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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for English Editor

💰 $65,000 - $90,000

Writing & EditingContent CreationMarketing & CommunicationsMedia & Publishing

🎯 Role Definition

As our English Editor, you will be the final checkpoint for all written content, serving as the ultimate guardian of quality, clarity, and consistency. You are not just a proofreader; you are a strategic partner who collaborates closely with writers, marketers, and subject matter experts to shape narratives and enhance readability. Your role is critical in upholding our brand's voice and editorial standards across all platforms, from long-form articles and white papers to marketing copy and social media posts. We're looking for a word enthusiast with a hawk-eye for detail who thrives on transforming good content into exceptional content.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Editor / Editorial Assistant
  • Copywriter / Content Writer
  • Communications Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Editor / Lead Editor
  • Managing Editor
  • Content Strategist

Lateral Moves:

  • Content Manager
  • Technical Writer
  • UX Writer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform substantive, line, and copy-editing on a wide variety of content, including blog posts, white papers, case studies, website copy, and marketing materials, to ensure impeccable grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style.
  • Collaborate closely with writers and subject matter experts to provide constructive, insightful feedback that refines arguments, improves clarity, and enhances overall content quality.
  • Verify the accuracy of all factual claims, statistics, and references through rigorous fact-checking, ensuring the credibility and integrity of our publications.
  • Manage the end-to-end editorial workflow, from first draft submission to final publication, ensuring all content moves efficiently through the pipeline and meets strict deadlines.
  • Rewrite, rephrase, and restructure sentences and paragraphs as necessary to improve readability, flow, and engagement for our target audience.
  • Uphold and enforce brand voice, tone, and messaging consistency across all internal and external communications.
  • Review and approve final layouts and proofs for both digital and print materials, ensuring text and visuals are perfectly aligned before going live or to press.
    p- Perform developmental editing on long-form content, assessing the overall structure, narrative arc, and logical flow to ensure the piece achieves its strategic objectives.
  • Manage and prioritize multiple, concurrent editing projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment without compromising quality.
  • Ensure all content is culturally sensitive, inclusive, and legally compliant, proactively flagging any potential issues for review and resolution.
  • Adapt and tailor content for various distribution channels and formats, understanding the nuances required for web pages, social media, email newsletters, and more.
  • Evaluate and edit content for logical consistency, ensuring that a clear and cohesive message is maintained from start to finish.

Secondary Functions

  • Develop, maintain, and update the company's official style guide, glossaries, and editorial best-practice documentation to ensure consistency across the organization.
  • Optimize written content for search engines (SEO) by ensuring proper keyword integration, effective heading structures, and compelling meta descriptions, in collaboration with the SEO team.
  • Mentor and provide guidance to junior writers and content contributors, helping them to grow their skills and better align with our editorial standards.
  • Create and help manage the editorial calendar alongside the content and marketing teams to plan for a consistent and strategic pipeline of high-quality content.
  • Participate actively in content strategy and brainstorming sessions, contributing creative ideas for new articles, campaigns, and other content-driven projects.
  • Analyze content performance metrics and audience feedback to identify trends and opportunities for improving future editorial strategies and content effectiveness.
  • Localize content for different English-speaking markets (e.g., US vs. UK English) by adapting spelling, terminology, and cultural references as required.
  • Conduct regular quality assurance (QA) audits on existing published content to identify and correct any legacy errors or outdated information.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Exceptional, world-class command of the English language, including grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Deep expertise in major style guides, particularly the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style.
  • Strong, practical understanding of SEO principles and their application within written content.
  • Proficiency with content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Drupal, or Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
  • Familiarity with collaborative and project management software like Asana, Trello, Jira, or similar tools.
  • Competency in using markup languages like Markdown or basic HTML for content formatting.

Soft Skills

  • Meticulous, unwavering attention to detail and a deep-seated commitment to accuracy.
  • Superior communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to provide and receive constructive feedback gracefully.
  • Excellent organizational and time-management abilities, capable of juggling multiple projects and competing priorities effectively.
  • A highly collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including writers, designers, and marketers.
  • Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to dissect complex topics and propose clarity-enhancing solutions.
  • Adaptability and a positive attitude toward working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and constantly evolving environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in a relevant field or a certificate in editing/publishing.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • English or English Literature
  • Journalism
  • Communications
  • Marketing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5+ years of professional experience in an editing, proofreading, or content-focused role.

Preferred:

  • Experience editing a diverse range of content types, including both short-form marketing copy and long-form thought leadership.
  • A strong portfolio showcasing before-and-after editing examples.
  • Previous experience working in a fast-paced agency, tech company, or media publishing environment.