Journal - Deputy Editor

Summary

At Magnolia, the Deputy Editor is part of the Magnolia Journal editorial team and is responsible for guiding story copy from concept to final publication. This position assigns and edits stories for each issue and writes stories as needed. The Deputy Editor is responsible for communicating with other Magnolia departments and partners to ensure a successful publication. This position works from Magnolia Headquarters in Waco, Texas and reports to the Editorial Production Director.

The role has no supervisory responsibilities.

• Collaborate with team in brainstorming, pitching, and developing stories for each Magnolia Journal issue.
• Partner with Executive Editor to finalize story direction and assignments, and to obtain copy approvals.
• Assign stories to writers and manage freelance deliverables.
• Serve as primary editorial contact to communicate overall story direction, edits, needs, and fielding questions from writers.
• Write and edit assigned stories to the Magnolia standard.
• Collaborate with design and photo team members to align on copy and visuals from conception to execution.
• Serve as an editorial contact for publishers with regard to copy and story direction.
• Work alongside publisher’s copy editors and proofreaders to make final edits before each issue goes to print.
• Stay up-to-date on consumer insights and home design trends.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Metrics evaluated on Performance Review.

• Teamwork:
  Contribute to a team environment supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Work effectively with others and contribute toward team goals.
• Critical Thinking:
  Propose creative solutions within specific specialization. Ability to analyze data, trends, and patterns.
• Expertise:
  Expert in knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques relevant to specialization. Able to develop expertise in related areas.
• Communication:
  Actively engage in listening to teammates and guests and be open to feedback from guests, peers, and management.
• Guest Focus:
  Ability to proactively understand and meet guest needs, ensuring a personalized and guest‑centric experience.
• Strategy and Goal Setting:
  Approach change with positivity and curiosity; know your role in achieving team goals.
• Hard skills:
  Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite required. Experience in Adobe InCopy and Wood Wing preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree from a 4‑year college or university preferred.
• 2–4 years of experience with a related degree, 4–7 years with a non‑related degree, or 5+ years of industry experience preferred.
• Editorial experience preferred.
• Available to work evenings and weekends occasionally as business needs require.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and arms to reach, handle, feel; utilize fine motor dexterity of fingers; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Magnolia is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy‑related conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.