Managing Editor
Company
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
As an employee of the Boston Fed, you will work to promote sound growth and financial stability in New England and the nation. You will contribute to communities, the region, and the nation by conducting economic research, participating in monetary policy-making, supervising certain financial institutions, providing financial services and payments, playing a leadership role in the payments industry, and supporting economic well-being in communities through a variety of efforts. The Boston Fed is one of 12 Reserve Banks and we serve all or parts of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Our mission is accomplished through our Bank's values: diversity, equity and inclusion, innovation, integrity, and leadership.
A requirement of this position is that the employee must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or qualify for an accommodation from the Bank's vaccination policy; individuals who are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief may request an accommodation from the Bank.
This job is eligible for a hybrid schedule with some on-site work expected.
Job Summary
The Regional & Community Outreach (RCO) department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston promotes the economic strength of low-income individuals and communities across New England by informing public policy and community development practice through conducting applied research, identifying and sharing what works, and building effective external engagement efforts. RCO's work is focused on three areas: Supporting growth in small cities and rural areas, advancing household economic security and equity, and expanding employment opportunities. The RCO Research and Communications Unit is responsible for advancing the work of these focal areas by conducting applied research and analysis, effectively engaging internal and external audiences with our work and contributing issue-specific expertise to inform the strategies of our departmental initiatives. Researchers publish papers using qualitative and quantitative methods. Our publication series can be found here. The Research and Communications Unit works closely with the department's engagement staff and with external stakeholders to identify emerging issues affecting lower-income communities. Current departmental priorities include work related to racial and ethnic wealth disparities, childcare for working parents, job quality, place-based research and strategies, and promoting equitable economic growth.
The managing editor is one of two communications positions in the Research and Communications unit; the other is RCO's community development communications outreach manager. Both positions work closely together as RCO's communications team. The managing editor leads development of a comprehensive overall communications strategy for our department, including branding our work and managing our communications strategy with outside audiences. One goal is for our research to inform practice and policy, both directly and through partnership with relevant organizations and publications. A second goal is to communicate our engagement strategies and pilots. The managing editor works closely with both research and engagement staff to produce published content and to coordinate and collaborate with the Bank's Corporate Communications department on both production and dissemination activities.
As managing editor for RCO, key responsibilities include:
- Thinking creatively about new ways to build our audiences and get our work out there
- Producing content that translates complex social science research into tangible, relatable narratives for a broad audience and shaping publications for release, including in emerging ways such as infographics, animations, videos, and interactive content
- Managing the entire publication review process
- Managing proposal submissions
- Providing editorial assistance and feedback (including helping, as needed, with design and layout issues as needed)
- Keeping track of timelines
- Corresponding with internal and external reviewers
- Synthesizing feedback, communicating with authors
- Collaborates with the communications outreach manager in developing and overseeing implementation of strategic dissemination plans in collaboration with authors and the Bank's Corporate Communications department
- Collaborates with the communications outreach manager in assessing the reach and impact of published materials with Corporate Communications (includes monitoring and devising appropriate metrics.)
One dissemination vehicle is RCO's online magazine, Invested, which is in the process of shifting to a series of short features on policy research, community conversations, and explainers about all aspects of the department's work. The managing editor leads production of Invested, working closely with the outreach communications manager and contributors across the department to identify and create the short features, identifying and managing external vendors for things like editing and animation, and securing corporate communications staff time for videography, audio recording, and production.
Principal Accountabilities
- Translate technical research for broad audiences and draft learnings and insights from engagement efforts, including writing, working with internal and external partners, and providing feedback on multiple drafts
- Manage the publication process for all RCO-produced materials from the proposal stage through the review/comment stage and work with the Communications Outreach Manager as needed on release and promotion planning and impact assessment, including monitoring and refining metrics for tracking the overall reach and impact of our work overtime, in collaboration with Corporate Communications
- Ensure that publications reach relevant audiences so that research can influence practice and policy, working in partnership with authors and department staff, take leadership in identifying new methods and audience
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with the research and engagement staff
- Develop content highlighting and complementing research products through the Invested platform - includes data visualization, crafting narrative to explain research, and collaboration with other content creators (e.g., animators, videographers)
- Procure and manage outside vendors such as animators and maintain intensive contact with them Participate in departmental and Bank activities including department meetings, town halls, and culture/teambuilding activities
- Engage in frequent contact with Bank staff at all levels, external authors, communications peers at other Federal Reserve Banks, and external colleagues in the publishing field
- Contribute as a thought partner on major initiatives both in terms of publication development and event planning, as well as on broader themes across our work
Other Accountabilities
Perform other duties as assigned.
Supervision
This position may supervise other staff
Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge and experience normally acquired through, or equivalent to, the completion of a Master's degree in some aspect of communications and a minimum of 5 years communication experience, or Bachelor's degree plus 7-10 years of experience, including experience with work that translates technical research for general audiences.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills including demonstrated writing and editing ability.
- Ability to translate complex findings for a public audience. Experience with social science research is a plus. Journal editor experience and/or experience working with researchers a plus
- Great attention to detail; good at devising and improving processes
- Good at prioritizing, managing multiple projects at once, collaborating, and working independently
- Adapts quickly in fluid environments
- Knowledgeable about a broad range of dissemination platforms including podcasts, social media, and print. Experience with successful large-scale dissemination that informs practice and policy change.
- Highly developed interpersonal and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated capability in PC applications, professional proficiency in work related use of the Internet and social networking tools.
- Interest in community development and related topics
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and to provide equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, or military service.
All employees assigned to this position will be subject to FBI fingerprint/ criminal background and Patriot Act/ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) watch list checks at least once every five years.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work required of this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or skills associated with this position or the personnel so classified. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of this position, management reserves the right to revise this or any job description at its discretion at any time.
Full Time / Part Time
Full time
Regular / Temporary
Regular
Job Exempt (Yes / No)
Yes
Job Category
Work Shift
First (United States of America)
The Federal Reserve Banks believe that diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success as an organization, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The Federal Reserve Banks are committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and job applicants in compliance with applicable law and to an environment where employees are valued for their differences.
Privacy Notice