Associate Director, Editorial

Associate Director, Editorial

Communications

The Communications department supports leaders at all levels of the institution to promote project and campaign efforts, inform key audiences, and protect and advance Pew’s reputation. The department provides a comprehensive range of communications services for all programmatic and administrative units and Trusts-operated projects (TOPs). Our in-house expertise includes strategy and message development; editorial support; design and creative services; media event planning; digital and video production; and social media. The unit oversees all communications policies, guidelines, and processes in order to ensure production of the highest quality work and effectively steward Pew's resources. Within the Communications department, the editorial team is an essential partner helping to shape Pew’s brand and articulate its mission. Through comprehensive storytelling, the team amplifies Pew’s message and crafts tailored materials that resonate with and engage our audiences.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Senior Director of editorial, the associate director is an integral part of the editorial department leadership team, devising and implementing department policies and procedures together with the senior director and another associate director. The associate director, editorial, is responsible for leading, guiding, coaching, and supervising a team of content editors and several freelance content editors (for whom the associate director, editorial, maintains budget responsibility) who ensure the timely content editing of Pew editorial products for both print and digital platforms. This includes reports, briefs, fact sheets, articles, and other institutional materials as well as scripts and framing text that connect research to broader audiences. The associate director, editorial, also contributes to the production of Trust and Trend magazine, and serves as the content editor for several TOPs, which includes strategic planning of upcoming editorial products as well as senior-level line and structural edits, and will help in identifying new ways of sharing Pew’s work on digital platforms.

In addition, the associate director will contribute to collaborative teams that bring together editors, designers, multimedia producers, and digital strategists to plan and shape multi-format storytelling projects. Such projects may include video series, podcasts, digital features, and other serialized content that expands Pew’s reach and impact. The associate director will also be an important backstop on reputational risk management and assist the senior director with fine-tuning editorial processes and change management efforts during a time of digital and AI transformation.

This position is based in the Washington, DC, office, and will participate in Pew’s hybrid work program with core days in the office and the flexibility to telework the remaining days. Staff also enjoy four “flex weeks” per year.

Responsibilities

Editorial oversight

• Directly supervise a team of content editors and several freelance content editors, with responsibility for performance management, staff development, and recruitment/scheduling/budgeting of the freelance content editors.
• Serve as content editor for several TOPs, which includes strategic planning of upcoming editorial products as well as senior-level line and structural edits.
• Maintain a general knowledge of issues related to Pew projects and campaigns to help ensure the highest level of editorial accuracy.
• Edit a variety of products for clarity, accuracy and impact, ensuring they meet Pew’s editorial standards and style guidelines.
• Ensure that all edited products are delivered on time and reflect Pew’s voice, standards, and commitment to accuracy and nonpartisanship.
• Work closely with policy experts, program communicators, and colleagues across communications to plan, promote, and edit content for Pew’s in-depth research reports and other established content types and also as part of broader storytelling efforts.
• Provide framing and narrative support for digital-first and multimedia products, including video scripts, podcast episodes, and serialized features.
• Collaborate with designers, producers, and digital strategists on content that integrates visuals, graphics, and other creative elements.
• Support the planning and production of special projects and cross-program storytelling initiatives as assigned.
• Explore and ideate new content types and formats, including modular content that works across multiple channels.
• Coordinate with policy experts and communications staff before editorial content is produced, to plan editorial content as part of an overall communications plan.
• Collaborate with internal communications colleagues to improve and refine coordination and processes, as needed, and contribute to special projects, as assigned.
• Work with Pew’s podcast team to develop and execute storytelling arcs reflecting our program work and outcomes and content for illustrations, charts, maps, and graphics as required.

Leadership

• Serve on editorial department leadership team, helping to plan departmental direction; discuss departmental personnel issues; and advise senior director, editorial, on devising and implementing department policies and procedures.
• Together with editorial colleagues, provide coaching and support to policy experts and communications staff to help ensure understanding of—and adherance to—Pew’s editorial approach and standards.
• Together with the senior director, editorial, promote digital fluency and new content types and strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Generally, 10 years of editing experience, including direct experience as a senior-level editor of a magazine, newspaper, podcast, etc.,
• Experience supervising staff, including managing a performance evaluation process for direct reports and providing career development advice and counsel.
• Excellent content editing skills.
• Excellent leadership skills within a complex organizational structure.
• Familiarity with AP Stylebook and Chicago Manual of Style, as well as basic search engine optimization practices.
• Demonstrated record of success in writing and editing a wide variety of public policy materials including reports, press releases, op-eds and other similar documents; preference for experience writing and editing across a range of traditional and digital platforms and content types/styles (i.e. magazines, video and audio scripts, social media tiles, narrative storytelling).
• Flexibility, creativity, and ability to assume high accountability for all areas of responsibility. Demonstration of strong collaborative spirit and leadership ability.
• Excellent oral and writing skills to effectively communicate within and outside the organization.
• Experience thinking strategically, juggling multiple priorities, being extremely well-organized, managing time effectively, and identifying resources for projects.
• Experience setting short- and long-term planning goals in line with program priorities and institutional procedures. A task-oriented style, with a focus on achieving clear and ambitious goals. Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization. Experience developing and moving projects forward with independence and autonomy.
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to develop and manage productive relationships with campaign managers and others involved in developing or implementing the communication efforts of Pew. Excellent listening skills. Demonstrated diplomatic skills.
• Experience collaborating and working productively with staff and colleagues at all levels throughout the institution. Collaborative management skills focused on working with and for a diverse group of colleagues focused on a singular institutional goal.
• Seasoned judgment, able to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be responsive, clear, and firm with colleagues.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of basic office software, including Microsoft Office.
• Familiarity with basic search engine optimization techniques a major plus.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of industry standard creative software, including Adobe Creative suite, a plus.

Travel

Some travel may be required.

Work Authorization

Candidates much be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

Pew is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or any other protected characteristics.