Child Welfare Managing Editor

Work at JBS, a values-driven health and social services consulting firm dedicated to improving the lives of real people every day, and build a career with impact. Our over 400 passionate and diverse employees across the country create sustainable change in health care, social services, and education by providing our clients with individualized service and big reach. Our deep expertise is enhanced by access to JBS's parent company, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and its team of subsidiary companies, the Celerian Group.

We are looking for a managing editor to oversee content quality, strategy, and editorial processes. This would include designing, developing, writing, editing, implementing, reviewing/revising, updating, and ensuring the quality and consistency of content across multiple channels to meet high standards and federal requirements (e.g., 508 compliance, plain language guidelines). You must be forward thinking and maintain a broad perspective, as this position will lead the development and maintenance of content, editorial guidelines and editorial style, search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, and content accessibility. You would also lead the collaboration efforts with web/digital, social media, production, creative, and communications teams to (1) ensure regularly updated content is compliant with all relevant style guidelines and requirements and meets standards and quality control measures and (2) identify client needs and evolving ideas related to content and its dissemination to key target audiences.

As a managing editor focused on child and family welfare projects, you will lead the preparation of client-ready, written materials (e.g., print and digital content; content drafting, editing, and review processes and schedules; content strategy plans and materials; editorial/style guides; progress reports; PowerPoint presentations), as well as the development, editing, quality review, updating, and maintenance of content.

You will supervise or oversee other writers, editors, and/or strategists and be responsible for guiding their ongoing professional development and career growth. You would also have the opportunity to support business development efforts, including proposal development (e.g., drafting proposal documents, tracking proposal progress), helping JBS grow our footprint in the child and family welfare and related fields through contracts with federal, state, and local agencies and in the nonprofit sector.

• Identifies child welfare and related trends, emerging issues, policies, and evidence-based practices and shares them with staff, clients, and other project staff to produce relevant content
• Collaborates with project team members to identify client needs and generates dynamic ideas to engage with intended audiences to disseminate information
• Develops and helps drive the overall content vision of projects and works to maintain an excellent relationship with internal and external clients
• Prepares client-ready, high-quality, written materials (e.g., for web, social media, print products; content strategy and editorial guidelines; progress reports, PowerPoint presentations) that reflect best practices in content development and federal plain language principles and works with the client to communicate information clearly in a manner tailored to the intended audiences
• Collaborates with web/digital, social media, production, creative, and communications teams to ensure that all content, including website content, is regularly updated, compliant with all relevant style guidelines and requirements, free of errors, and up to project standards
• Maintains an editorial/project calendar and manages editing, review/approval, production, and publication queues for all content
• Creates and updates editorial/style guide standards and processes for new and existing content to maintain quality and efficiency
• Develops quality assurance plans, processes, and metrics and performs quality assessments of a range of content formats and types (this may include use of a content management system)
• Creates, updates, and maintains written policies, style guidelines and checklists, and standard operating procedures for contractual and corporate workflows, as needed, to ensure reflect current best practices and industry standards
• Works with content creators and project managers on recommendations regarding content placement and curation (e.g., keep, update, merge, archive, delete) and content presentation (e.g., titles, subheads, tags)
• Oversees and contributes to the development of strategies for SEO and accessibility and to enhance multiple users' experience
• Maintains communication with clients, project managers, subcontractor team members, and task leads to ensure the smooth operation of content development activities and content deliverables and to troubleshoot issues and problems
• Assists with conducting formative audience research, interviews, and needs assessment to gauge content needs and goals
• Performs, supervises, and/or oversees direct reports and others' performance on content development and editorial tasks (i.e., writing, substantive editing, copy editing, proof reading, quality control reviews)
• Supports professional growth, learning, and performance of each direct report, leveraging everyone's strengths and maximizing their contributions to the project
• Approves staff time sheets, leave requests, and expense reports
• Supports business development efforts, including capture planning and proposal development (e.g., drafting, editing, and/or finalizing proposal documents; developing staffing, understanding, and technical sections and budget development)
• Participates in project meetings and develops, reviews, and/or approves meeting summaries
• Assists with the development of progress reports and other project documentation

• Master's degree with minimum 12+ years professional writing and editing experience in English, Communications, Comparative Literature, Journalism (or similar field) or a social-services/public-health-related field
• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 14+ year of professional writing and editing experience in English, Communications, Comparative Literature, Journalism (or similar field) or a social-services/public-health-related field

• Superior command of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax; proven ability to apply this knowledge to align with common industry style guides (e.g., AMA, AP, APA, Chicago, GPO); expertise in federal plain language guidelines and best practices in tailoring content for specific audiences (e.g., diverse and underserved groups, professional audiences, audiences with low literacy or who speak English as a second language)
• Strong knowledge of developing branding guidelines, editorial/style guidelines, SEO strategies, content strategy plans, multi-channel content development, and quality assurance processes to produce highly accurate, evidence-based, audience-informed content
• Knowledge and experience planning, developing (including writing, editing, and reviewing) and implementing content across numerous mediums

• Highly organized, attentive to detail, able to maintain timelines and keep records
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to:
  • Develop and maintain positive, responsive working relationships
  • Manage assigned work, while remaining flexible and collaborating with colleagues
  • Receive constructive feedback and incorporate it into execution of future assignments
  • Multitask and handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Consistent demonstration of initiative and of ongoing efforts to expand professional knowledge
• Strong skills in identifying issues and in developing effective, innovative solutions
• Experience directly supervising staff and ensuring coordination of processes across content development, editing, creative, and production teams

• Proficiency in:
  • Full Microsoft Office suite of applications, especially MS Word; advanced proficiency in MS Word Styles functions, including the ability to develop custom Word styles and Word document templates
  • Project/publication tracking and management software (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Basecamp, Asana, Trello, Jira)
  • MS SharePoint or similar document-sharing platforms that enable multiple users to access, edit, and track revisions to a live document at once in real time
  • Plagiarism/artificial intelligence detection platforms/software
• Working knowledge of:
  • Content revision functions in Adobe Acrobat
  • Design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud) and media monitoring tools (e.g., Cision) preferred
• Experience in digital-first communications and in adapting writing styles for digital channels (i.e., an ability to customize content, as needed, across different channels)

Language:

English fluency (oral and written)

Security Clearance:

Must have the ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance. Must have the ability to pass a background check and to obtain a badge and security clearance through a federal agency (e.g., Administration for Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services

Location:

This is a hybrid role if you reside within a 50-mile radius of the JBS International North Bethesda, MD office or the San Mateo, CA office. Otherwise, this role may support remote work.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk or computer workstation.
• Regularly uses a computer, keyboard, and mouse.
• Normal or corrected vision to read documents, view computer screens, and perform tasks that require visual accuracy.
• Ability to hear and understand spoken information in person and over the phone.
• Minimal lifting and carrying may be required, typically light office supplies or documents.
• Ability to move within the office environment to access equipment, files, and interact with colleagues.
• Ability to handle occasional stress related to deadlines, workloads, or challenging tasks.

Education/experience in child and family welfare and significant experience writing, editing, and developing and executing strategic plans for content focused on child and family welfare

Ability to track, delegate, and ensure completion of multiple content development tasks in progress simultaneously, using a proven system for tracking (e.g., content management system or software)

Fluency in Spanish preferred

Knowledge of the child and family welfare system and related policies, regulations, and key players strongly preferred

Fully remote or hybrid onsite/telework arrangements considered depending on applicant's location.

Must have the ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance. Must have the ability to pass a background check and to obtain a badge and security clearance through a federal agency (e.g., Administration for Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration)

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED:

This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position, nor will it be the sole basis for any subsequent employee evaluations. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.

This position is subject to availability of funds and to any and all restrictions contained in the contract or contracts that provide funding for this position.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:
If you meet the minimum requirements for this position, please click on the "Apply" link posted below and complete the application. Please include a cover letter, resume, and at least three (3) professional references.

Our company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Applicants can learn more about the company's status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the federal "EEO is the Law" poster at EEOPost.pdf.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.