Manager, Creative Copywriting

Position Details:

Create purposeful, thought-provoking, emotive messaging that starts with the customer, shifting their hearts and minds to think differently and expand their awareness of the full Grainger offer. Develop and inspire the Creative Writing team together with the Creative Design team to create and guide the message and content creation for multi-channel marketing tactics while also developing the teams' professional skills. Create a seamless, cohesive experience for every customer. You will be hands-on, strategic, operationally focused and will work with our Senior Creative and Content Managers and Director of Brand and Communications to help build the Creative voice and the Grainger brand. Empower the team to accomplish copy and content development with looking beyond the immediate project, taking into account the bigger picture, business/brand goals and overarching campaigns.

You Will:

• Win as one team to provide guidance for all creative writing production and marketing communications to create a seamless customer experience that meets goals 
• Mentor, coach and help develop an excellent team of writers by up-skilling, providing inspiration, new insights and stretch opportunities 
• Review every piece of work to ensure it is emotive and speaks to the defined audience, against reported goals according to brand standards 
• Apply the customer-first emotive thinking on every piece from initial concepts through completed execution of projects 
• Critique concepts for overall marketing and messaging effectiveness, ensure they are tied to customer insight and can be measured 
• Embrace curiosity by asking thought-provoking questions that get to the core of customer needs and apply that to copy that moves them to act 
• Create and evolve the brand voice and standards with Senior Creative Leadership 
• Resource and manage work assignments and the execution of projects 
• Respond to shifting workloads and the ability to report project status and productivity metrics 
• Invest in our success to evolve processes, procedures and the tools necessary to ensure the best possible creative outcomes for continuous improvement 
• Contribute to the development of marketing plans, campaigns and programs 
• Facilitate brainstorm sessions as an expert – with ownership of final results 
• Successfully communicate defined Marketing goals, objectives and strategies 
• Maintain, nurture and grow communications, working relationships and collaboration with all marketing entities, internal and external partners

You Have:

COMPETENCIES:

• Broad creative copywriting expertise with a track record of innovation and a strong portfolio of work 
• Strong leadership - developing individuals and talent 
• Motivate and gain commitment at all levels 
• Ensure all voices are heard, contributing and collaborating 
• Strong oral/written skills 
• Strong process development and project management skills 
• Ability to take into account a full 360 view–separate oneself from content thinking outside of the norm, what's been done in the past and ways to experiment with new ways of thinking

TECHNICAL:

• Mastery of the English language, grammar, punctuation and proofreading 
• Comprehensive marketing copy skills for multi-channel direct response marketing (email, catalog, direct response, publication, video and web site production) 
• Thorough knowledge of Adobe (InDesign) and Microsoft Office 
• Thorough knowledge of database environments and project workflow software 
• Understanding of business-to-business marketing methods and metrics

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION:

• 7+ years professional experience with optional managerial experience leading a team of writers 
• BA/BS/BFA required (MA a plus) in marketing, advertising, journalism, English or communications-related field 
• Demonstrated success in a large multi-channel organization and agency 
• Print and digital marketing expertise and editorial development 
• Prior MRO marketing experience 
• Prior experience collaborating and helping lead external agency thinking and copywriting

Rewards and Benefits:

With benefits starting day one, Grainger is committed to your safety, health and wellbeing. Our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet our team members' individual needs. Check out some of the rewards available to you at Grainger:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans 
• Paid time off (PTO) and 6 company holidays per year 
• Automatic 6% 401(k) company contribution each pay period 
• Employee discounts, parental leave, 3:1 match on donations and tuition reimbursement 
• A comprehensive set of emotional, financial, physical and social wellbeing programs