Senior Editor

AlphaGov; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AlphaGov seeks a Senior Editor to transform complex research findings into clear, publishable materials. You will work with researchers, analysts, and public affairs teams to sharpen main points, verify evidence, and prepare pieces for publication.

You will edit reports and briefs for structure and tone, check figures and citations, translate technical language for broad audiences, and adapt content for leadership briefings and public summaries.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of professional editing/copyediting or technical writing experience with editorial responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications, or related field.
• Strong command of grammar, plain-language writing, and AP style.
• Experience fact-checking technical or research content and editing documents by multiple contributors.
• Ability to give authors specific, constructive feedback and manage several publications with competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Edit research reports, policy briefs, articles, and executive communications for structure, clarity, tone, and accuracy.
• Check figures, quotations, citations, and factual claims against sources; resolve discrepancies with authors.
• Translate technical language into plain English while preserving meaning.
• Adapt material for different readers, from a one-page briefing to a public summary.
• Manage editorial calendars, coordinate reviews, and reconcile conflicting feedback.

Skills

Editing

Copyediting

Technical writing

AP style

Fact-checking

Feedback and editorial management

Education

Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications, or related field

Job description

AlphaGov delivers public-sector consulting for cities, counties, school systems, special districts, utilities, and related agencies. Our work spans classification and compensation, organizational and operational studies, research and program evaluation, economic and workforce analysis, surveys and community research, and applied data and infrastructure research.

AlphaGov is seeking a Senior Editor for future opportunities in research and public-sector communications. You'll help researchers, analysts, and public affairs teams turn complex findings into reports, executive briefings, and public-facing materials. You'll work directly with authors to sharpen the main point, verify the evidence behind it, and prepare each piece for publication.

What You'll Do

• Edit research reports, policy briefs, articles, and executive communications for structure, clarity, tone, and accuracy
• Check figures, quotations, citations, and factual claims against source material. Work with authors and subject-matter experts to resolve discrepancies
• Translate technical language into plain English while preserving the meaning of findings, qualifications, and recommendations
• Adapt the same material for different readers, from a one-page leadership briefing to a public summary
• Manage editorial calendars, coordinate reviews, and reconcile conflicting feedback before final approval
• Maintain style guides and proofread final layouts, including headlines, tables, captions, and charts

Requirements

• At least five years of professional experience in editing, copyediting, or technical writing with substantial editorial responsibility
• Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications, or a related field
• Strong command of grammar, plain-language writing, and Associated Press (AP) style
• Experience fact-checking technical or research content and editing documents written by multiple contributors
• Ability to give authors specific, constructive feedback and manage several publications with competing deadlines

Nice to have

• Editorial experience in government, public affairs, healthcare, higher education, or a research organization
• Experience reviewing sensitive material for public release or coordinating reviews with communications, legal, or policy teams
• Experience developing editorial standards or coaching subject-matter experts who write for a general audience