Publications Specialist II – Magazine Editor

Vistra Communications; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid Time Off

Employer matching 401(k)

Parental and Bereavement Leave

Professional Development

Job summary

Vistra Communications in the Washington, DC area is seeking a Magazine Editor to oversee the full lifecycle of the agency's magazine, ensuring timely production, rigorous quality standards, and alignment with strategic communication objectives from initial content intake through final distribution.

The role requires coordinating between writers and layout teams, enforcing version control, and managing multi-stakeholder reviews to secure final sign-offs while upholding accessibility and federal

Qualifications

• 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 editorial and publication management experience.
• Proven track record overseeing production of a periodical, preferably technical or specialty.
• Demonstrated expertise in logistical administration and project management of quarterly cycles.
• Advanced substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading skills.
• 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 is a plus; Public Trust is required; security clearance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete magazine lifecycle, including production schedules and approval workflows.
• Provide high-level editorial support and assist with content development and promotional materials.
• Serve as liaison between writing teams and layout/design teams.
• Manage complex review processes with multiple stakeholders, authors, reviewers, and legal.
• Ensure all articles and the magazine adhere to style guides and accessibility requirements.
• Manage distribution and formatting to meet organizational standards for professional release.
• Ensure digital editions comply with accessibility laws and standards.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Editorial lifecycle management

Copyediting

Proofreading

Project management

Section 508 compliance

GPO/Chicago style familiarity

Stakeholder coordination

Publish/print production

Education

Bachelor's degree in English/Communications/Journalism

Master's degree or equivalent certification

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.