The Managing Editor, working as part of the senior editorial team, assists the editorial department, art department, fashion and beauty department and promotions department in ensuring deadlines are met and budgets are adhered to. When time allows, the Managing Editor helps with editing copy and getting pages ready for publication.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
MANAGING ALL PHASES OF PRODUCTION, WHICH INCLUDES:
- Setting production and commissioning deadlines according to factory print dates.
- Ensuring brainstorming, editorial and picture meetings/briefings take place on schedule.
- Supervising copy flow and monitoring adherence to deadlines.
- Monitoring flow of layouts from art to subs; and the sending-to-repro process.
- Running daily production meetings with subs and art department.
- Tracking work progress and gauging whether flow and speed are sufficient to make the next deadline.
- Making plans to get production back on track when this is not the case.
- Liaising with the production manager, factory and repro house when required.
- Assisting with special projects and supplements when these are scheduled.
- Drawing up flatplans and reworking them in liaison with the Editor and Advertising Sales teams.
- Overseeing the positioning of ads in consultation with the sales staff.
- Being a ‘watchdog’ in helping to prevent ads that contradict the editorial message from being placed.
- Monitoring adherence to budgets and in-house rates.
- Daily and monthly reconciliation of order forms and invoices.
- Authorising invoices for editorial and advertorial work done, ensuring payments are in accordance with company policy.
- Liaising with freelance writers/ photographers/stylists etc when there are disputes regarding fees or payments.
- Liaising with the accounts department when there are queries about payment from freelancers.
- Maintaining comprehensive spreadsheets detailing spend across the magazine.
- Providing liaison between the respective editorial, sales and financial teams.
- Communicating management decisions, where relevant, to all levels of permanent staff, freelance staff and external service providers (repro and printing).
- Monitoring leave (sick and annual) to ensure it doesn’t impact on production.
- Monitoring timekeeping, office behavior, work standards etc of staff and taking action when required.
- Giving input re staff placements/replacements when required.
- Liaising with HR, Finance Department and any other relevant staff to make contingency plans – for instance getting in freelancers - if and when necessary to keep to production schedules.
- Employing freelancers when required according to rate guidelines provided by HR and the Finance department.
- Helping the Senior Editor with editing/re-writing features, when time allows.
- Writing sidebars, intros and captions to help the Copy Editing Department if and when needed to help keep production on track.
- Sourcing ideas for anything from features to special projects to snippets, and contributing these (at features meetings).
- Representing the magazine at promotional and networking events when required.
- Minimum 2 years experience as Managing Editor within the consumer magazine industry.
- A related tertiary qualification.
- Above average general knowledge – able to edit a wide range of subjects (from fashion and beauty to health, finance and food).
- Able to work outside or regular hours, on occasion, to meet required deadlines.
- Management qualification and/or experience on an international publication will be given preference.
- A proactive, problem-solving solutions-focused mindset.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Creative initiative and passion for the brand.
- Effective communication, negotiation, arbitration, people-management, team-motivating and conflict-resolution skills.
- Being a team player.
- Ability to handle stress and cope under deadline pressure.
- Ability to work with budgets (with accuracy and attention to detail).
- Well-rounded knowledge of the magazine production process and understanding of the repro and printing process.
- Passion for the English and Afrikaans languages and a sound knowledge of syntax and grammar.
- Proven editing experience.
- Valid drivers license and own transport.
For submissions: apply here
Website: http://www.assocmags.co.za/