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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for E-Publishing Editor

💰 $55,000 - $85,000

PublishingEditingDigital MediaContent Management

🎯 Role Definition

As an E-Publishing Editor, you are the crucial link between traditional editorial excellence and the dynamic world of digital media. You will be responsible for shepherding content through its entire digital lifecycle, from initial manuscript conversion to final publication across multiple electronic platforms. This role requires a unique blend of sharp editorial skills, technical savvy, and a keen understanding of digital content trends, SEO, and user experience. You'll work collaboratively with authors, designers, and marketing teams to produce compelling, high-quality digital publications that engage and grow our audience.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Editorial Assistant
  • Copyeditor
  • Content Coordinator
  • Digital Production Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Senior E-Publishing Editor
  • Managing Editor (Digital)
  • Content Strategist
  • Digital Production Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Content Manager
  • SEO Specialist
  • Digital Marketing Manager
  • Technical Writer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Oversee the entire digital production process for eBooks, from manuscript receipt to final file distribution, ensuring adherence to project schedules and quality standards.
  • Perform meticulous copyediting and proofreading on digital content, including articles, blog posts, and eBooks, to correct errors in grammar, punctuation, syntax, and style.
  • Manage the conversion of manuscripts into various digital formats (e.g., EPUB, MOBI, PDF), troubleshooting and resolving any formatting or technical issues that arise.
  • Collaborate with authors, designers, and project managers to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow and to maintain a consistent brand voice and style across all digital publications.
  • Implement and manage metadata for all digital assets, including keywords, descriptions, and categorization, to optimize discoverability on retail platforms and search engines (SEO).
  • Conduct comprehensive quality assurance (QA) checks on final digital files across multiple devices and e-reading platforms (e.g., Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo) to ensure a flawless user experience.
  • Manage content uploads, updates, and maintenance on various content management systems (CMS) and digital asset management (DAM) platforms.
  • Develop and maintain house style guides and technical documentation specific to digital content, ensuring consistency and training other team members as needed.
  • Review and edit XML/HTML code within digital files to correct structural, semantic, and display issues, ensuring compliance with industry standards like EPUB3.
  • Stay current with emerging trends, technologies, and standards in digital publishing, accessibility (WCAG), and e-reader technology, and recommend process improvements.
  • Work closely with the marketing team to prepare and optimize content for promotional activities, including creating excerpts, landing page copy, and email newsletters.
  • Manage relationships with external vendors, freelancers, and conversion houses, providing clear instructions and feedback to ensure high-quality deliverables.
  • Analyze content performance metrics and user feedback to identify areas for improvement in content quality, formatting, and reader engagement.
  • Coordinate the correction and redistribution of updated files to all digital sales channels when errors are identified post-publication.
  • Ensure all digital content adheres to legal guidelines, including copyright, permissions, and attribution for third-party assets like images and quotes.
  • Edit and structure online articles and web content for readability and SEO, incorporating best practices for headings, subheadings, internal linking, and keyword placement.
  • Prepare and process digital image assets, ensuring they are optimized for web and e-reader display in terms of resolution, file size, and color profile.
  • Manage the publishing schedule for a portfolio of digital titles or a content calendar, tracking key milestones and communicating status updates to stakeholders.
  • Perform substantive and developmental editing on digital-first content, helping authors to shape their narrative, structure, and arguments for a digital audience.
  • Adapt print-ready content for digital formats, which includes re-evaluating layout, interactivity, and multimedia elements to best suit the digital medium.
  • Champion and enforce accessibility standards (WCAG) in all eBooks and digital content, ensuring they are usable by people with disabilities, including proper tagging and alt-text for images.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the acquisitions team by evaluating the technical feasibility of complex digital projects.
  • Contribute to the organization's digital strategy by providing insights on production capabilities and industry trends.
  • Collaborate with the IT and technology departments to test and implement new e-publishing software and tools.
  • Participate in team meetings and brainstorming sessions to improve editorial and production workflows.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert proficiency in editing and proofreading using style guides like The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) or AP Style.
  • Advanced knowledge of digital publishing formats, particularly EPUB (EPUB2/EPUB3) and MOBI.
  • Proficiency with content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Drupal, or proprietary systems.
  • Strong understanding of HTML and CSS, specifically for styling and structuring eBooks and web content.
  • Experience with XML editing and schemas (e.g., JATS, BITS) is highly desirable.
  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat Pro) for content creation and manipulation.
  • Experience with eBook quality assurance tools and platforms like Kindle Previewer, Adobe Digital Editions, and EPUBCheck.
  • Strong familiarity with SEO principles and best practices for on-page optimization.
  • Knowledge of digital asset management (DAM) systems and metadata standards (e.g., ONIX).
  • Experience with version control systems and collaborative platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
  • Deep understanding of web and digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) and their application in digital publications.

Soft Skills

  • Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills.
  • Strong project management and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
  • Proactive problem-solving abilities, especially when facing technical challenges.
  • High degree of adaptability and a willingness to learn new technologies and processes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in a relevant field or a professional publishing certificate.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • English
  • Journalism
  • Communications
  • Publishing
  • Media Studies
  • Technical Writing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-5 years of experience in a digital editorial or production role.

Preferred:

  • Direct experience in a publishing house, media company, or content-driven organization with a focus on digital products. A professional portfolio of published digital projects (eBooks, websites, etc.) is a strong plus.
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