POSITION SUMMARY
Position Title: Managing Editor
Department: Publishing
Reports to: Publishing Manager
About the Organization: The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, representing the interests of more than 550,000 nurses who are charged with caring for acutely and critically ill patients. AACN is dedicated to creating a health care system driven by the needs of patients and families where acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. Visit us online at http://www.aacn.org.
AACN is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment with AACN on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex and gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), ancestry, national origin, age (40 or older), disability (mental and physical), military or veteran status, marital status, medical condition, or genetic information and any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation.
Application Instructions:Interested individuals can visit our Careers Page and apply for the Managing Editor role. Any questions can be directed to: jobs@aacn.org. The position is eligible for remote. Some travel may be required.
Position Purpose: The Managing Editor is the key resource for issues relating to the preproduction, production, and postproduction editorial management of AACN-owned and contracted print and digital journals. This position collaborates widely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure relevant, innovative, and cost-effective publications. The position works independently and without close supervision.
Accountabilities and Results:
Leads end-to-end execution across preproduction, production, and postproduction phases for AACN-owned and contracted print and digital publications, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, editorial standards, and publishing objectives
Partners with internal and external stakeholders to uphold and enforce editorial and medical publishing standards, exercising judgment to ensure content quality, consistency, and compliance with journal requirements.
Develops, communicates, and manages preproduction, production, and postproduction processes for copy, graphics, and digital content according to established schedules for both print and digital formats.
Determines content needs and directs the development or assignment of copy not provided by Editors in Chief or other contributors, ensuring alignment with editorial strategy and publication objectives.
Leads effective management of specific Publishing Department processes as assigned.
Ensures journals and/or books are copyedited and proofread according to departmental standards.
Leads publication projects to ensure high-quality publications that are produced in a timely and efficient manner.
Provides leadership in assuring continuous relevance of AACN’s publications.
Leads systems for ongoing evaluation of existing publishing endeavors.
Analyzes, interprets, and reports demographic, needs assessment, and/or evaluation data and recommends strategies to improve relevance of publications based on market analysis.
Leads interface among the Editors in Chief, contributors, publishing team, and other AACN departments related to association initiatives.
May perform other duties as assigned.
Uphold the organization’s talent philosophy and values.
Skills Required:
Ability to ensure the successful and timely production of AACN-owned and contracted publications, managing all aspects of the editorial process independently and making key decisions regarding content, production schedules, and project management.
Ability to lead and direct internal and external teams, including Editors in Chief, and authors, ensuring alignment with editorial goals, high-quality output, and adherence to industry standards.
Ability to develop and manage detailed preproduction, production, and postproduction workflows for both print and digital publications, ensuring deliverables are on time and within budget to meet organizational goals.
Ability to analyze demographic, needs assessment, and evaluation data, recommending strategies for improving the relevance and impact of AACN’s publications.
Ability to oversee multiple editorial projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and adjusting workflows to ensure timely, high-quality publication delivery.
Ability to drive continuous evaluation and improvement of AACN’s publications and editorial processes, ensuring long-term relevance, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
Ability to edit scientific material and apply AMA (American Medical Association) style, with a comprehensive understanding of the peer-review process and scholarly content, including statistical data and models.
Ability to write clear, nontechnical copy for editorial and promotional purposes, with advanced writing and communication skills tailored to the needs of diverse stakeholders.
Ability to maintain a diplomatic and professional approach in working with authors and teams, leveraging strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration.
Ability to manage complex editorial projects, ensuring efficient workflows, adherence to timelines, and high-quality output, with a focus on results and team collaboration.
Ability to implement copyediting standards for scholarly content, ensuring accuracy in data presentation and the proper use of statistical models and tests.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, exhibiting a self-starting, results-driven approach to accomplishing tasks and meeting organizational objectives. Provides expert consultation and advice to management on editorial, publishing, and project management issues, applying subject matter expertise to inform decision-making. Effectively investigates and resolves complex issues, making informed recommendations based on analysis, and consistently exercises discretion and independent judgment to solve problems and make sound decisions that contribute to organizational goals and the success of editorial projects.
Proficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, and Zoom. Demonstrated hands-on proficiency with Adobe InDesign and ability to leverage desktop and digital publishing software to support editorial production and communication efforts.
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in English or related field or equivalent experience; master’s degree preferred.
Minimum 7 years’ experience as the managing editor of a print or digital STM (science-technical-medical) journal or as a copy editor, preferably on nursing or health care-related periodicals or books.
Experience in a digital-first publishing environment preferred.
Physical Requirements:
The demands described here represent those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This role requires frequent engagement with internal and external stakeholders across multiple channels, including in-person, virtual, and phone communication, with regular emphasis on clear verbal and written communication. The position operates within a professional office environment that is generally quiet to moderate.
The role requires sustained focus and independent management of editorial workflows, including extended periods of computer-based work, content review, and production coordination. The individual is expected to exercise strong editorial judgment in prioritizing competing deadlines, managing multiple publication cycles, and ensuring quality and consistency across deliverables.
The position requires the ability to interpret and apply complex written and verbal instructions, maintain attention to detail under deadline pressure, and independently determine appropriate courses of action when resolving production or editorial issues. Occasional travel may be required in support of publication activities and stakeholder engagement.
Ability to travel.
Total Compensation:
The target pay range for this role is $104,460 - $130,576
** In addition to the salary range listed, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at AACN even more rewarding. Benefits include generous paid time off; low-cost health plans for medical and mental health services, dental, and vision; company-paid life and short-term disability insurance; a variety of other benefits; and retirement savings program with employer matching and additional company contribution. AACN is committed to a people-centered culture of workplace excellence and belonging, and offers various alternative and flexible work arrangements to support work/life balance for our team members.
