Science Editor Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Level:              Senior

Location:        McLean, VA / Washington, DC (onsite and offsite support as authorized by the customer).

Clearance:      No Clearance Required. However the agency will conduct a National Agency Check and Inquiries (with fingerprinting), which consists of searches of records covering specific areas of a person's background during the past five (5) years. Those inquiries are sent to current and past employers, schools attended, references, and local law enforcement authorities.

Education:     Bachelor's Degree in Communications, English, Journalism, or a closely-related field. A Master's degree or equivalent advance professional certification is highly desirable.

Outcomes:

The successful candidate is expected to accomplish the following outcomes in the first year on the position:

         Deliver accurate, high-quality, accessible, and timely products and services that meet FHWA requirements and support positive Government performance feedback.

         Identify and resolve quality, coordination, schedule, or technical issues early enough to prevent customer or mission impact.

Responsibilities:

The Publications Specialist II - Magazine Editor is responsible for the comprehensive lifecycle management and editorial excellence of the agency's magazine. This senior-level role requires expertise in the logistical administration of a quarterly publication cycle and high-level editorial services. The Editor ensures that the magazine is produced on time, follows rigorous quality standards, and effectively meets strategic communication objectives from initial content intake through final distribution. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

         Provide Lifecycle & Production Management: Oversee the complete magazine lifecycle, including establishing production schedules, managing the publication cycle, and systematically tracking article versions through a comprehensive approval chain.

         Provide Editorial & Writing Support: Provide high-level editorial support, assisting with content development and the creation of promotional materials. Implement strict version control and quality assurance protocols throughout the editing and document production process.

         Act as Stakeholder Liaison: Act as the primary liaison between writing/author teams and the layout/design teams. Manage complex review processes involving multiple stakeholders, including authors, technical reviewers, and legal counsel.

         Ensure Compliance & Quality Control: Ensure all final articles and the complete magazine adhere to the GPO Style Manual, Chicago Manual of Style, and Section 508 accessibility requirements. Confirm all necessary sign-offs and approvals are secured before public release.

         Provide Logistical Oversight: Manage the administrative aspects of distribution and formatting specifications to ensure the final product meets all organizational standards for professional release.

Qualifications:

         7 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in editorial and publication management.

         Proven track record overseeing the production of a periodical, preferable a technical or specialty publication (e.g., transportation or research journal).

         Advanced proficiency in substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, and recurring publication-cycle management.

         Deep understanding of Section 508 accessibility and Federal publishing standards.

         Ability to manage complex approval workflows and coordinate effectively between technical and creative teams.

The following qualifications are desired:

         Master's Degree or equivalent advanced professional certification.

         Experience with a transportation, research, scientific, or technical periodical.

         Federal publication-management experience.

Travel: Continental U.S. (CONUS) travel may be required to attend customer meetings, program reviews, stakeholder engagements, training events, conferences, production activities, or mission-related activities as directed.