Alliance Publishing Trust (APT) is an international publisher of material on philanthropy. Our flagship publication, Alliance magazine, is a quarterly print and digital magazine on philanthropy and social investment worldwide with a circulation of 33,000+. 

APT aims to create a culture of collective involvement where all team members can contribute to both the direction and processes of the organisation. We aim to be a fluid organisation, introducing new ideas in quick time and deliver impact at a level beyond our size. APT is proud to be both an accredited Living Wage Employer and 4 Day Week Employer.

The Role

We are seeking an adept and knowledgeable features editor to join our editorial team.

Reporting to the magazine editor, you will directly manage the commissioning and editorial process for the special feature section of Alliance magazine.

Working with guest editors and external contributors you will commission four 30-page special features a year with support from the magazine editor and the wider editorial team. You will draft the special feature working paper, liaise with guest editors and contributors, and edit and proof magazine articles for publication. You will be directly involved in conceptualising the design of the magazine and the special feature each quarter. Alongside working on the special feature, you will attend one editorial meeting a month and lead jointly on a quarterly Alliance event with the marketing, advertising & events manager.

The successful candidate will have exceptional writing and copy-editing skills, excellent organisation and time-management skills, and enjoy working in a small team. The successful candidate will also have keen knowledge of/experience working in the philanthropy sector, ideally within an editorial environment. And finally, the successful candidate will be a willing participant in all APT discussions and play an active role in driving the organisation forward.

Read Alliance magazine’s latest special feature on tax and philanthropy.

Summary of Main Duties and Responsibilities

The features editor’s principal responsibilities are to directly manage the commissioning and editorial process for the special feature section of Alliance magazine.

Editorial Planning

• Preparing for, participating in, and reflecting on meetings with the magazine’s editorial advisory council
• Drafting special feature outlines in consultation with the magazine and executive editors
• Shortlisting and choosing special feature topics with the magazine editor, executive editor, and editorial advisory council
• Identifying and securing guest editors with input from the magazine editor, executive editor, and editorial advisory council

Special Feature Commissioning

• Meeting with guest editor(s) to conceptualise the issue and draft the working paper
• Refining the working paper ready for commissioning
• Commissioning the special feature in collaboration with the guest editors, consulting the editorial team and/or advisory council as needed
• Transferring contributor details from working paper to production plan, including author, contact, email, deadline, photo notes, and rank
• Agreeing production schedule with magazine editor and publishing issue blurb online
• Responding to author questions
• Acknowledging safe receipt of external copy
• Conducting an interview or supporting guest editors to conduct a peer dialogue for each issue
• Signing off special feature copy with individual contributors
• Supporting photo research for the issue as required
• Ensuring all copy is placed in ‘approved copy’ on deadline with relevant notes on content and photos
• Providing guidance to magazine editor at handover and responding to ongoing questions
• Reviewing design in collaboration with guest editors and wider editorial team
• Reviewing contents page and providing feedback on proofs
• Lead jointly on a quarterly Alliance event with the marketing, advertising, and events manager
• Identifying and handing over any editorial and organisational leads that arise from the special feature to the magazine and executive editors

Other Editorial Tasks

• Attend one editorial meeting per month with the wider editorial team
• Support and attend Alliance’s annual ‘Year in Philanthropy’ event
• Attending conferences and meetings to further sector knowledge and produce written coverage
• Other necessary editorial tasks as required

Person Specification

Essential 

• Exceptional writing and copy-editing skills
• Knowledge or awareness of the philanthropy sector
• A keen interest in current affairs and awareness of how philanthropy intersects with global events
• Experience of commissioning and working with multiple authors at once
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills with the ability to deliver to strict deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently

Desirable 

• Awareness of the philanthropy sector, ideally within an editorial environment
• Experience of working with print publications
• Experience of using Office 365
• Experience of using shared folders
• Photo and picture research experience
• Knowledge of a second language

Workplace Benefits

Including, But Not Limited To:

• Four-day work week
• Flexible working, both in terms of times and location
• Equivalent of 7 weeks of annual leave (including Bank Holidays) rising to 8 weeks depending on service
• Enhanced pension
• Life assurance
• Enhanced occupational Sick Pay
• Enhanced parental policies
• Critical illness insurance
• Health cash plan for items such as dental and opticians
• Monthly physical wellbeing stipend
• Mental wellbeing support app
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Interest free tenancy deposit loan
• Travel insurance
• Employee volunteering day

To Apply

Please send a CV and short cover letter to Elaine Stabler by 10:00am on Monday 18 November via the link below.

Writing samples are welcome but not required for your application to be considered. We are a small organisation and only successful interview candidates will be contacted. If you have questions about the role, please contact us by email.