SENIOR TECHNICAL EDITOR

T White Parker•Washington, DC

8d•$105,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Provides senior-level editing support and oversight for the technical documentation supporting a transportation research center. Transforms raw data and engineering jargon into clear, accurate, and authoritative documents that meet the agency's requirements. Ensures stylistic consistency across large-scale programs, mentors junior staff, and collaborates with the Project Manager to direct staff and assign tasks. Manages the document full lifecycle from initial outline to final publication, including online and web publishing. This is a full-time, dedicated, key personnel position.

Requirements

Master's degree in English, Journalism, or a technical field.
10+ years of experience, with supervisory and project management experience.
Expert-level command of the GPO Style Manual.
Working knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style.
Eye for detail in quality control for all publications and documents.
Ability to work independently, managing a document from outline to final publication, including online and web publishing.
Experience with reference checking, fact checking, and copyright compliance.
Proficient in Section 508 compliance standards as they pertains to associated guidelines (e.g., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and U.S. Access Board requirements) for content accessibility.
Ability to obtain a public trust clearance.
Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Ability to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Transportation experience, especially in surface transportation research
Knowledge of safety and operations, autonomous vehicles, human factors, roadway design, materials, and bridge engineering.

Responsibilities

Oversee the editorial process for documents ranging from one-page briefs to reports exceeding 500 pages, maintaining strict version control and quality assurance.
Direct staff, assign tasks, and mentor junior editors to ensure timely delivery of polished, publication-ready materials.
Perform substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Correct errors in grammar, spelling, style, logical flow, punctuation, and format, and verify technical accuracy.
Ensure each document conforms to the Agency’s current Reference Guide and the GPO Style Manual, using the Chicago Manual of Style for references and content those two don't cover.
Check references and facts, and ensure copyright compliance, including copyrights, product names, and trademarks.
Ensure all publications, web content, and outreach materials comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, including alternative text.
Implement the Quality Control Plan: identify, prevent, and correct defects, and report on quality efforts at regular meetings with the client.
Coordinate review and approval with technical reviewers, program offices, public affairs office, chief counsel office, and track products in the R&D submission and tracking system.
Support online and web publishing, including web, SharePoint, and Google Sites versions, and provide archive files.
Meet ad hoc requests that often require same- or next-day turnaround, and coordinate accelerated schedules with the client.