Managing Editor Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Managing Editor, or Content Manager, creates content strategies and oversees their implementation processes. Their main duties include managing a team of writers, editors and graphic designers, monitoring the results of various content campaigns and editing content pieces to ensure they follow tone and style guides.

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Managing Editor Duties and Responsibilities

Managing Editors supervise a team of Editors. Depending on the team, a Managing Editor may be responsible for things like assigning projects and ensuring the editing team meets its deadlines. A Managing Editor may share some of these duties with a Project Manager. Other responsibilities for a Managing Editor include:

  • Hiring and training new Editors
  • Meeting with Project Managers, Creative Directors, Sales Leaders, Marketing Directors and other personnel to keep all team members updated on work progress
  • Helping create a project calendar
  • Supervising the content creation process from writing through editing and publishing
  • Managing a team of freelancers

What Does a Managing Editor Do?

Managing Editors oversee an organization’s content team to ensure their pieces promote their brand in a positive and engaging way. They’ll use analytical tools to monitor different campaigns’ progress and will build strategies to improve their content according to these results. Managing Editors will also conduct research on their target audience to determine the best ways to reach and engage with them. 

Managing Editors also work with the leadership team or their clients to determine the style guide, brand voice and tone they want to follow and will edit content pieces to ensure they meet these standards. They also provide final revisions on content pieces to ensure they meet certain publishing guidelines.

Managing Editor Skills and Qualifications

A successful Managing Editor has technical and leadership skills. For example, since Managing Editors work with Content Creators, they should have some experience writing and editing (or producing whatever type of content will be a priority for your company). Such experience will enable them to set realistic guidelines and project expectations, and it will help them understand the priorities for Content Creators. Other important skills and qualifications for Managing Editors include:

  • Leadership skills
  • Time management skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Multitasking skills
  • Project management skills
  • The ability to collaborate with large teams
  • The ability to coordinate with remote employees

Managing Editor Salary Expectations

The average Managing Editor salary is $51,483 per year. However, pay rates vary greatly depending on whether you’re hiring for a full- or part-time employee. Additionally, experience level is a significant factor in salary expectations.

Managing Editor Education and Training Requirements

Managing Editors have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as English or communications. Some businesses, though, may hire Editors with a background more closely related to what the company creates. For example, a company that produces scientific publications would want a Managing Editor with a degree in education—perhaps even a master’s or doctorate—in a related scientific field. Managing Editors do not need specific certifications, but some may obtain accreditations in areas like copy editing.

Managing Editor Experience Requirements

Many Managing Editors advance through editing or writing positions, but you may also come across entry-level candidates looking for their first job out of graduate school. Other applicants may come from areas like project management, leveraging their leadership and organization skills as qualifications for your role. At a minimum, successful Managing Editors have some experience not only in content creation but also in leadership and project management.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

Your ideal Managing Editor may have skills in one particular area over another, such as writing versus editing, or maybe you want a candidate who can help generate story ideas. Since this role can be diverse, you may not find everything you’re looking for with this single job description. If this is the case, check out our resources for similar roles to complete your job posting:

Frequently asked questions about Managing Editors

 

Who reports to a Managing Editor?

Members of an organization’s content team typically report directly to the Managing Editor, who delegates various tasks and responsibilities according to their preferences and skill set. This team usually consists of Copywriters, Content Coordinators and Graphic Designers. A Managing Editor typically has extensive experience working in these fields, allowing them to give valuable feedback and guidance on certain tasks and projects. 

 

What settings do Managing Editors Typically Work in?

Many Managing Editors work within a marketing department in a business setting. They’re typically in charge of promoting the organization and conducting marketing campaigns to build brand awareness. 

Other Managing Editors may work in an agency setting, where they’re in charge of building marketing campaigns for various clients. There are also some Managing Editors who work for newspapers and magazine outlets, overseeing a staff of writers and editors. They’ll typically work to ensure their team writes entertaining stories that are distributed on time. 

 

Do Managing Editors have different responsibilities in different industries?

Most Managing Editors oversee a content team in typically any industry they choose to work in, but their responsibilities may vary. Most Managing Editors are expected to hold advanced experience and knowledge in the industry they operate in to help them more effectively promote their services and products to consumers or other businesses. 

Managing Editors who work in the software industry must have strong technical knowledge to create content campaigns about the features of the applications and computer systems the company provides. Other Managing Editors may serve in the nonprofit industry, where they must know about various fundraising strategies to properly educate their audience and promote their organization. Some Managing Editors will work for government entities, creating marketing campaigns to inform community members of government regulations, announcements or events. 

 

What makes a good Managing Editor?

A good Managing Editor should have strong leadership abilities to effectively manage and lead a team of writers, editors and designers. They must also have extensive experience creating content to provide helpful edits and advice to their team members. Impressive attention to detail is also important for Managing Editors to have to catch any grammatical, spelling or style guide errors in various content pieces. 

Managing Editors must also be great at communicating, since they’re regularly collaborating with clients and the leadership team in establishing their content strategy goals and presenting campaign results.

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