Senior Science Editor

Buck Institute•Novato, CA

3d•$125,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Science Editor serves as the Buck Institute for Research on Aging’s primary scientific journalistic voice and editorial strategist. The role translates advances in geroscience, cell biology, and longevity into narrative-driven feature articles, researcher profiles, and investigative-style scientific commentary for a global audience that includes science-literate donors, academic peers, media partners, and the public. The editor shapes the Buck’s science story strategy by interviewing leading researchers, proposing high-impact editorial series, and reading primary scientific literature to identify stories at the frontier of aging research. The position develops and maintains an editorial calendar, creates philanthropic narratives and content across multiple platforms, and helps lead scientific content development for a new institutional website. It also supports external media engagement and prepares faculty experts for high-profile interviews. This hybrid position is based at the Buck Institute in Novato, California, with four days per week on campus. Travel is estimated at up to 10%, including regular local travel throughout the Bay Area and periodic domestic trips. The role includes occasional evening and weekend events. The anticipated annual salary range is $125,000 to $150,000.

Requirements

At least 5 years of professional science writing and editing experience, with a background in science journalism or editorial teams at research institutions.
Ability to read peer-reviewed journals and translate complex biology, genetics, and geroscience from primary sources into engaging narratives for lay audiences while preserving scientific nuance.
Mastery of developmental editing, narrative arc building, and interviewing senior scientists.
Excellent interpersonal skills to build trust with principal investigators, executive leadership, and philanthropy teams.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple writing deadlines and editorial projects simultaneously.
Bachelor’s degree in Science Communication, Biology, Journalism, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience.
Experience covering aging biology, geroscience, or biomedical research.
Experience writing for philanthropic audiences.

Responsibilities

Conduct in-depth interviews with Buck principal investigators and write long-form features, researcher profiles, and explanatory pieces about geroscience and longevity.
Translate complex biomedical and biological breakthroughs into rigorous, readable narratives for intellectually curious audiences.
Develop and maintain a cross-channel editorial calendar aligned with research publications, institutional milestones, events, and fundraising priorities.
Translate institutional research initiatives into narrative-driven case statements, white papers, and donor communications for science-literate philanthropists and institutional partners.
Write and edit content for digital publications, newsletters, executive op-eds, video scripts, and presentation narratives.
Help lead scientific content creation for a new institutional website.
Maintain institutional editorial guidelines and ensure clarity, journalistic rigor, and scientific accuracy across communications.
Pitch original story concepts to external science editors, media outlets, and journalists.
Help prepare faculty experts for high-profile interviews.
Read primary scientific literature to identify stories at the frontier of aging research.