Editor, Sr. jobs in Charleston, SC

Ideal: In-person 2 days per week, remote 3 days per week
For the highly qualified, ideal candidate: Remote 5 days per week
 

Forbes Books, the global book publishing brand of Forbes Media, publisher of Forbes Magazine, builds authority for transformational business leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who seek to inspire a new generation, ignite social change, and grow their reputation as thought leaders through publishing and media. 

The book publishing team at Forbes Books has an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled and experienced professional to ensure the highest editorial excellence standard for all published books. The Sr. Developmental Editor (DE) will perform developmental and/or substantive edits to assigned manuscripts and provide general editorial direction including but not limited to voice and tone, structure and flow, style, and grammatical consistency. The DE will work with a book planner and a production editor to oversee the editorial and writing timelines. The DE will manage the deliverables of multiple projects simultaneously. This role closely collaborates with clients, client teams, ghostwriters, production editors, and internal publishing teams. 

Success in this role requires a keen eye for detail, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to provide constructive feedback clearly, and superb communication skills and time management.

Responsibilities

• Collaborative Editing. Engage in iterative editing processes with Clients and ghostwriters, ensuring the content meets the Client’s expectations while guiding them through edits and revisions to enhance the clarity, coherence, and impact of the content. Oversee the editing process, provide detailed feedback clearly while meeting deadlines throughout the writing and editing process, and deliver other written collateral needs as required.
• Editorial Process Management. Serve as the editorial lead for multiple book projects simultaneously. Organize, plan, and manage the execution of the editorial process with precision and timeliness.
• Editorial Content Management. Ensure content continuously meets the goals and objectives detailed in the book outline and that the manuscript remains within the contracted project scope, including but not limited to word count, research hours, editorial and writing timelines, and footnotes.  
• Transparent and Consistent Communication. Foster open and consistent communication with Clients, ghostwriters, and internal team members, promptly addressing inquiries and providing clear, proactive updates on writing and editorial progress that accurately reflect project status, potential challenges, and anticipated next steps. Report budget updates to publishing leadership and finance teams.
• Quality Assurance. Perform the final content review, ensuring it meets Advantage | Forbes Books’ highest standards and the author’s objectives. Secure final Client sign-off at the line edit stage.

• Ghostwriter and External Vendor Liaison. Collaborate with and act as the primary point of contact and resource for the ghostwriter and editorial team.
• Production Task Execution. Perform production-related tasks as needed or assigned, including styling manuscripts for typesetting, leading titling research and brainstorming sessions, performing plagiarism checks, completing correction checks, flagging items for permissions and releases, curating image files, and proofreading endorsements.
• Coaching and Mentorship. Mentor Clients through all editorial phases, skillfully advising, coaching, and strategizing with others. Provide guidance and support to junior editorial staff, fostering a collaborative and skill-enhancing environment.

Core Competencies

• Detail-Oriented. Meticulous attention to detail in language, style, fact-checking, and overall content coherence. Keep important details from slipping through the cracks or derailing a project.
• Strategic and Analytical Thinking. Able to dissect complex information, identifying key themes, arguments, and gaps in content.
• Excellent Communication Skills. Able to lead engaging discussions and confidently communicate, explain project recommendations, and actively participate either in person or via online video meetings, with an emphasis on fostering positive Client-Editor relationships. Clearly and regularly communicates with internal team members, including production editors, designers, copyeditors, and proofreaders, as well as the book architecture, ghostwriting, manufacturing, book promotions, distribution, and publishing leadership teams.
• Problem-solving, Proactive Mindset. Exhibits a self-managed, problem-solving mindset and innovative approach to solving unique editorial challenges. Maintains professionalism and can perform under stressful situations.
• Client-Focused. Commitment to providing exceptional service to Clients and internal teams alike. Integrates Clients throughout the editorial process and manages expectations.
• Flexibility and Adaptability. Adjusts quickly to changing priorities and conditions, effectively navigating complexity and change. Able to work with diverse book project subject matter, adapting to different Clients’ styles and needs.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field 
• 5 years of experience in written content editorial, with a preferred category focus in business, finance, marketing, management, motivation, self-help, biography, and/or autobiography.
• Proven track record in book editing

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition

Work Environment

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, use hands and fingers to operate a computer, keyboard, and telephone. Near visual acuity is required in order to work with computers. 
• May occasionally require the employee to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  Employees should be able to sit for an extended period of time.
• Employee may be occasionally required to perform light to moderate lifting of office supplies, up to 20 pounds.

Advantage | ForbesBooks is an entrepreneurial, high-growth company with opportunities for advancement and lots of upward mobility. Professional development programs are offered. We offer great Vacation/PTO benefits, a great Medical/Dental/Vision program, 401(k) with company contribution, and other nice perks. Advantage has a solid reputation for being a great place to work and we highly value the commitment and contribution of those on our team.  

Architects are eligible for health, dental and vision benefits the first day of the month after thirty (30) days of employment. Eligibility for all other benefits is at ninety (90) days of employment.