Managing Editor

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Locations: Scottsdale, AZ / Lansdowne, VA / Dallas, TX

Team Overview

As Managing Editor, you are a vital part of the Creative Services team. In this role, you will report to the Sr. Director of Creative Services and be responsible for overseeing the development, quality, and consistency of written content produced by the Creative Services team. Leading a team of two writers, this role ensures all editorial output is clear, compelling, accurate, and aligned with organizational voice, priorities, and strategic goals. The Managing Editor will serve as both a leader and hands-on editor, balancing day-to-day writing responsibilities with coaching, project management, and long-term content strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Editorial Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of writers, providing clear direction, coaching, and performance feedback.

• Assign and prioritize writing projects to ensure timely and effective delivery of content.

• Maintain high editorial standards and ensure consistency of tone, voice, and messaging across all written materials.

• Foster a spirit of trust and of innovation on your team.

• Meet regularly with your Team Members to discuss their progress and complete performance reviews.

Content Development & Editing:

• Write, edit, and refine press releases, op-eds, media statements, talking points, and feature stories.

• Review and approve content for accuracy, clarity, and alignment with organizational messaging.

• Serve as final editorial quality check before materials are shared externally.

Collaboration & Coordination:

• Partner with the stakeholders to align content with organizational strategy and priorities.

• Work closely with communications, legal, policy, and creative teams to ensure accuracy, risk awareness, and brand alignment.

• Help prepare executives and subject-matter experts with written materials that support media engagement and public communication.

Planning & Strategy:

• Contribute to content planning for proactive campaigns, issue response, and media outreach.

• Help identify story opportunities and shape editorial angles to maximize impact.

• Track and measure the effectiveness of written content in supporting media placements and reputation goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, or related field (Master’s preferred).

• 7+ years of professional writing and editing experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or team management role.

• Proven track record of producing high-quality written materials under tight deadlines.

• Strong editing skills, with a keen eye for clarity, consistency, and detail.

• Experience working with media relations, journalism, or public affairs teams.

• Ability to coach and develop writers.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities.

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

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