Senior Manager, Custom Content

Hearst•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Director of the Custom Content Studio, the Senior Manager serves as a managing editor and assigning editor, leading editorial development and production for The Dallas Morning News and its brand extensions. This hands-on editorial role focuses on identifying strong story ideas, assigning and developing stories with writers, collaborating with subject-matter experts, and editing stories from pitch through publication. Much of the role focuses on FWD>DFW, a social responsibility platform created in partnership with The Dallas Morning News, as well as brand extensions such as Abode and Timeless in Texas, special editorial and advertising sections, and sponsored content on dallasnews.com. The Senior Manager helps shape editorial direction, maintain calendars, manage assignments and deadlines, and ensure accuracy, clarity, voice, and storytelling quality. It is primarily an editorial role, rather than a campaign management, social media, or content strategy position. The role produces content for print and digital platforms, with a significant focus on longer-form editorial storytelling. It involves working with content management systems, using analytics, SEO practices, and audience insights to inform story development, and collaborating with the Senior Director and colleagues across the Custom Content Studio. The Senior Manager also provides editorial support for other content marketing programs and studio clients as needed.

Requirements

Strong editorial experience and the ability to identify good stories, assign them, and give writers direction.
Strong line and developmental editing skills, including the ability to improve a story without losing the writer’s voice.
Curiosity and genuine interest in people, communities, and compelling stories.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple writers, assignments, editorial calendars, and deadlines.
Collaborative confidence when working with writers, editors, clients, subject-matter experts, and internal stakeholders.
Adaptability across brands, audiences, subjects, and editorial styles.
Comfort with print and digital publishing, including longer-form editorial content.
Understanding of how audience analytics and SEO can inform editorial decisions without replacing editorial judgment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, advertising, English, or a related field.
Six or more years of professional editing experience, preferably in a newsroom, magazine, publishing, custom content, or similar editorial environment.
Experience assigning and developing stories, particularly longer-form or feature stories.
Excellent command of English and strong proofreading and fact-checking skills.
Experience editing for substance, structure, clarity, tone, voice, and style.
Experience working with both print and digital publications.
Experience working with writers and subject-matter experts to develop stories from initial idea through publication.
Understanding of SEO and audience analytics as they relate to editorial content.
Familiarity with CMS platforms such as Arc and WordPress.
Experience with project management platforms such as Mavenlink and Asana.
Experience in both editorial and content marketing environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary assigning editor for FWD>DFW and provide editorial support across other Dallas Morning News brand extensions and custom content programs.
Develop and maintain editorial calendars, balancing planned features, timely opportunities, and ongoing content needs.
Generate, evaluate, and refine story ideas based on audience interests, client objectives, editorial priorities, and subject-matter expertise.
Assign stories to staff and freelance writers and provide clear direction, expectations, and deadlines.
Work with writers throughout reporting and writing to develop substantive stories.
Edit stories for substance, accuracy, clarity, structure, voice, grammar, and style.
Work with writers to strengthen reporting, organization, storytelling, and overall impact while preserving the writer’s voice.
Ensure content suits its intended audience, brand, and platform; proofread and fact-check it before publication.
Manage stories from assignment through final approval and publication.
Cultivate relationships with subject-matter experts, community leaders, organizations, and other sources.
Identify new voices and potential contributors to strengthen the editorial quality and diversity of coverage.
Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to develop credible, compelling stories.
Produce content across print and digital platforms and shape stories for the appropriate format, audience, and publication channel.
Work within content management systems including Arc and WordPress.
Use analytics, SEO best practices, and audience insights to inform story development and improve content performance.
Partner with the Senior Director and broader Custom Content Studio on editorial priorities, timelines, and production.
Provide editorial support for additional content marketing programs and studio clients as needed.
Collaborate with designers, project managers, marketing partners, sales teams, and other stakeholders to keep projects moving while maintaining editorial standards.
Manage multiple assignments and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.