Senior Editor – Research Storytelling Lead

Duke PA; 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

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.