A project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
Writer/Editor
Job Summary
Verbal is recruiting a full time Writer/Editor to join an interdisciplinary Creative Content team of writers, editors and psychologists, writing and editing across both children's/young people's stories and adult fiction, including interactive, choose-your-own-adventure formats. Working alongside the team you will produce and review pieces or fiction and poetry for the Honest Ulsterman magazine , create story content for Verbal's Applied Storytelling programmes through the Writers Room process.
Pay: £30,541 per annum
Hours: 36 hours per week (Monday to Thursday 9.00 to 17.30, Friday 9.00 to 16.00)
Contract: Fixed term until March 2028, to align with the end of the PEACE OF MIND (POM) project
Reporting to: APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY COORDINATOR
Responsibilities
- Contribute to the reading, reviewing, editing and production of three issues of the Honest Ulsterman magazine each year, coordinating a section in line with your experience and expertise.
- Programme Design and Development
- Take part in the Writers Room, developing story worlds, plot construction and character building for Verbal's Applied Storytelling materials.
- Explore and use AI tools to extend the creative process and output, including producing multiple story versions to increase participant engagement and immersion.
- Write to the psychology-based curriculum the Applied Psychology Coordinator has built, keeping stories tailored to the needs and characteristics of the participant group each project serves.
- Facilitate programmes that underpin Verbal's Stories of Lived Experience programme (SoLeX), running the writing pilots that surface authentic stories for the "lived experience story libraries"
Essential Criteria
- A resume of your writing career detailing where and when you have been published. (You may include samples of your work, but these will not be returned)
- Experience or strong working knowledge of different literature for age ranges, ideally including both children's/young people's writing and adult or interactive narrative fiction
- Willingness and ability to work collaboratively in a small, interdisciplinary creative team
- Openness to using AI tools as part of the creative writing and editing process
- Strong written communication skills, suited to editing a literary magazine to a professional standard
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of magazine, journal or anthology editing
- Experience designing or facilitating creative writing training or workshops
- Understanding of, or interest in, applied storytelling, bibliotherapy, or the use of narrative for wellbeing
- Experience writing for, or working with marginalised groups
- Access to transport to enable full possible range of duties of post.
Conditions of Employment
- Successful applicants will be required to go through an enhanced Access NI check.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Two satisfactory references.
- Flexibility in working hours
About Verbal
Verbal was first established in 1992 and has been designing, developing and delivering language arts-based projects with vulnerable individuals and marginalised communities for over 30 years. We deliver creative interdisciplinary programmes in the areas of mental health and wellbeing, community development and reconciliation, and creative development.
Benefits
- Private medical insurance
- Dental and optical cover
- Excepted life assurance
- Health cash plan
- Critical illness cover
Work Location: Derry-Londonderry office
Please refer to the attached recruitment pack for full details of the role, person specification and conditions of employment. To apply, send your CV to aideen@theverbal.co. Please also complete the monitoring form provided.
If you require documentation in alternative formats, for example large print, please contact aideen@theverbal.co.
Verbal is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Closing date: Midnight on 1st November 2026
