Developmental Editor

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,000 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about WestEd’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Come and join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION—Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

Department Overview:

WestEd's Communications Department works with agency researchers, developers, and service providers to identify, develop, and disseminate useful research-based knowledge; produces collateral materials for the agency and its individual programs; continuously improves and populates WestEd's award-winning website; operates a full-service publishing house for in-house authors; represents WestEd and its work at conferences and in other venues — and conducts this work while integrating WestEd's approach to branding and agency visibility.

We work collaboratively with staff members from throughout the organization, as well as with external partners, to improve the reach and effectiveness of information exchange and to broaden and sustain WestEd's reputation for doing high-quality, meaningful, and effective work.

The Role:

Working in a deadline-driven environment, WestEd is seeking an energetic and adaptable editor who will engage primarily in manuscript development, including structural and substantive editing, copyediting, and writing. In doing so, the individual will support researchers and other WestEd staff in developing high-quality products and publications on a broad range of topics, primarily in the fields of education and human development.

The person in this position must be able to quickly digest, understand, and, in partnership with authors, interpret new and often complex information for specific audience(s) and purpose(s). The editor will help ensure that products and publications are as useful and accessible as possible for their intended audiences, which include educators, administrators, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and professional development providers.

This individual may also write and edit institutional materials (e.g., annual report, brochures, success stories, articles, web and intranet content) and may occasionally edit high-stakes funding proposals.

This position is within WestEd’s Communications Department, which provides a full range of communication support and services to the agency and its many projects.

Responsibilities:

• Provide editorial support to help authors develop high-quality products (e.g., research and evaluation reports, policy briefs, practitioner guides, infographics, professional development materials). Depending on the project, this responsibility may entail the following:

• Communicating with authors throughout the product development process
• Help conceptualize, write, and/or edit institutional materials, marketing materials, and, occasionally, funding proposals.
• Work as requested on other Communications Department projects.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, education, and/or related academic fields.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a role for which developmental editing and/or copyediting of nonfiction books, reports, or other publications was the primary responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the fields of education and human development (knowledge of WestEd, its work, and its context is also desirable).
• Some familiarity with research methods.

Additional Skills:

• Excellent critical reading and thinking skills.
• Knowledge of how to frame content for different purposes and translate it for different audiences.
• Able to manage multiple projects with overlapping time frames to keep them on track and on time.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, especially in working with authors on challenging projects.
• Ability to work with and provide feedback to authors in a way that enables them to become better writers over time.
• A problem-solver (able to spot writing issues or conceptual problems and offer solutions accordingly).
• Adept at working both independently and collaboratively.
• Well-honed writing skills.
• Patient, persistent, and able to maintain a positive attitude in the face of potentially frustrating circumstances (e.g., someone else’s missed deadline).
• Ability to work productively on tight deadlines with highly educated, often overworked colleagues while providing efficient, high-quality assistance.
• Ability to quickly digest, understand, and analyze new and complex content, along with ability to ask constructive questions and/or look for answers independently.
• Skilled with Microsoft Word (e.g., applying styles and heading levels, using Track Changes, generating Tables of Contents).

• Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

SALARY: $65/hour

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)