Deputy Editor in Chief, Chemical & Engineering News

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the world’s largest scientific membership association, with a mission to “advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people”.

 

ACS Publications is a Division of the ACS and has all the characteristics of a medium-large scientific and technical publishing organization. It is one of two Divisions charged with serving the dual function of generating a reliable annual surplus to support the Society’s programmatic activities, while also fulfilling a core goal of the Society in advancing knowledge in the field of chemistry and the chemical enterprise. The Division publishes 85+ high-quality peer-reviewed journals covering the breadth of chemistry and allied fields, as well as numerous other high-quality products and services of benefit to the global community.

 

Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) is the leading news and analysis platform of the chemical world. C&EN produces authoritative, award-winning independent journalism from around the world of chemistry, including research, education, industry, funding, and regulatory policy. C&EN seeks to service audiences across the global chemical enterprise with print and digital formats. Published by the American Chemical Society (ACS), C&EN is received by all paid members of the Society and is described in member satisfaction surveys as a primary benefit of Society membership. Its audited print/digital circulation is about 90,000, its newsletters go to more than 160,000 subscribers, and the website receives nearly 400,000 monthly unique visitors on average.  The media group has recently launched a new strategy to grow its digital offering. At the heart of this strategic position is a more agile and diverse digital offer along with a strong global outlook in our coverage. In addition to subscription fees, C&EN is supported through advertising revenue and a generous subsidy from the Society.

 

Job Summary:

We are seeking a Deputy EIC for Editorial to oversee and manage the newsroom and to guide the development and implementation of strategic plans for the creation of content across multiple channels that will support the growth of C&EN’s audiences and deepen their relationship with our journalism. 

Primary Job Accountabilities – What You’ll Do:

Operational

·       Oversee the day-to-day editorial operations at C&EN, providing leadership to a team of editors.

o   In collaboration with the editorial management team, lead story assignments and serve as a secondary editor for content.

o   Specific responsibility to coordinate editorial output and curation on the C&EN homepage.

·       In partnership with C&EN’s Editor in Chief, lead and innovate in journalism and storytelling, ensuring that C&EN comprehensively covers major developments in the chemical sciences and allied fields.

·       With direction from the Editor in Chief, work with staff to ensure standards of accuracy, integrity, and transparency for all journalism that C&EN distributes through its channels.

·       Ensure that coverage is in line with C&EN’s editorial direction and that it reflects the diversity of chemistry and that C&EN upholds its commitment to including diverse voices and perspectives in our coverage.

·       Ensure staff development, succession planning and standards for editorial onboarding.

 

Strategic

·       Collaborate with colleagues in analytics and marketing audience to drive increased usage of and engagement with our journalism across a variety of platforms and service innovations.

·       In collaboration with the Editor in Chief, work with colleagues including platform editors, l art directors and production staff to enhance the user experience of C&EN. 

·       Support commercial growth strategies for C&EN in collaboration with ACS communications and ACS publications product team.

·       Work with the C&EN leadership to champion the rollout of the strategic refresh as well as cultivating and growing a culture of learning and collaboration with a view to making C&EN a model for 21st century science journalism. 

 

Authority

·       You will be expected to deputize for the Editor-in-Chief across a range of tasks, on occasion

What You’ll Bring – Education & Skills:

·       An undergraduate degree in chemistry or a related scientific field is expected. Alternate education may be considered for exceptionally experienced candidates.

·       Demonstrated leadership skills in the context of change management in the newsroom.

·       Achievement in delivering compelling web-based journalism for an international audience.

·       Up-to-date knowledge of technologies for providing digital journalism in an effective manner in various delivery formats.

·       Capacity for teambuilding and adaptability in high pressure environments.

·       Strong communication skills for occasional representational tasks.

·       Dynamic and proactive self-starter with strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

·       Ability to make well-reasoned strategic decisions based on information available.

·       Strong relationship building capabilities.

·       Ability to influence diverse stakeholders and communities.

·       Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability thrive and lead in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

·       High comfort levels with change and occasional ambiguity.

What You’ll Bring – Experience:

·       A minimum of 6 years working as an editor with a multi-sited team of reporters.

·       Experience in conceiving, developing, planning, and launching new editorial initiatives including programmatic, budget, and ROI considerations.

·       Experience in managing people, production, projects, and budgets with a record of success.

What You Can Expect:

ACS, C&EN’s host organization, believes in the strength of diversity in all its forms, because inclusion of and respect for diverse people, experiences, and ideas lead to superior solutions to world challenges and advance chemistry as a global, multidisciplinary science. In turn, C&EN believes that to meet its mission to be the world’s go-to source of news about chemistry, our reporting and our newsroom must include diverse perspectives and seeks to reflect these values in its coverage. Therefore, we strongly encourage people from global majority ethnicities, members of the LGBTQ+ , people with disabilities, and members of other historically marginalized communities in the global chemical enterprise to apply.

 

Job location: ACS operates in a hybrid capacity, and this position is based in Washington, DC.  There is an expectation for significant presence in the office. Relocation assistance is available.

 

Travel: Some travel (up to 15%) within country. Occasional international travel may be required with advanced notice.

 

This role is based in our Washington, DC office. A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $158,000 to $200,000 per year. 

ACS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account or health care savings account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and 4-week work from anywhere; each benefit is subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply based on skills, experience, and location. 

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of ACS. ACS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.