Publications Specialist II – Magazine Editor

Vistra Communications; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan with employer-m

Paid Time Off

Parental and Bereavement Leave

Professional Development

Job summary

Vistra Communications seeks a Magazine Editor to lead end-to-end editorial excellence for the agency’s magazine, ensuring on-time production and adherence to quality standards. The role requires managing the entire lifecycle from intake to final distribution, with a focus on accessibility and regulatory compliance.

The position is onsite in McLean, VA or Washington, DC, and involves coordinating between writers and designers, maintaining version control, and ensuring sign-offs across complex

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, or closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the magazine lifecycle, set production schedules and track article versions.
• Provide editorial support and create promotional materials with QA protocols.
• Serve as primary liaison between writers and layout/design teams.
• Manage multi-stakeholder reviews including authors, reviewers, and legal.
• Ensure all articles meet GPO/Chicago style and 508 accessibility; secure sign-offs.
• Oversee distribution formatting to meet organizational standards.
• Ensure digital versions comply with Section 508/WCAG standards.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Substantive editing

Copyediting

proofreading

Project management

Section 508 compliance

Team coordination

Stakeholder liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in English/Communications/Journalism

Master's degree or equivalent certification

Tools

CMS

Adobe InDesign

MS Office

Job description

Description

Vistra is seeking a Magazine Editor to be responsible for the comprehensive lifecycle management and editorial excellence of the agency’s magazine. The Editor ensures that the magazine is produced on time, follows rigorous quality standards, and effectively meets strategic communication objectives from initial content intake through final distribution.

This is an onsite position in either McLean, VA, or Washington, DC.

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversee the complete magazine lifecycle, including establishing production schedules, managing the publication cycle, and systematically tracking article versions through a comprehensive approval chain.
• Provide high-level editorial support, assisting with content development and the creation of promotional materials. Implement strict version control and quality assurance protocols throughout the editing and document production process
• Serve as the primary liaison between writing/author teams and the layout/design teams
• Manage complex review processes involving multiple stakeholders, including authors, technical reviewers, and legal counsel
• Ensure all final articles and the complete magazine adhere to the GPO Style Manual, Chicago Manual of Style, and Section 508 accessibility requirements, and all necessary sign-offs and approvals are secured before public release
• Manage the administrative aspects of distribution and formatting specifications to ensure the final product meets all organizational standards for professional release
• Ensure that digital versions of the magazine are compliant with federal accessibility laws and standards (Section 508/WCAG)

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, or a closely related field
• Master’s degree or equivalent advanced professional certification highly desirable
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in editorial and publication management
• Proven track record of overseeing the production of a periodical, preferably a technical or specialty publication (e.g., transportation or research journal)
• Demonstrated expertise in the logistical administration and project management of quarterly publication cycles and high-level editorial services
• Advanced proficiency in substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading
• Deep understanding of Section 508 compliance and federal publishing standards
• Ability to manage complex approval workflows and coordinate between technical and creative teams
• Prior transportation experience a plus
• Public Trust is required; Security Clearance is preferred.

About Vistra:

Vistra Communications, doing business as Vistra and Vistra Federal Solutions, is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Tampa, FL with an office in Alexandria, VA providing professional support serviced to Defense, Federal, and Civilian Agencies. Approximately 25% of our “team member” employees work in the National Capital Region, providing communications, outreach, and organizational transformation services to our public sector customers. Vistra provides medical, dental, and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, Paid Time Off, Parental and Bereavement Leave, and Professional Development, among other benefits.

US Citizenship Required:

Due to the requirements of the federal contract that this position supports, U.S. citizenship is required. Citizenship will be confirmed via I-9/E-Verify at the start of employment.