About us

Williams Group is a strategic communication firm founded in 1978 and headquartered in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. We build strong brands, smart plans and clear messages. We design and create the tools and tactics for a variety of corporate and nonprofit organizations across and beyond the United States.

About you

A professional writer with the skills and passion for communications in a wide variety of media, looking to join and support a client-centered team.

About the job

At Williams Group, a writer is knowledgeable and competent in the creation of effective strategic communications. This position requires five or more years of experience with various industries and media. Expertise in project planning, creative strategy, research, content development, writing for print, online and presentation, copy editing, and team collaboration are critical. The success of a writer is determined by the satisfaction of Wg clients.

The writer works in collaboration with an account executive and/or project manager, and assumes responsibility for the creative content and execution of all assigned projects.

The writer gives strategic and creative input to the company's account executives and entire project team—creative, project management, production, and administrative; both in-house and vendor firms. He or she contributes to the mentoring of all associates and, at all times, seeks to enhance and strengthen client relationships.

The ideal candidate for this position is creative, self-directed, organized, easy to work with, adaptable to change and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Must be a problem solver, able to produce high-quality work under the pressures of time and cost constraints.

Williams Group offers competitive salaries and benefits in a positive work culture and innovative work space. We are an inclusive company with a commitment to advancing the benefits of diversity in our business and our world. Williams Group believes our business is part of our community—we are actively involved in supporting the Heartside Neighborhood, Grand Rapids Public Schools, and nonprofits throughout the area. We are seeking people who are engaged in community and who feel called, professionally and personally, to contribute to the well-being of others.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume, cover letter and two writing samples to msawle@williams-group.com.

Or by mail:

Williams Group, c/o Martha
70 Ionia Ave SW, Suite 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Position summary

Key duties

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication with clients, and other audiences, including development of proposals, documentation of projects through communication briefs, and status reports that may be requested by the client.
• Provide a broad range of writing skills for strategic, creative and technical communications. A writer will be competent in business, journalistic, promotional, academic and creative styles.
• Contribute to company expertise by understanding trends and practices within the communications discipline as technology, markets, practices and media evolve. For example, writers must have the ability to develop, articulate and implement content strategies to support social, mobile or search engine optimization.
• Collaborate with account executives, other team members, and clients on strategy, concept development, project options and details. Demonstrate ability to work in a team environment as a member and leader.
• Participate as a contributor, leader or facilitator in brainstorming, communication planning and strategy development for projects ranging from consultant reports to knowledge management, product launches, events, and implementation of web communication platforms.
• Working with account executives, provide orientation to other resources on project objectives and contribute to the management of the project team as necessary and appropriate.
• Maintain proficiency (as appropriate to the position) in hardware and software used by Williams Group. For example, the writer will write and edit (including advanced formatting) in web content management systems, databases, Microsoft Office documents, etc.
• Provide excellent quality assurance to meet the company's high standards in all projects. Writers are expected to have intensive, daily, deadline-driven writing experience, demonstrated expertise in grammar, syntax and editing, familiarity with major style guides and proven ability to identify, create, and write or edit copy in a wide range of voices appropriate to various client brands, audiences, and communication objectives.
• Maintain individual billings commensurate with established company targets and agreed-upon client budgets.
• Develop expert understanding of Wg niches of business. Understand the business practices and marketing objectives of all clients to properly conduct and improve upon the services performed on their behalf.
• Engage in formal and informal leadership activities with clients, vendors and Wg associates as appropriate to Wg culture and personal style.
• Contribute to new business development, including prospective client networking, proposal writing and client presentations.
• Keep strict confidence about the nature and substance of all client projects.

In addition to writing assignments, each associate contributes appropriately to all aspects of successful projects. Every Wg associate is expected to support an efficient and effective process of project management and team collaboration.

It is the operating policy of the company to determine the exact needs of each project, identify the most appropriate resources to fill those needs, and work expeditiously to complete each project promptly and efficiently. All team members are responsible for completing and overseeing many tasks and multiple timelines on budget.

This position also plays an important role in nurturing a positive culture at Wg. The writer is expected to model mature, constructive leadership skills; to mentor and support all associates; and to contribute (via formal and informal opportunities) to the development of a collaborative, supportive culture. In short, the writer is expected to bring positive energy to Wg, and to help make the company a better place for all to work.