Easter Seals Jobs

Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) is now hiring a deputy managing editor to support NASA’s Earth science communications efforts.

The best editing starts before there are words on the page; it originates with the moment of vision and creativity about the best approach to telling a story. And the best editors are more than wordsmiths; they are coaches, project managers, diplomats, and advocates.

We are looking for a versatile editor who enjoys a diversity of work with text and imagery, from scoping a feature story with a veteran reporter to quilting existing content into a new web package, from line editing and coaching novice writers to fact-checking video and social media scripts. Though some writing is required, this is truly an editing-first job. Content will lean mostly toward evergreen and feature storytelling, as well as informational writing, with sporadic needs for quick-turnaround news.

The successful candidate must be a U.S. Citizen. The position is full-time and ideally based in the Washington, DC, area. Telework is possible, but the candidate will be expected to spend up to 10 percent of the year working in person in the DC and Los Angeles areas.

Responsibilities include:

• Content-, copy-, and line editing for written features, social media threads, web pages, and video scripts;

• Supporting content development from brainstorming and pitch through scheduling, iteration, review, and production;

• Researching and curating imagery and video;

• Initiating and providing editorial guidance for data visualization and graphics;

• Collaborating with writers and producers (video and social media) on multimedia and multi-platform content;

• Fact-checking and proofing to insure strong journalistic and scientific standards.

Editing and writing at a science institution requires initiative, persistence, patience, and diplomacy. Our writers and producers sit at a pivotal point between technical experts and the public, and you must be able to deliver constructive criticism that helps their work both inspire the lay person and satisfy the scientist. Millions of viewers trust the depth and quality of NASA’s information and narratives, and this demands acute attention to detail and accuracy.

Applicants should provide two samples of their writing/content creation and one story or package that they edited for publication. (At least one piece should demonstrate the ability to translate a complex, technical topic into lay language.) Candidates who advance in the process will be required to take an editing test.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in writing, journalism, communications, or literature or related subject and 5+ years editing experience (including copy editing, proofreading, and fact-checking), preferably around scientific or technical subjects or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to work well within a distributed team;

• Technical editing and reviewing proficiency using Microsoft suite of products (Word, Sharepoint, Teams).

• US Citizenship required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience communicating about Earth science, remote sensing, geophysics, and climate change.

  EOE, including disability/vets

  Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear and occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.