Senior Editor

AAAS; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation leave

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is seeking a Senior Editor for the Commentary section. This role involves inviting and editing scientific Perspectives and opinion pieces, particularly in biology and neuroscience. Candidates should possess a PhD and significant editorial experience.

The position can be performed remotely and offers an annual salary between $95,000 and $100,000 along with various health benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD and postdoctoral research experience in a relevant field.
• At least five years as a commissioning editor.
• Familiarity with publishing and editing software.

Responsibilities

• Invite, edit, and publish Perspectives weekly.
• Handle peer-review of Perspectives.
• Work with social and multimedia teams.

Skills

Editorial skills

Time management

Outreach skills

Communication skills

Scientific research methods knowledge

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Tools

MS Office

Adobe Professional

Job description

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Science magazine have an exciting opportunity for a full time Senior Editor for the Commentary section. The editor will handle primarily Perspectives in biology. A broad knowledge of neuroscience is desirable but familiarity across the biological sciences is necessary. Perspectives provide accessible, broadly interesting, and authoritative analyses on the most important recent scientific developments. They can be paired with papers in the journal but also be “stand alone” pieces on emerging topics. The position also covers opinion pieces, including Expert Voices columns. The editor works with the Visuals and Media teams to create striking explanatory graphics and multimedia, while ensuring excellent customer service to our authors.

Help us ignite the next era of science.

Responsibilities

• Invite, edit, and publish Perspectives every week in Science
• Handle the peer-review of “stand alone” Perspectives
• Handle Expert Voices columns and possibly other opinion pieces
• Work with social and multimedia teams for communicating scientific concepts
• Network with the scientific community through meetings and professional contacts and identify topics and authors for Perspectives.
• Contribute to other parts of the magazine including special issues and “In Other Journals.”

Qualifications

• A PhD and postdoctoral research experience in a relevant field
• At least five years of experience as a commissioning editor with proven ability to meet deadlines, commission commentary, and edit text to achieve accessibility to a broad audience.
• Familiarity and ease with publishing and editing software (MS Office, Adobe Professional)
• Comprehensive knowledge of scientific research methods to discuss technical issues with authors
• Excellent outreach skills to identify and select the best authors for the journal
• Exceptional written, communication, and listening skills to communicate with authors and members of the editorial and production teams
• Time management: A proven ability to work efficiently to meet competing deadlines
• Exceptional editing skills to ensure efficient and high-quality standards of writing
• Knowledge of best practices in commissioning and peer review to ensure fairness, diversity, and ethical handling of manuscripts.
• Ability to make informed, fair, and consistent decisions about submitted content.

Location

We have offices in Washington, DC and Cambridge, UK. Remote work is possible. If you are not located in or able to work from a location where AAAS has a business presence, you may not be eligible for this position.

Application Process

Submit a resume and cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position by July 3, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. A Recruiter will contact you with next steps if you are selected for an interview.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated initial rate of compensation for this position is $95,000 – $100,000 per year (for candidates hired in the US). AAAS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, each subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AAAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or other protected category. AAAS uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. No visa sponsorship is available for this position. AAAS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.