Associate Director, Editorial

The Pew Charitable Trusts • Washington, DC

12d • $154,200 - $172,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications department supports leaders across the institution by promoting projects and campaigns, informing audiences, and protecting and advancing Pew’s reputation. Its editorial team helps shape Pew’s brand and articulate its mission through storytelling and tailored content.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Editorial, the Associate Director is part of the editorial department leadership team and helps devise and implement departmental policies and procedures. The role leads, coaches, and supervises staff content editors and freelance editors, including responsibility for freelance-editor budgets. It oversees timely editing of print and digital products, including reports, briefs, fact sheets, articles, institutional materials, scripts, and framing text. The Associate Director also contributes to Trust and Trend magazine and serves as content editor for several Trusts-operated projects, including strategic planning and senior-level line and structural editing.

The Associate Director collaborates with editors, designers, multimedia producers, and digital strategists on multi-format storytelling, such as video series, podcasts, digital features, and serialized content. The role supports reputational risk management, helps refine editorial processes and change management during digital and AI transformation, and promotes digital fluency and new content formats.

The position is based in Pew’s Washington, DC, office and participates in a hybrid work program, with core days in the office and flexibility to telework on remaining days. Staff also receive four flex weeks per year. Some travel may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Generally, 10 years of editing experience, including direct experience as a senior-level editor of a magazine, newspaper, podcast, or similar outlet.
• Experience supervising staff, managing performance evaluations for direct reports, and providing career-development advice and counsel.
• Excellent content-editing skills.
• Excellent leadership skills in a complex organizational structure.
• Familiarity with the AP Stylebook and Chicago Manual of Style.
• A demonstrated record of success writing and editing public-policy materials, including reports, press releases, op-eds, and similar documents.
• Flexibility, creativity, accountability, collaborative spirit, and leadership ability.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience thinking strategically, managing multiple priorities, staying organized, managing time, and identifying project resources.
• Experience setting short- and long-term planning goals aligned with program priorities and institutional procedures.
• Task-oriented approach focused on clear and ambitious goals; ability to meet multiple deadlines through strong organization.
• Experience independently developing and advancing projects with autonomy.
• Strong interpersonal, listening, and diplomatic skills, including the ability to develop and manage productive relationships with campaign managers and others involved in Pew communications efforts.
• Experience collaborating productively with colleagues at all organizational levels and working with a diverse group toward shared institutional goals.
• Seasoned judgment and the ability to make decisions, justify recommendations, and communicate responsively, clearly, and firmly.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of basic office software, including Microsoft Office.
• Legally authorized to work in the country of employment without visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Experience writing and editing across traditional and digital platforms and content types, such as magazines, video and audio scripts, social media tiles, and narrative storytelling.
• Familiarity with basic search engine optimization techniques.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of industry-standard creative software, including Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

• Supervise content editors and freelance content editors, including performance management, staff development, recruitment, scheduling, and freelance-editor budgeting.
• Serve as content editor for several Trusts-operated projects, including strategic planning of upcoming editorial products and senior-level line and structural edits.
• Maintain general knowledge of issues related to Pew projects and campaigns to support editorial accuracy.
• Edit a variety of products for clarity, accuracy, and impact, ensuring they meet Pew’s editorial standards and style guidelines.
• Ensure edited products are delivered on time and reflect Pew’s voice, standards, accuracy, and nonpartisanship.
• Work with policy experts, program communicators, and Communications colleagues to plan, promote, and edit research reports and other established content types, as well as 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 integrating visuals, graphics, and other creative elements.
• Support special projects and cross-program storytelling initiatives as assigned.
• Explore and develop new content types and formats, including modular content for multiple channels.
• Coordinate with policy experts and Communications staff before content production to plan editorial work as part of an overall communications plan.
• Collaborate with internal Communications colleagues to improve coordination and processes, and contribute to special projects as assigned.
• Work with Pew’s podcast team to develop and execute storytelling arcs reflecting program work and outcomes, and develop content for illustrations, charts, maps, and graphics as required.
• Serve on the editorial department leadership team, help plan departmental direction, discuss personnel issues, and advise the Senior Director of Editorial on policies and procedures.
• Coach and support policy experts and Communications staff in understanding and adhering to Pew’s editorial approach and standards.
• Work with the Senior Director of Editorial to promote digital fluency and new content types and strategies.

Benefits

• Comprehensive, affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Health savings and flexible spending accounts.
• Retirement benefits.
• Work/life benefits.
• Hybrid work program with flexibility to telework on days beyond core office days.
• Four flex weeks per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior