
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a team of direct reports
• Able to impart focus by developing clear goals and priorities
• Proven ability to build cross-functional partnerships and inspire collaboration and action in the absence of a ‘direct report’ relationship
• Ability to juggle multiple projects while maintaining a clear sense of priorities
• Consults with business leaders on the preparation, development, and publication of well-written and accurate marketing, promotional, and branding material
• Serves as a trusted advisor from an Editorial & Content perspective
• Proven ability to craft actionable, creative, and data-driven strategies
• Recommends strategic / business adjustments based on program effectiveness, customer feedback, anticipated direction, and identified challenges and trends
• Collaborates with project stakeholders to identify, evaluate, and resolve emerging and anticipated issues
• Demonstrates clear understanding of WFM’s core business and customer needs

Requirements:

• BA/BS degree 6-8 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• 2-4 years’ leadership experience

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.