Managing Editor

About Us

Established in 1894 and located at the Carnegie Library in Downtown, the DC History Center is a community-supported nonprofit organization, which deepens understanding of our city’s past to connect, empower, and inspire. For more information visit dchistory.org.

In fulfillment of its mission, the DC History Center aims to recruit and retain outstanding staff members who bring diverse viewpoints and experiences, relevant skills and expertise, and deep passion for DC and its history, to their work. In keeping with our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement, the DC History Center determines and evaluates compensation and benefit packages, as well as all human resource policies, with a focus on equity, transparency, and fairness.

Position Summary

The DC History Center is seeking to fill the short-term contract position of Managing Editor for the fall 2024 issue of Washington History magazine, focusing on home rule and statehood. The Managing Editor reports to the DC History Center’s Executive Director.

Washington History is the DC History Center’s flagship publication. Featuring the most recent scholarship in the history of Washington, DC and its metropolitan area, this peer-reviewed, semi-annual magazine combines the rigorous scholarship of a journal with the accessible writing style and heavy illustrations of a popular magazine. As a hybrid, it emphasizes fully sourced and vetted scholarship in an inviting and readable format. It is designed to appeal to a non-specialist public, as well as professional scholars. By promoting scholarship, sharing knowledge, and providing information about the organization, Washington History plays an essential role in fulfilling the DC History Center’s mission. The fall 2024 issue will focus on issues related to home rule and statehood and is expected to be printed in November.

The magazine, published in spring and fall, is a benefit of DC History Center membership and is available by subscription and via bookstore and online sales. For more details on recent issues, please see www.dchistory.org/research/washington-history-magazine/or JSTOR.

Responsibilities

Working closely with the Editor, the Managing Editor performs the following duties:

• Assist the editor in soliciting submissions and content for short features.
• Copy edit feature articles after authors’ revisions are substantively complete to ensure readability by the general public.
• Copy edit reviews and other features after review editor has completed work.
• Copy edit all short features and other text.
• Work with the photo editor to research and secure high-quality illustrations for each article in addition to those submitted by the author.
• Submit to the graphic designer high-resolution graphic files, dummy layout, and edited texts.
• Supervise graphic designer and flow of proofs.
• Proofread all elements before production and at blue line.
• Manage the production schedule and relationship with printing vendors.
• Develop and track the budget, with assistance from the executive director.
• Attend editorial team meetings.
  
  

Requirements

• PhD or master’s degree in history or a related field, or equivalent experience in researching, writing, editing, and presenting public history
• Knowledge of Washington, DC history
• Editing experience
• Demonstrated experience engaging and collaborating with a history-focused community outside of an academic environment
• Excellent communications and diplomatic skills
  
  

Other Information

The contractor will submit monthly invoices for $1,250/month, starting as soon as possible through December 2024. Most of these duties may be done remotely outside of work hours, but some availability via email, during 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, is required.

To Apply

Please upload your resume and a tailored cover letter sharing more about yourself and your interest in the position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Compensation: From $1,250.00 to $1,250.00 per month