Senior Editor

Duke Careers; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 63,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Editor for Futurity at Duke University leads development and editorial planning for research-based news and features, translating complex science into accessible storytelling for broad audiences.

You'll collaborate with researchers, communicators, and institutional partners across North America, guiding publication, promotion, and audience engagement while upholding high editorial standards and ethical practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Science Writing, English, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3–5 years editing or producing digital content in journalism, science communication, higher education, research communications, or related environments.
• Exceptional editing, proofreading, fact-checking, and headline-writing skills.
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify compelling stories from complex subject matter.
• Demonstrated success writing and editing content for broad public audiences.
• Experience managing multiple deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Identify timely, relevant, and newsworthy research stories from leading universities and research institutions.
• Edit stories for accuracy, clarity, readability, engagement, and accessibility.
• Publish and manage content in Futurity's CMS and optimize metadata.
• Partner with university communications teams, researchers, writers, and institutional contributors.
• Expand audience reach via newsletters, social media, search and SEO best practices.
• Improve editorial workflows and quality controls to ensure timely publication.

Skills

Editing

Proofreading

Fact-checking

Headline writing

News judgment

Audience-focused writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Science Writing, English, or related field

Tools

Content management system

Analytics platforms

AP style knowledge

Job description

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Be You.

At Duke, we believe that great storytelling begins with curiosity, collaboration, and the unique perspectives each person brings to their work. As the Senior Editor for Futurity, you'll join a nationally recognized network of universities and research institutions dedicated to making groundbreaking discoveries accessible to the world.

In this role, you'll help translate complex research into compelling stories that inform, inspire, and engage broad audiences. You'll collaborate with researchers, communicators, and contributors from leading institutions while helping shape how important discoveries in science, health, technology, society, and the environment are understood by the public.

Whether your passion is journalism, science communication, higher education, or digital publishing, you'll find opportunities to make a meaningful impact while working alongside colleagues who value innovation, excellence, and continuous learning.

Be Bold.

As Senior Editor, you'll serve as a key editorial leader responsible for guiding the development, editing, publication, and promotion of research-based news and feature stories. You'll exercise strong editorial judgment, uphold rigorous quality standards, and help ensure Futurity remains a trusted source for research news and discovery.

What You'll Do

Lead Story Development and Editorial Planning

• Identify timely, relevant, and newsworthy research stories from leading universities and research institutions.
• Evaluate submissions and develop compelling story angles, headlines, framing, and audience-focused narratives.
• Manage and maintain a balanced editorial calendar across multiple institutions and subject areas.
• Contribute to special editorial initiatives, thematic coverage, and multi-institution research features.

Edit and Elevate Research-Based Content

• Edit stories for accuracy, clarity, readability, engagement, and accessibility.
• Transform complex scholarly research into clear and compelling content for general audiences.
• Verify facts, study findings, quotations, sources, links, and attributions.
• Apply editorial, ethical, legal, and style standards consistently.
• Provide constructive feedback that strengthens contributor content and supports professional growth.

Drive Digital Publishing Excellence

• Publish and manage content within Futurity's content management system.
• Optimize headlines, summaries, metadata, images, captions, and content presentation.
• Ensure stories meet accessibility, SEO, usability, and mobile-readiness standards.
• Monitor and update published content to maintain quality and relevance.

Build Relationships Across the Research Community

• Partner with university communications teams, researchers, writers, and institutional contributors.
• Provide clear guidance regarding editorial expectations, revisions, and publication timelines.
• Coordinate publication materials, permissions, visuals, and supporting assets.
• Cultivate productive relationships that support a continuous pipeline of exceptional content.

Expand Audience Reach and Engagement

• Support story distribution through newsletters, social media, search, and emerging channels.
• Adapt content and promotional messaging for diverse audiences and platforms.
• Analyze audience engagement, website performance, and content effectiveness.
• Use insights and analytics to refine editorial strategy and identify growth opportunities.

Improve Editorial Operations

• Manage editorial workflows from submission through publication.
• Maintain and improve editorial standards, processes, and quality controls.
• Contribute to multimedia storytelling, newsletter initiatives, and digital content innovation.
• Participate in planning sessions, team meetings, and ongoing professional development.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success means:

• Publishing accurate, engaging, and accessible stories that showcase impactful research.
• Helping broad audiences better understand complex discoveries and their real-world significance.
• Maintaining efficient, collaborative, and high-quality editorial workflows.
• Strengthening relationships with contributors and university partners.
• Expanding audience engagement and visibility for Futurity's content.
• Upholding Futurity's reputation as a trusted source for research news and discovery.
• Continuously improving editorial systems, standards, and publishing practices.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Science Writing, English, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Three to five years of experience editing or producing digital content in journalism, science communication, higher education, research communications, or related environments.
• Exceptional editing, proofreading, fact-checking, and headline-writing skills.
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify compelling stories from complex subject matter.
• Demonstrated success writing and editing content for broad public audiences.
• Experience managing multiple deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Commitment to accuracy, fairness, transparency, and responsible research communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with universities, research institutions, or academic organizations.
• Background in science journalism, research communications, or scholarly publishing.
• Familiarity with digital publishing systems, analytics platforms, and search optimization practices.
• Experience using audience insights to inform editorial strategy.
• Knowledge of AP Style or similar editorial standards.
• Experience editing multimedia, newsletter, social media, or visual content.
• Understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive digital publishing practices.

Choose Duke

At Duke, you'll join a community dedicated to advancing knowledge and creating meaningful impact through research, education, and innovation. Through Futurity, your work will help connect the public with discoveries that shape our understanding of health, science, technology, society, and the environment.

You will have the opportunity to work with leading researchers and communicators across North America while contributing to a respected platform that makes research accessible and relevant to millions of readers.

About Futurity

Futurity is a digital publication that shares timely, accessible stories about research and discovery from leading universities and research institutions. Through engaging journalism and clear storytelling, Futurity helps connect readers with developments in science, technology, health, society, and the environment.

This position is supported through institutional membership dues and remains contingent upon the availability of sufficient membership revenue.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $62,766.00 to USD $97,798.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).

Nearest Major Market:

Durham

Nearest Secondary Market:

Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.