Managing Editor for 'War on the Rocks' - Leading National Security Media Outlet

War on the Rocks•Washington, DC

32d•Hybrid

About The Position

War on the Rocks (https://warontherocks.com) is seeking a detail-oriented, creative, and enthusiastic managing editor to join our editorial team. This is a hybrid position, with employees working in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Candidates must live in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area or be willing to relocate there. The managing editor will help oversee the publication and editorial process for commentary articles, working closely with our editors, contributors, and other members of the War on the Rocks team. Responsibilities will include stewarding articles from submission through publication, editing for argument, structure, clarity, and style, managing editorial workflows and deadlines, and helping maintain the quality and consistency of the publication. Our contributors include current and former military personnel, civilian national security practitioners, government officials, scholars, and members of the defense industry. The successful candidate will be comfortable working with authors who possess deep subject-matter expertise but varying levels of writing experience. We are looking for someone with a strong background in national security and the judgment to evaluate arguments about strategy, defense, and foreign affairs. This position is not a good fit for candidates whose experience has been primarily in journalism without substantial exposure to national security policy or practice. War on the Rocks serves a community passionate about strategy, defense, and foreign affairs. Founded in 2013, War on the Rocks seeks to improve professional and public discourse on issues of strategic importance by publishing experienced and authoritative voices through articles, essays, and podcasts. We value camaraderie, creativity, expertise, intellectual seriousness, and editorial excellence.

Requirements

Five years of editorial experience (demonstrating serious and sustained wordsmithing).
Deep familiarity with defense and foreign policy issues (minimum of five years of professional experience, not inclusive of graduate education or internships).
Exceptional and obsessive attention to detail.
Passion for developing, improving, and maintaining organized editorial processes.
Proven ability to produce excellent work under short deadlines while managing longer-term projects.
Exceptional command of written English, including the ability to make prose clearer, more precise, and more elegant.
Patience, rigor, and sound editorial judgment.
Ability to work collegially with authors and colleagues.
Flexibility to take on a range of responsibilities as part of a small team.
Right to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the U.S. armed forces, the Department of Defense, or the Department of State.
MA or other advanced degree in international relations, strategic studies, military science, or a related topic.

Responsibilities

Oversee the publication and editorial process for commentary articles.
Work closely with editors, contributors, and other team members.
Steward articles from submission through publication.
Edit articles for argument, structure, clarity, and style.
Manage editorial workflows and deadlines.
Help maintain the quality and consistency of the publication.
Work with authors who possess deep subject-matter expertise but varying levels of writing experience.
Evaluate arguments about strategy, defense, and foreign affairs.
Take on a range of responsibilities as part of a small team.