Senior Editor

Sharjah Art Foundation; Sharjah; On-site; AED 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharjah Art Foundation in Sharjah is seeking a senior editor to lead writing, copy-editing and proofreading across curatorial texts, exhibition booklets, website content and outreach materials.

The role requires a Master’s or Bachelor’s in art or English with at least ten years of editing experience, native-level British English, and strong organizational skills to manage editorial projects and liaise with artists, curators and SAF colleagues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in art, English or a related field.
• At least ten years of experience in the same field.
• Knowledge of British English syntax, vocabulary and spelling.
• Ability to edit for coherence and audience.
• Experience with curatorial texts and publications.

Responsibilities

• Write, copy-edit, fact-check and proofread texts according to Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) style.
• Offer suggestions for editing to improve order, content and style for the target audience.
• Conduct research and rewrite texts as needed.
• Prepare captions, descriptions and schedules for artworks, exhibitions and events.
• Liaise with artists, curators and SAF team members; guide and support other editors.

Skills

Editing texts

Research skills

Time management

Communication

Diplomacy

Editorial workflow

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in art/English

Tools

Microsoft Word/Markup

Microsoft Teams

Google Docs

Outlook

Job description

Reporting to: Head Editorial and Content Strategy
Job location: Sharjah Emirate, United Arab Emirates
Expected starting date: as soon as possible
Application deadline : The job is open until filled

Roles and Responsibilities

• Write, copy-edit, fact-check and proofread texts according to Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) style.
• Offer suggestions for substantive editing of texts (e.g. comments about the order and completeness of the content, coherence of ideas and arguments, writing style and vocabulary) in relation to the target audience and intended purpose of the writing.
• Conduct research and rewrite texts where needed.

Texts may include any of the following:

• Curatorial texts such as work descriptions, overviews, sub-themes and curatorial essays.
• Exhibition booklets as well as Biennial
• guidebooks and catalogues.
• Biographies.
• Descriptions and schedules for courses, workshops, talks and symposia.
• Captions for artworks, images of artworks and Foundation events.
• Website texts and event summaries.
• Critical reflections and Archival texts.
• Press releases, newsletters and social media posts.
• Learning courses, workshops, talks and symposia descriptions.
• Sponsorship documents, institutional proposals and patron correspondence.
• Regularly liaise with artists, curators and other SAF team members.
• Conduct and organise editorial projects including holding meetings and workshops, tracking timelines and progress as well as providing feedback and reports if needed.
• Provide guidance and assistance to other editors or writers where needed.

Required Experience, Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in art, English or a related field.
• At least ten years of experience in the same field.
• Knowledge (on the level of an educated native speaker) of British English syntax, vocabulary, punctuation and spelling.
• Skill in editing texts not only for the accuracy and consistency of the language and format but also for the completeness and coherence of ideas.
• Skill in writing and editing texts in a variety of styles, from academic writing to marketing materials to business correspondence.
• Good understanding of modern and contemporary art history as well as familiarity with artists and curators that SAF has exhibited and worked with in the past.
• Basic understanding of the different fields that SAF works across, including art, photography, performance, film, architecture, education, music and publications.
• Skill in using Microsoft Word, including Markup; Microsoft Teams; Google Docs; and Outlook
• High level of concentration and attention to detail.
• Methodical and well-organised approach to work.
• Proven ability to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks and deliver results under pressure in fast-paced environments.
• Tact and diplomacy in working with others.

Conditions of Work

The role is a full-time position based in Sharjah, with working hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Thursday, and occasional evening or weekend work as needed.