Editor in Chief - United States Institute of Peace

Who We Are

Peace is our commitment. The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people’s shared values and commitment to peace worldwide. We know that Peace is Security – it advances both U.S. and international security by preventing, managing, and mitigating violent conflict.

We are an independent, non-partisan institution and are actively engaged with peacebuilding efforts worldwide. Together we tackle the most challenging problems and hold fast to the possibility of a more peaceful world. To learn more about USIP programs and job openings, go to https://www.usip.org/about/careers.

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and want to have a front-row seat on the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

TARGET SALARY

Grade 15 - $163,000 - $ 169,000

The Institute uses the General Schedule salary tables for administering compensation. Offers are determined based upon candidate qualifications, related experience, internal equity, and the amount budgeted for the position.

JOB BRIEF

The Editor in Chief is a leader of the Institute’s strategic communications group and will oversee the production of content for all USIP publications (apart from the USIP-imprint book), as well as podcasts, social media and videos. Working directly with the President, the Editor in Chief is a key driver of the Institute’s integrated online editorial and audience strategy and is responsible for compliance with content strategies, guidelines, and timeliness of all content for all audiences: internal, the public and critical stakeholders including foreign policy elites and policymakers. The Editor in Chief will manage a team of writers and editors, leads the editing and publications process across USIP content, both from headquarters and internationally and collaborates with the internal and external subject matter experts in the formulation and development of ideas for content.

The Editor in Chief will possess editorial maturity and expertise to fully understand the full range of the Institute’s mission and will be responsive to USIP’s unique position as a federally appropriated entity and know when content could threaten the reputation of the Institute. The incumbent will be expected to be responsive to queries and requests from the Executive Office and will be a trusted colleague of both institutional experts and the strategic communications group.

TARGET SALARY

The Institute uses the General Schedule salary tables for administering compensation. Offers are determined based upon candidate qualifications, related experience, internal equity, and the amount budgeted for the position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities 

• Serve as the Institute’s content custodian responsible for overseeing USIP’s style guide and maintaining grammatical and style standards.
• Work collaboratively with institutional experts, Vice Presidents, Managing and Programmatic Directors to conceptualize and scaffold complex policy ideas and transform that information into compelling content.
• Manage potential reputational risk in the content to safeguard USIP’s unique standing as a public institution.
• Ensure that publications meet deadlines, and work is completed within the given time.
• Supervises all editorial staff and contractors and manages editorial team’s budget.
• Partners with the Director of Communications to set the strategy, direction and tone for editorial products, ensuring that all content is on brand, in keeping with the mission, of the highest editorial quality, and effective for specific target audiences and platforms.
• Works in close consultation with the Managing Editor in Publications to make sure editorial calendars are aligned and to develop editorial priorities and organize workflows for all external relations editorial products.
• Ensures that content is timely, compelling, accessible to the public and, in partnership with Experts and Programs, covers diverse issues across the spectrum of USIP’s geographic and thematic areas of focus.
• Collaborates with program leadership to determine content and editorial priorities and maximize efficient content production processes.
• Ensures all content comports with USIP’s nonpartisan mandate and with the priorities of the Institute’s strategic plan.
• Establishes and meets data-driven goals for raising the Institute’s website and other digital platforms’ search engine ranking, influence, and profile with target audiences.
• Creates compelling content for multimedia stories in collaboration with Experts and Programs to advance the Institute’s mission with target audiences, and enhances storytelling through integrated use of video, audio, and superb editing.
• Works with web and creative teams to make recommendations for overall composition, packaging, and distribution of multimedia products.
• Identifies and establishes new partnerships for distribution of the Institute’s editorial products.
• Oversees the planning of content-gathering trips in the field.
• Organizes in-house training and writer’s workshops, including conducting training in field offices.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international relations, journalism, communications, English, political science or relevant field or equivalent experience required.
• Eight (8) years of professional editorial and writing experience for multimedia platforms required.
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal communications skills (oral and written), including cross-cultural skills, media skills, and the ability to deal with counterparts on both the lowest and highest political, social, cultural and economic levels.
• A comprehensive understanding of U.S. national security priorities and conflict resolution.
• Broad understanding of content trends from peer institutions and foreign policy publications.
• Staff supervisory and freelance writer management experience.
• A track record of exemplary management and leadership skills, including the ability to recognize strong authors and editors and foster an environment that inspires them to do their best work.
• Sound judgement in problem-solving while coordinating and managing a myriad of editorial activities and excellent analytical skills.
• Mastery of the AP Style Guide
• Strong project management skills and experience overseeing complex projects; and previous experience implementing adaptive programs in highly complex and dynamic environments.
• Ability to multitask and meet aggressive deadlines, and an enthusiasm for working effectively with other staff members in varying roles and in different departments.
• Ability to think strategically, and to effectively develop, communicate, and execute plans.

CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS 04/08/24. 

All applicants must be US citizens to be considered for positions with USIP. 

All USIP contract and employee positions are contingent upon the favorable completion of a suitability background investigation.  

HOW TO APPLY
To be considered for this position, please submit a complete application package consisting of:
1.  Completed employment application including titles, dates of hire and salary requirements.
2.  Cover letter
3.  Resume 

Only those applicants that are selected for further discussions will be contacted.  

No Phone Calls. Interviews will be scheduled by appointment only.  

USIP is an equal opportunity employer. USIP does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.