Editor, Personal Services Contractor

United States Institute Of Peace - Washington, DC

Full-time

Washington, DC

About the position

The Publications Editor at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) plays a crucial role in the editorial project management of various print-based products, including books, reports, and guides. This position is integral to maintaining the highest standards of quality for the USIP publication portfolio, ensuring that all products are consistent in style, branding, messaging, and dissemination. The Editor will work closely with the Managing Editor, Director of Publications, and the Publications team to oversee the editorial and production workflow of accepted projects. This includes reviewing and evaluating manuscripts submitted for publication, providing substantive editorial feedback, and collaborating with staff and freelance editors to ensure timely and high-quality outputs. In this full-time Personal Services Contractor (PSC) role, the Editor will be responsible for facilitating the efficient functioning of publications by monitoring the flow of assigned manuscripts from receipt to final publication. This involves preparing author queries, resolving questions during the production phase, and evaluating the work of development editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders to ensure adherence to USIP style. The Editor will also edit reports and other printed materials as needed, especially during peak periods, and will be involved in proofreading formatted manuscripts using Adobe InDesign. Additionally, the Editor will track and report on all stages of editorial development and production for projects in the publications pipeline, ensuring that all work is delivered on time and within budget. This role requires excellent communication skills, as the Editor will serve as a liaison to program staff and authors regarding the publication process, policies, and guidelines. The position also involves identifying opportunities for the Publications Department to advance the strategic goals of the Institute and performing other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate manuscripts submitted for publication and communicate decisions to program staff and authors.
• Review draft (pre-submission) manuscripts and provide substantive editorial feedback to program staff and authors.
• Collaborate in managing the editorial and production workflow of projects accepted for publication, including guiding and reviewing the work of staff and freelance editors, proofreaders, indexers, and other contributors.
• Facilitate efficient functioning of publications by monitoring flow of assigned manuscripts and other content from receipt to final publication, inventories, submission to acceptance and acceptance to publication turnaround times, and editorial deadlines, and peer reviewer performance.
• Prepare author queries and resolve author questions in production phase.
• Evaluate work of development editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders; ensure all editing and proofing work conforms to USIP style.
• Edit reports and other printed materials for publication as needed, especially during peak periods.
• Proofread formatted manuscripts.
• Review, approve, and input proofreading corrections into proofs using Adobe InDesign.
• Prepare consolidated proof sets from formatted pages through final pages.
• Schedule, hire, and coordinate payment for editors and proofreaders.
• Collaborate in tracking and reporting on all stages of editorial development and production for projects in the publications pipeline.
• Ensure all work is delivered on time and within budget.
• Prepare financial reports for Publications Leadership and programs.
• Serve as a liaison to program staff and authors on all aspects of the publication process and workflow, including policies, guidelines, and style.
• Assist in identifying opportunities for the Publications Department to advance the strategic goals and objectives of the Institute.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in English, journalism, international relations, or related field is required.
• Six (6) years of editing experience is required.
• Ability to multitask and meet aggressive deadlines.
• Enthusiasm for working effectively with other staff members in varying roles and in different departments.
• Experience in developing and launching editorial workflow solutions in the nonprofit space is highly preferred.
• Background in international affairs or peace studies is highly preferred.
• Experience in scholarly publishing is highly preferred, particularly related to international affairs.
• Deep working knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Exceptionally organized and detail-oriented, with an ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high standards of quality and tight editorial and production schedules.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Active learner with interest and ability to quickly learn from teammates and colleagues.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, InCopy, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat Professional) and publishing content management systems is highly preferred.
• Must have project management experience.
• Must have a track record of exemplary management and leadership skills, including recognizing strong authors and editors and fostering an environment that inspires them to do their best work.
• Sound judgment in problem-solving while coordinating and managing a myriad of editorial activities and excellent analytical skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in developing and launching editorial workflow solutions in the nonprofit space.
• Background in international affairs or peace studies.
• Experience in scholarly publishing, particularly related to international affairs.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, InCopy, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat Professional) and publishing content management systems.