Associate Director, Editorial

Overview

The associate director, editorial, reports to the Senior Director of editorial and is an integral part of the editorial department leadership team. The role devises and implements department policies and procedures in collaboration with the senior director and another associate director. The associate director leads, guides, coaches, and supervises a team of content editors and freelance editors, ensuring timely content editing for Pew editorial products across print and digital platforms, including reports, briefs, fact sheets, articles, scripts, and framing text that connect research to broader audiences.

The position also contributes to the production of Trust and Trend magazine, serves as the content editor for several TOPs, plans upcoming editorial products, and participates in identifying new ways to share Pew’s work on digital platforms. It involves strategic planning, senior-level edits, and collaboration on multi-format storytelling projects.

This position is based in the Washington, DC office and participates in Pew’s hybrid work program with core in-office days and telework on remaining days. Staff also enjoy four “flex weeks” per year.

Editorial oversight

• Directly supervise a team of content editors and several freelance content editors, with responsibility for performance management, staff development, and recruitment/scheduling/budgeting of the freelance editors.
• Serve as content editor for several TOPs, including strategic planning of upcoming editorial products and senior-level line and structural edits.
• Maintain general knowledge of issues related to Pew projects and campaigns to ensure editorial accuracy.
• Edit a variety of products for clarity, accuracy and impact, meeting Pew’s editorial standards and style guidelines.
• Ensure all edited products are delivered on time and reflect Pew’s voice, standards, and commitment to accuracy and nonpartisanship.
• Collaborate with policy experts, program communicators, and colleagues across communications to plan, promote, and edit content for Pew’s in-depth research reports and other established content types and broader storytelling efforts.
• Provide framing and narrative support for digital-first and multimedia products, including video scripts, podcast episodes, and serialized features.
• Collaborate with designers, producers, and digital strategists on content that integrates visuals, graphics, and other creative elements.
• Support the planning and production of special projects and cross-program storytelling initiatives.
• Explore and ideate new content types and formats, including modular content that works across multiple channels.
• Coordinate with policy experts and communications staff before editorial content is produced, to plan content as part of an overall communications plan.
• Collaborate with internal communications colleagues to improve coordination and processes, and contribute to special projects as assigned.
• Work with Pew’s podcast team to develop storytelling arcs and content for illustrations, charts, maps, and graphics as required.

Leadership

• Serve on the editorial department leadership team, helping plan departmental direction and advise senior leadership on department policies and procedures.
• Provide coaching and support to policy experts and communications staff to ensure understanding of Pew’s editorial approach and standards.
• Promote digital fluency and new content types and strategies in collaboration with editorial colleagues.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Generally, 10 years of editing experience, including direct experience as a senior-level editor of a magazine, newspaper, podcast, etc.
• Experience supervising staff, including managing a performance evaluation process and providing career development advice.
• Excellent content editing skills and leadership abilities within a complex organization.
• Familiarity with AP Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style, and basic SEO practices.
• Demonstrated success in writing and editing a wide variety of public policy materials; experience across traditional and digital platforms and content types/styles.
• Flexibility, creativity, accountability,…