Lead, Owned Content

Opportunity is not evenly distributed. Shopify puts independence within reach for anyone with a dream to start a business. Since 2006, we’ve grown to over 10,000 employees and generated over $496 billion in sales for millions of merchants in 175 countries.

This is life-defining work that directly impacts people’s lives as much as it transforms your own. This is putting the power of the few in the hands of the many, is a future with more voices rather than fewer, and is creating more choices instead of an elite option.

At Shopify, our mission is to make commerce better for everyone—and one important way we do this is through storytelling. The External Communications team is responsible for sharing Shopify’s story on entrepreneurship, innovation and commerce with a diverse, global audience through earned, owned, and paid media. We need a talented lead who can help us create a compelling global content strategy and work towards building new and optimizing existing channels owned by Shopify.

You will be responsible for working across the External Communications team to identify strategic opportunities to tell stories to our key audiences. This includes creating, editing, overseeing and publishing high-quality content that helps further Shopify’s mission, owning our editorial calendar across channels (newsroom, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc), and working with our media analyst to measure results. Ultimately you’ll own the growth of our content reach with a main focus on Shopify’s newsroom, thought leadership, and social channels.

In this role, you will:

• Craft the strategy behind our team’s owned content channels, evolving and iterating constantly based on lessons learned
• Consistently create compelling content for Shopify, including merchant storytelling, thought leadership pieces, and important company announcements
• Analyze trends and internet culture, taking inspiration from them to pitch editorial content, manage and create it, and pivot when necessary
• Have relentless creativity and eagerness to experiment with new forms of storytelling
• Work collaboratively with creative resources including designers, writers, and consultants
• Champion and manage content projects from beginning to end
• Learn a ton of new skills and share your own

The ideal candidate will have:

• Exceptional writing and editing skills—this must be your superpower!
• 10+ years’ experience in communications, digital strategy and content creation, PR, or journalism
• A deep understanding of Shopify’s product and mission
• A strong ability to identify interesting narratives
• High standards and an obsessive eye for detail
• A track record of delivering incredible content in a fast-paced environment where requirements and scope can change quickly
• Experience with rich media storytelling (including video, audio, and graphics)
• Expertise across multiple content formats including long- and short-form blog content, podcasts, ad copy, email newsletter copy, content strategy, social media, etc.
• A deep level of curiosity, a growth mindset, and a permanent dedication to developing your craft

It’s a bonus if you have:

• A portfolio of existing published work
• Worked in a high-volume editorial production environment
• A strong background in SEO as well as distribution and growth strategies, and a proven track record of measuring and optimizing results
• Experience in the retail, commerce, and/or technology industry

Interested? Hit apply and let us know why you’d be a great match for the role!

As part of your application, send us at least two examples of your written work, including a brief paragraph for each explaining why you chose it, anything you’d edit now, and your favorite line within it. Good luck!

Our belief is that a strong commitment to diversity & inclusion enables us to truly make commerce better for everyone. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Please take a look at our Sustainability Reports to learn more about Shopify’s commitments to our communities, and our planet.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.