Writer-Editor, IS-1082-11
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AI Summary
The position serves as an editor and web content manager for the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, overseeing the production of online magazines, blogs, and promotional materials. Responsibilities include managing editorial workflows, maintaining websites, and coordinating digital media projects to inform stakeholders about Smithsonian programs.
Writer-Editor, IS-1082-11
Application Deadline: 17 August 2026
Department: Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Director of Strategic Initiatives & External Affairs
Compensation: $85,447 - $111,087 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: August 12, 2026
CLOSING DATE: August 17, 2026 (This job will close once 50 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Remote
Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-Sensitive/Low Risk Security Level
Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants
Non-Sensitive/Low Risk Security Level
Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
OVERVIEW
This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (CFCH or the Center) on the Communications team. The position functions as an editor and web content manager for CFCH as well as the editor for the Center’s online magazine and blog and public-facing print materials. The position also supports the Center’s development of digital media materials. The primary purpose of these educational and promotional materials is to inform the Center’s stakeholders and the public about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and related programs offered by CFCH.
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Add summary of unit and position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Editorial (45%)
- Writes, edits, and proofreads promotional materials, such as direct mail copy, email newsletters, signage, and brochures.
- Works in close cooperation with the Communications team on a broad array of publications and projects. Researches, writes, and edits materials for the web and print in support of programming and communications initiatives. Creates, edits, and evolves content as needed for dissemination in print and other applications.
- Uses the Chicago Style Manual and Folklife Style Guide to edit and proofread a range of CFCH products, including, but not limited to: Folklife Magazine, Festival Blog, news & events articles, Festival signage, Festival guide text and other miscellaneous written content as required. Ensures clarity and precision, i.e. restructuring sentences, eliminating redundancy, and ensuring flow without changing the author’s intended meaning.
- Coordinates the production of the Center’s Folklife Magazine and Festival blog, making editorial decisions based on readability, accuracy, style, syntax, and knowledge of subject matter. Ensures all articles align with the Center’s programming, strategic plan, and annual communications strategy. Ensures that content is accurate and has been reviewed and approved by appropriate staff prior to dissemination. Maintains editorial calendar for online publications. Makes decisions on story placement and page design.
- Identifies Folklife Magazine and Festival blog articles that would be suitable for Smithsonian Voices blog audiences. Makes required edits and publishes articles weekly on Smithsonian Voices. Identifies and acquires available media assets and other materials. Makes informed decisions drawing on an understanding of best practices governing elements such as image quality, copyright issues, and audience accessibility.
- Adds closed captioning and/or proofreads open captioning to all new videos for accessibility.
- Ensures that all online and print materials conform to appropriate Center standards, both internal and external.
- Provides recommendations to the supervisor on updates to the Style and author guidelines to reflect current strategic plan and messaging requirements. Maintains Editorial SharePoint page with updates resources for staff.
- Trains and mentors Center staff and interns to strengthen quality of written products.
Web (30%)
- Updates folklife.si.edu, festival.si.edu, and mothertongue.si.edu websites. Updates include but are not limited to: home page, staff lists and bios, new pages for annual Festival programs and other CFCH projects, schedules and programming information, using the Festival Trumba calendar tool, and livestreaming for the Festival and other events.
- Ensures all new content adheres to best practices for web accessibility.
- Evaluates analytics to analyze user experience.
- Manages and supports maintenance of the Center’s websites: folklife.si.edu, festival.si.edu, andmothertongue.si.edu, including routine quality assurance.
- Coordinates website contractor services.
- Trains and mentors Center staff and interns to use content management systems effectively.
Project Management (25%)
- Performs project planning with internal and external stakeholders, such as other cultural organizations, university or other research partners, media organizations and outside contractors, for writing, editing, and web projects. Manages project workflows. Prepares statements of work for contractors and evaluates their performance. Recruits and oversees interns to support projects.
Projects may include but are not limited to:
- Folklife Magazine and Festival Blog: Designs and manages editorial workflows, establishing processes and ensuring articles on Folklife Magazine and Festival blog comply with Center standards, quality, and adherence to programming and strategic plan. Works with staff, supervisors and outside reviewers to ensure the articles are accurate and account for nuances. External reviewers include Folklorists, Anthropologists, scholars, and staff at partner or collaborative organizations. Leads weekly editorial meetings and reports on editorial activity to Center’s leadership team.
- Web projects: Manages timelines and activities for website contractor services including content management system upgrades, accessibility measures, and addressing website vulnerabilities. Schedules meetings with staff and other stakeholders for necessary reviews.
- Special projects: Supports Center staff to develop and implement digital exhibitions, mini-sites and other digital products for greater public awareness of the Center’s work. Identifies creative solutions and presentation methods to communicate the Center’s work online. Manages deadlines and workflows to ensure timely completion of projects.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Experience required for this position is as follows:
1. Knowledge of project management principles and practices, for planning, scheduling, coordinating, implementing and managing CFCH projects involving writing, editing and web content, gained through experience.
2. Knowledge to edit blogs and news/event articles to produce content that is clear and precise while maintaining the author’s intended meaning, gained through experience.
3. Ability to coordinate the production of the Center’s Folklife Magazine and Festival blog, making editorial decisions based on readability, accuracy, style, syntax, and knowledge of the subject matter. 4. Knowledge to prepare articles that align with the organization’s programming, strategic plan, and annual communications strategy, gained through experience.
5. Knowledge to add closed captioning and proofread open captioning to all new videos to evaluate for accessibility.
6. Ability to manage an organization’s websites, including adding new content, updating information, and maintaining quality assurance, gained through experience.
7. Knowledge to evaluate that all web content adheres to best practices for web accessibility.
8. Ability to use web analytics to evaluate user experience.
2. Knowledge to edit blogs and news/event articles to produce content that is clear and precise while maintaining the author’s intended meaning, gained through experience.
3. Ability to coordinate the production of the Center’s Folklife Magazine and Festival blog, making editorial decisions based on readability, accuracy, style, syntax, and knowledge of the subject matter. 4. Knowledge to prepare articles that align with the organization’s programming, strategic plan, and annual communications strategy, gained through experience.
5. Knowledge to add closed captioning and proofread open captioning to all new videos to evaluate for accessibility.
6. Ability to manage an organization’s websites, including adding new content, updating information, and maintaining quality assurance, gained through experience.
7. Knowledge to evaluate that all web content adheres to best practices for web accessibility.
8. Ability to use web analytics to evaluate user experience.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact Marqunita Bell BellM@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact Marqunita Bell BellM@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
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