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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Feature Editor

💰 $75,000 - $110,000

MediaPublishingContent StrategyEditorialJournalism

🎯 Role Definition

The Feature Editor is a pivotal creative force within our editorial team, responsible for shaping the voice, quality, and direction of our most ambitious content. This role involves conceptualizing, commissioning, and meticulously editing in-depth features, investigative reports, and compelling human-interest stories. You will manage a diverse roster of freelance writers, collaborate with visual and audience teams, and ensure every piece meets the highest standards of journalistic integrity and storytelling excellence. This position is ideal for a seasoned editor with a sharp eye for a great story, a passion for nurturing talent, and a strategic understanding of how to make content resonate in a crowded digital landscape.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Staff Writer / Senior Writer
  • Associate Editor
  • Section Editor

Advancement To:

  • Senior Features Editor / Deputy Editor
  • Managing Editor
  • Editor-in-Chief / Head of Content

Lateral Moves:

  • Content Strategist
  • Brand Editor
  • Communications Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Generate a continuous pipeline of original, timely, and ambitious story ideas that align with our brand's voice and strategic goals.
  • Commission, assign, and edit a high volume of long-form features, investigative pieces, profiles, and personal essays from both staff and freelance writers.
  • Own the end-to-end editorial workflow for features, from initial pitch and writer assignment through structural editing, line editing, and final approval.
  • Cultivate, manage, and expand a diverse and talented network of freelance contributors, journalists, and subject matter experts.
  • Uphold and evolve the publication's editorial standards, ensuring all content is accurate, fair, well-sourced, and legally vetted.
  • Provide constructive, insightful, and motivating feedback to writers to elevate their work and develop their skills.
  • Top-edit and proofread content for clarity, consistency, grammar, and adherence to our in-house style guide.
  • Write and refine powerful, SEO-friendly headlines, subheadings, and deks that capture reader attention and drive traffic.
  • Collaborate closely with the art, photo, and video departments to develop visually stunning and integrated multimedia packages.
  • Masterfully package features for digital publication, considering user experience, readability, and visual flow.
  • Ensure the timely delivery and publication of all feature content by managing a detailed editorial calendar.
  • Stay obsessively current on industry trends, cultural conversations, and competitor content to identify unique angles and white-space opportunities.

Secondary Functions

  • Analyze content performance using tools like Google Analytics and Parse.ly to inform future editorial strategy and content decisions.
  • Collaborate with the audience engagement and social media teams to create effective promotion strategies for key features.
  • Manage the features budget, including negotiating rates and contracts with freelance writers and external partners.
  • Spearhead special editorial projects, themed packages, and tentpole initiatives from conception to execution.
  • Mentor junior editors and staff writers, fostering a culture of editorial excellence and professional growth.
  • Participate in and contribute to high-level editorial planning meetings and content strategy sessions.
  • Represent the brand at industry conferences, panels, and events to build our network and reputation.
  • Work cross-functionally with product and marketing teams to develop new content formats and improve the user experience.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to uncover new content opportunities.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by providing an editorial perspective.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements for content tools.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the broader content and product teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert-Level Editing: Mastery of structural, line, and copy editing with a portfolio of exceptional published work.
  • CMS Proficiency: Deep experience working within various Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, Chorus, Arc).
  • SEO & Analytics: Strong, practical knowledge of SEO best practices and proficiency with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, SEMrush, Ahrefs).
  • Project Management: Expertise in using project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Airtable) to manage complex editorial workflows.
  • Digital Publishing Tools: Familiarity with the full suite of digital publishing tools for packaging and promoting content.
  • Editorial Style Guides: In-depth knowledge of major style guides, such as AP Style or The Chicago Manual of Style.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Storytelling: An innate ability to identify a compelling narrative and shape it into a powerful, engaging story.
  • Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead, manage, and inspire writers and junior editors to produce their best work.
  • Strategic Thinking: The capacity to think big-picture about content strategy while maintaining a meticulous eye for detail.
  • Communication & Collaboration: Superb verbal and written communication skills for seamless collaboration with writers and internal teams.
  • Deadline-Driven Management: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment, juggling multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Creativity & Innovation: A talent for generating fresh, unexpected ideas and a desire to push creative boundaries.
  • Networking & Relationship Building: A strong existing network of writers and the ability to continuously cultivate new relationships.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Journalism
  • Communications
  • English
  • Liberal Arts

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5-8 years of progressive editorial experience, with a significant portion focused on editing long-form features for a reputable digital or print publication.

Preferred:

  • Experience in a fast-paced digital newsroom or media company.
  • A strong portfolio of edited features that demonstrates a high level of skill in storytelling, reporting, and shaping narrative.
  • Proven experience managing a budget and a roster of freelance contributors.
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