Senior Editor

Smithsonian Institution; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 101,000 - 132,000; Part time

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution seeks a Senior Editor for the Archives of American Art, overseeing the production and editorial processes of a scholarly journal. This part-time position requires strong editorial management skills, at least five years of experience, and a degree related to Art History or Publishing. The ideal candidate will ensure alignment with the Archives' mission while managing multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment.

Benefits

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

403b Retirement Plan

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in editorial management or academic publishing.
• Strong command of The Chicago Manual of Style and professional copyediting standards.
• Exceptional writing skills and familiarity with American art history preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning, production, and editorial integrity of the Archives of American Art Journal.
• Ensure timely publication and editorial excellence.
• Support external communications and strategic initiatives.

Skills

Editorial Management

Copyediting

Project Management

Writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Art History, English, Publishing, or related field

Master’s or Ph.D. preferred

Job description

Senior Editor

Application Deadline: 23 June 2025

Department: Archives of American Art

Employment Type: Part Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Anne Helmreich

Compensation: $101,401 - $131,826 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: June 16, 2025

CLOSING DATE: June 23, 2025

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent

SCHEDULE: Part-Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Grade/Series: IS-1082-12
Promotion Potential: IS-1082-12
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to current Smithsonian employees only

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

The Smithsonian Institution is a unique complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and nine research centers. The Smithsonian is a national and world treasure and is dedicated to its founding mission, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute plays a leading role in the Smithsonian’s global efforts to save wildlife species from extinction and train future generations of conservationists.

This position is located in the Archives of American Art (AAA), Under Secretary for Museums & Culture at the Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Archives of American Art fosters advanced research through the accumulation and dissemination of primary sources, unequaled in historical depth and breadth, that document more than two hundred years of our nation’s artists and art communities. With a collection of more than 20 million items, the AAA is the largest and most widely used resource in the world on the history of American art and is a leader in the digitization of and public access to archival collections. The primary purpose of the position is to support the development, planning, production, and distribution of the Archives of American Art Journal, a scholarly publication in the field of American art history.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Editor oversees the planning, production, and editorial integrity of the Archives of American Art Journal. Serving as the principal liaison between the Archives, contractors, vendors, and Smithsonian Institution (SI) colleagues, the incumbent ensures the journal’s timely publication, editorial excellence, and alignment with the Archives’ mission and standards. This position also supports external communications originating from the Office of the Director and contributes to strategic initiatives related to fundraising and scholarly engagement.

In this position, you will conduct the following duties and responsibilities:

• Journal Administration
• Copyediting
• Editorial Oversight
• Illustration Research and Procurement

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Art History, English, Publishing, or a related field; Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in editorial management, academic publishing, or scholarly communication.
• Strong command of The Chicago Manual of Style and professional copyediting standards.
• Demonstrated experience managing editorial workflows, budgets, and external contractors.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills.
• Familiarity with American art history and archival research preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment.
• Knowledge of art and image licensing procedures related to professional publishing

HOW TO APPLY: CV/Resume must include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week. CV/Resume must include the month and year of all degrees earned; professional and relevant volunteer experience; peer-reviewed publications; competitive funding received; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional societies; presentations given at national/international meetings; and names, addresses, and phone numbers of four persons familiar with your scientific stature, contributions, and recognition. Earned, academic degrees must be verified with copies of official university transcripts that clearly state the classes taken, degree awarded, the major, and date of conferral.

CV/RESUME MUST CLEARLY IDENTIFY HOW YOU WILL FULFILL THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE TO BE CONSIDERED. Failure to provide this information and documents will result in your application receiving no further consideration.

A cover letter can be included with the application materials to summarize the applicant’s training, experience, and interest in the position.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume and cover letter will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.