Communications Studio Editor

Salary: £22,400 to £25,000 (pro-rata to £28,000 to £31,250 per annum)

Location: London – Bedford Square 

Department:  Communications Studio

Reporting to: Head of Communications  

Starting Date: As soon as possible

Contract Type:  Permanent

Hours of work: Part time (4 days per week); between Monday to Friday, 10am–6pm

 Role Overview 

The Communications Studio Editor will focus on all AA Publications being produced by the school. This includes printed books, online editorial projects and ebooks. The role contributes to the cultural production of the school through involvement with the development, commissioning and coordination of editorial projects within the Communications Studio and AA Publications. 

The appointed candidate will report directly to the Head of Communications. The role is key in the editing, co-ordination and delivery of all publications and includes editing, copy-editing, fact-checking, helping writers to convey their ideas in written form and proofreading, in order to disseminate cultural content from within the school to the AA Community and a variety of external audiences.  

The role will work closely with the editorial team within the Communications Studio, as well as with contributing editors and authors; and will lead the proofreading process for all titles while assisting with the scheduling and delivery of publication projects. There is the possibility of Hybrid working for this position the details will have to be agreed upon with the manager. 

Main Responsibilities

AA Publication projects 

• Oversee, along with the Head of Communications, the editorial process for all publications produced by the school
• Lead structural and developmental editing for all texts
• Lead the copy-editing process for all texts
• Oversee the proofreading processes for all publication projects
• Lead the page proofs process to ensure that documents are ready for printing
• Copy-editing for publications; sub-edit text written by authors to ensure consistent house style; ensure captions are correct and consistent
• Check printers’ blueline proofs where required
• The above responsibilities are required for printed publications, ebooks and online editorial projects
• Correspond with the authors and editors to resolve editorial queries and corrections, and finalise texts
• Work with the authors and editors to ensure consistency between all publications
• Inform the authors, editors and in-house proofreader of required publication deadlines
• Assist in the development of manuscripts from idea to published text
• Assist in the management of book budgets and editorial and production schedules
• Liaise with authors where required to ensure requests align with the ambitions of AA Publications
• Liaise with printers as required 
• Transcribe and provide first edit of recorded interviews and conversations where required
• Enforce that the language and tone of the text is legible not only within architectural discourse but for a wider audience 
• Oversee and undertake picture/image research and rights-clearing 

AA Communications Projects:

• As required, copy-edit and proofread contributions, ensuring they conform to the conventions of AA Style
• Assist with the proofreading processes of projects as required 

Style Guide:

• Ensure that all content follows the AA Style Guide
• Keep the guide up to date in co-ordination with the Head of Communications, Senior Editor and Proofreaders 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assist with creating grant and funding-applications for current and future in-house publications as required  

 Person Specification 

 Knowledge, Skills and Experience

We are looking for a candidate that has a background in and is proficient with writing and editing, and shares an interest in architecture, education and the arts. The AA is a dynamic institution that requires an individual that is excited about and will engage with the culture of the school, has good communication skills and is experienced in working with a variety of editors and authors on texts that cover architecture, art, science, philosophy, technology and politics. The projects that the role will edit and assist with are diverse in content and timeframe of production, and therefore the candidate will need to have a certain level of flexibility, able to adjust between different types of work not only weekto-week but also day-to-day, and a strong level of personal initiative and self-motivation. Due to the deadline-driven design environment at the school, the candidate will need to be flexible with hours so that projects are delivered on time. Finally, a person that enjoys writing as an artform in and of itself, is detail-oriented and is willing to engage with the nuances and details of language is preferred.

• Experience in academic writing and copy-editing, as well as fluent English speaking and writing  skills
• Strong written communication skills, including drafting content, editing and proofreading
• A keen eye for detail and the ability to uphold a high standard of work across projects of every scale
• BA(Hons) in field related to writing or equivalent, experience in publishing and curatorial projects is preferred
• The ability to interact with and form productive relationships with colleagues and external collaborators
• An understanding of the requirements to engage with the day-to-day responsibilities of the role
• Proofreading experience and qualifications preferred 
• Proficiency in software: Microsoft Office; Adobe Create Suite; Apple software (Keynote, Pages, etc)

Creative thinking and problem-solving are essential skills for AA employees. Ideal candidates will be high-energy individuals and team players. 

How to Apply:

Please email the below documents to recruitment@aaschool.ac.uk by the closing date of 30th January 2023 stating the job title in the subject heading.

• AA Application Form
• Cover Letter / Email highlighting why you feel you are the right person for the role. This should be no more than two-pages
• Full CV

Informal enquires should be addressed to recruitment@aaschool.ac.uk or 02078874110.

We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Please note that it will not be possible for the AA School to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for successful candidates. Therefore, the appointed candidate will need to be eligible to work in the UK for the duration of their employment with the AA School, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Thank you for your interest in the AA and this role.