Editor, Church & State

The Position

The Editor oversees the production of AU’s monthly membership magazine, Church & State. The Editor plans issues, maintains an editorial calendar, commissions and edits content written by others, and may serve as a contributor themselves.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience managing the production of a publication; be comfortable working independently to deliver a high-quality product; and have knowledge of and passion for church-state separation and related issues.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The position is fully remote.

This position is a union role; it is included in the bargaining unit represented by AU Collective in connection with SEIU Local 500.

The Editor will report to the VP, Strategic Communications.

Background

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all of us. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans. AU includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that includes and welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Americans United uses high-impact litigation, powerful lobbying, visibility raising and grassroots advocacy to ensure that religion does not dictate public policy; the government does not tell Americans what to believe or how to practice their faith; and discrimination is not justified under the guise of religious beliefs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Edit Church & State magazine:

• Plan issues and maintain an editorial calendar; devise and meet issue deadlines.
• Assign articles to freelance writers, track flow of manuscripts, and edit articles written by others.
• Proofread copy and work with freelance proofreaders to ensure error-free copy.
• Research and write articles.
• Work with an in-house Graphic Designer to create an attractive, informative publication, including cover ideas.
• Select photos, editorial cartoons, and other art.
• Ensure mailing lists are up-to-date; coordinate with an external printer to facilitate delivery of the magazine to members.
• Monitor developments in the church-state separation field.

Provide editorial support to the Communications department as needed:

• Review and/or proofread press releases, op-eds and other materials as needed.
• Write blog posts on current events, which can be repurposed for magazine.
• Consult with staff about messaging and media approaches.

Skills and Experience

Americans United seeks a candidate with:

• A minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience in production of a monthly publication, in digital format or in print.
• Proven ability to project manage the production of a monthly publication.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofing skills.
• Ability to work across departments in sourcing relevant stories regarding church-state issues and bring the work of AU to life in the pages of the publication.
• Passion for church-state separation and knowledge of issues relating to this constitutional principle.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications or a related field; or equivalent experience.

Competitive Salary and Generous Benefits

The salary range is $125,000 to $150,000 for a candidate with 10 to 25+ years of experience, with a small upward locality adjustment for higher-cost geographic areas. The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined by the number of years of relevant experience they bring to the role and their qualifications. Americans United offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid premiums for health care, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) with match, and commuter subsidy.

Work Location

This role can work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. or locally in our Washington, DC office. Infrequent in-person attendance at events and meetings may be required throughout the year.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Americans United has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, we have implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. This policy states that all Americans United employees, fellows, and interns are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have received a booster shot. If a candidate selected for hire desires a medical or religious exemption, the candidate should make a request to our human resources personnel, and the request will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter. Church & State does longform journalism; please include published writing samples of at least 1,000 words to show your capability in this area. Please attach your writing sample to your resume or cover letter, or submit a link to your writing sample in the Website, Blog, or Portfolio field.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. AU is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.