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Developmental Editor Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Quattro Consulting LLC

Technical Editor - Mid

Reston, VA · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Supporting the development, revision, and maintenance of technical documentation, including ... Experience editing technical, intelligence, policy, or training documentation within Department of ...

CACI International, Inc.

Technical Editor

Sterling, VA · On-site

$70K - $148K/yr

Technical Editor Job Category: Engineering and Technical Support Time Type: Full time Minimum ... We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad ...

Leidos

Technical Editor (Mid)

Reston, VA · On-site

As a Technical Editor, you will support the development, review, and refinement of a variety of technical and intelligence documents for our customer. You will play a key role in ensuring the clarity ...

Cardinal Productions

Editor in Chief

Roanoke, VA

Staff recruitment and development The EIC will be responsible for hiring reporters and editors and will ensure that the news team receives clear directions on the newsroom's vision and the support ...

Leidos

Technical Editor (Mid)

Reston, VA

As a Technical Editor, you will support the development, review, and refinement of a variety of technical and intelligence documents for our customer. You will play a key role in ensuring the clarity ...

SOSi

Technical Editor, Senior

Reston, VA · On-site

Overview SOSi is currently seeking a Senior Technical Editor to provide analytical and support ... developments to expert and other interested audiences. Qualifications Minimum Requirements

K2 Group, Inc.

Technical Editor

Arlington, VA

*This is a contingent opportunity The Technical Editor is responsible for reviewing, editing, and ... developments. Desired Experience: * Prior experience supporting DoD Nuclear Command, Control ...

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Developmental Editor information

See Virginia salary details

$11

$31

$57

How much do developmental editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for developmental editor in Virginia is $31.33, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.20 and $39.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a developmental editor?

A developmental editor is a professional who works with authors to shape the overall structure, content, and flow of a manuscript. They focus on big-picture elements such as plot, character development, pacing, organization, and clarity, rather than correcting grammar or punctuation. Developmental editors provide feedback and suggestions to help authors strengthen their work, often collaborating through multiple drafts. Their goal is to help the author produce a compelling and coherent final manuscript.

What is the difference between Developmental Editor vs Copy Editor?

AspectDevelopmental EditorCopy Editor
Primary FocusBig-picture content development, structure, and overall flowLine-by-line editing, grammar, and style consistency
Skills & CredentialsStrong editing, developmental, and storytelling skills; often a background in writing or editingExcellent grammar, punctuation, and style knowledge; often a background in editing or journalism
Work EnvironmentCollaborates closely with authors and writers during manuscript developmentReviews and refines existing text for clarity and correctness

Developmental Editors focus on shaping the content's structure and overall narrative, while Copy Editors refine the language, grammar, and style. Both roles require strong editing skills but serve different stages of the editing process, making them complementary in publishing workflows.

How does a developmental editor typically collaborate with authors and other editorial team members during the manuscript development process?

Developmental editors work closely with authors, providing constructive feedback on overall structure, content flow, and character development. They often hold regular meetings or exchanges to discuss revisions and clarify the author’s vision, ensuring the manuscript meets both creative and market goals. Collaboration with copy editors, proofreaders, and sometimes project managers is also common, as developmental editors help coordinate the workflow and maintain consistency throughout the editorial process. This teamwork fosters a supportive environment focused on producing the strongest possible manuscript.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Developmental Editor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Developmental Editor, you need a strong command of language, deep understanding of narrative structure, and experience in editing or writing, often supported by a degree in English, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with editing software such as Microsoft Word (with track changes), Adobe Acrobat, and project management tools is typically required. Exceptional communication, critical thinking, and the ability to give constructive feedback help a Developmental Editor guide authors effectively. These skills ensure manuscripts are well-organized, coherent, and compelling, ultimately leading to successful publications.
What are popular job titles related to Developmental Editor jobs in Virginia? For Developmental Editor jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Developmental Editor jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Developmental Editor jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Developmental Editor jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Developmental Editor job openings:
Developmental Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Developmental Editor job openings in Virginia as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $65,164 per year, or $31.3 per hour.

English Editor

Middle East Broadcasting Networks

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Job Announcement
English Editor
About MBN
Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) is the premier Arabic-first media organization that connects the Middle East and the United States. The company is in the midst of an exciting digital transformation and looking for energetic and talented people who care about journalism and the Middle East to join us on this journey.
We provide original and indispensable reporting, perspectives and commentary on the Middle East and how America's engagement impacts the region. MBN delivers content in both Arabic and English across multiple platforms, in formats including written articles, short-form video, newsletters, podcasts, data trackers and social media.
Our target audience is decision-makers, influencers, and residents of key capitals across the Middle East, as well as the next generation of globally engaged, digitally connected youth.
About the Role
MBN reports and writes in both English and Arabic, with much of its original sourcing and reporting now coming out of Washington, DC. The English Editor sits at the center of that operation, shaping work filed in English by MBN's DC and international correspondents and, when needed, adapting Arabic-origin reporting for English-language audiences. The role calls for someone who understands that Arabic and English are not parallel systems - they carry different sentence logic, rhetorical rhythms, cultural registers, and audience expectations. Whether a story originates in English or in Arabic, the editor makes it land with the same force and authority. That requires more than language skills. It requires cultural literacy in both directions: an instinct for how English-speaking readers receive and trust, and an understanding of how Arabic-speaking journalists think and frame.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The following tasks are considered essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions:
  • Edits English-language reporting filed by MBN's Washington, DC and international correspondents - sharpening clarity, accuracy, tone, structure, and platform fit, and ensuring each piece meets MBN's editorial standards.
  • Writes and edits English headlines, subheads, social captions, and newsletter subject lines, recognizing that each platform has its own copy conventions and audience behaviors. Ensures English-language discoverability across search, social, and newsletters reflects the quality of the underlying journalism.
  • Maintains a consistent editorial voice across all English-language products - newsletters, website, podcast scripts, and social content.
  • Collaborates closely with correspondents, producers, and editors across the newsroom - in DC and abroad - on story development, framing, and editorial decisions, working in both English and Arabic as needed.
  • Adapts Arabic-origin reporting and commentary for English-language and Western audiences - preserving the argument, sourcing, and editorial intent of the original while applying the structure, rhythm, and register English-language journalism demands. Exercises independent editorial judgment on when a piece requires added context, background, or explanation that an Arabic-speaking reader would not need but an English-speaking audience requires to receive the story with full force - without diluting the original or distancing the reader from the source.
  • Identifies cultural references, idiomatic constructions, and framing conventions in Arabic-origin material that require recontextualization for English-language audiences, and makes those adjustments without losing the authenticity of the source or the voice of the journalist who filed it.
  • Serves as the final editorial check on all English-language content before publication - for accuracy, tone, legal exposure, and consistency with MBN's editorial standards. This includes verifying that sources, places, and institutions are rendered correctly in English, particularly proper nouns that transliterate differently across Arabic dialects and regions.
  • Owns and maintains MBN's English-language style guide - covering tone and voice across platforms, conventions for spelling Arabic names and places, transliteration standards, and usage rules tailored to a newsroom publishing for both English- and Arabic-speaking audiences.
  • Uses AI and machine-translation tools to accelerate preliminary translation, transcription, and drafting workflows, treating their output as a starting point rather than a finished product.
  • Applies editorial judgment to AI- and machine-translation output - identifying mistranslations, flattened nuance, hallucinated facts, awkward phrasing, and tone errors, and rewriting where the technology falls short.

Other Duties:
Perform additional job-related duties and take on new responsibilities as needed based on organizational requirements and circumstances.
Qualifications and Requirements:
Candidates are required to have:
  • Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Translation, Middle Eastern Studies, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • 5+ years of professional editing experience in journalism, digital media, publishing, or international news environments.
  • Native-level or near-native English-language editing and writing skills with exceptional command of grammar, syntax, tone, and journalistic style.
  • Professional fluency in Arabic, with the ability to accurately interpret nuance, framing, cultural references, and editorial intent in Arabic-language journalism.
  • Demonstrated experience editing and adapting bilingual or translated content for English-language audiences while preserving the meaning and voice of the original.
  • Strong grounding in English-language journalism standards and editorial structure.
  • Experience editing content across multiple formats and platforms, including websites, newsletters, podcast scripts, social media, and multimedia products.
  • Strong attention to detail, particularly in fact-checking, transliteration consistency, source verification, and copy accuracy.
  • Knowledge of Arabic transliteration standards and experience ensuring consistency in the spelling of Arabic names, locations, organizations, and institutions in English.
  • Strong editorial judgment and understanding of legal, ethical, and reputational considerations in international journalism.
  • Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, digital-first newsroom environment.
  • Experience covering Middle East affairs, international news, or cross-cultural reporting is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted editing and machine-translation tools, and sound judgment about when to rely on them and when to override them.

MBN is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.

Apply