Community Associations Institute

Join our Team!

Job Title: Editor

Are you comfortable writing long-form features, short-form news items, and everything in between for print and digital media? Is your red pen always at the ready? Can you juggle multiple projects at once? Do you thrive in a deadline-driven environment?

Yes? We've got the job for you.

Join our team as an editor.

Community Associations Institute (CAI), an international membership organization based in Falls Church, Va., seeks a dynamic, creative, and talented individual with a strong background in journalism to inform and educate the 74.1 million Americans living in homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives as well as the managers and businesses that support these communities. The editor will be a key contributor to CAI's award-winning, flagship bimonthly magazine, blog, and newsletters. Primary responsibilities will include writing, planning, researching, editing, and proofreading content across CAI's various, integrated content channels. The ideal candidate will be a strong writer and editor who is comfortable working on long-form, short-form, print, and digital media. The candidate must be able to juggle multiple projects simultaneously and thrive in a deadline-driven environment.

Reporting to the Director of Publishing, the editor will manage Common Ground ^TM magazine, ensuring the highest level of creative writing, editorial quality, reader entertainment, and comprehensive coverage of the issues that shape community associations. The editor will help develop and publish feature articles, sections/departments, news, and supporting content for the magazine, filling pages with content that informs, educates, engages, and entertains CAI's members.

The editor also will support writing and editing for CAI's award-winning Ungated blog.

The editor also will work closely with the Director of Publishing, design team, proofreading team, and across CAI's departments to ensure the publications meet their many deadlines and achieve their high standards for well-researched and error-free journalism.

The editor will write and edit for the organization's website and other communications as needed while serving on copyediting team to review press releases, webpages, blog posts, emails, special projects, and other materials as needed.

CAI is looking for a passionate writer and editor with sound editorial judgment and the ability to demonstrate exceptional personal communication and writing skills. Candidates with a strong proficiency in writing and editing for association newsletters, magazines, websites, or blogs are highly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

1. Identify trends in community association governance, operations, and management; issues in the media; ideas from volunteer leadership; legislation, regulation, and court cases; and new products and services that merit exploration in Common Ground. Supervise the production of the magazine, including:

• Coordinating the contributions of a production staff that includes the director of publishing, associate editor, creative director, graphic designer, and several editors/proofreaders.
• Researching, assigning, and editing all feature articles and departments.
• Researching and writing feature articles and departments in each issue, and drafting all headlines, subheads, and captions.
• Coordinating the proofreading and copyediting processes.
• Creating an annual editorial calendar.
• Building relationships with CAI volunteer leaders, members, and subject matter experts as sources and contributors.
• Identifying new professional freelance writers and volunteer contributors.
• Ensuring that CAI's key messages and themes are reflected in Common Ground.

• Reviewing, posting, and distributing the digital edition of the magazine and related web articles.
• Developing, reviewing, and posting engaging content that enhances and promotes magazine articles, including social media, videos, web features, and more.
• Reviewing and filling reprint requests for Common Ground content.

 2. Developing, contributing, and posting editorial content to CAI's Ungated blog.

 ​3. Contributing articles and assisting with copyediting Community Manager, Law Reporter, and any other publications as needed.

 4. Copyedit/proofread CAI press releases, webpages, emails, special projects, and other materials as needed.

Required Skills

• Superb news judgment with more than five years of experience proving a strong journalistic foundation as a reporter, editor, or producer.
• Superior writing and grammar skills with intimate knowledge of the Associated Press Stylebook and demonstrable experience writing in AP Style.
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Extremely strong organization and planning skills and the ability to manage numerous tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain integrity, clarity, and accuracy of materials ensuring the content and format meets expected standards.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with nonprofit membership associations.
• Experience working with freelance writers, volunteer contributors, and other external relationships.
• Experience working with marketing, social media, and graphic design professionals.

• Experience writing and developing effective messaging to reflect an organization's unique voice.

About Community Associations Institute

Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in the more than 356,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and cooperatives in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 42,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 63 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa, as well as with housing leaders in several other countries including Australia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @caisocial.

 Department: Communications & Marketing

Location: Falls Church, Va.

Travel: Some travel may be required

NOTE:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and three writing samples (at least one should be 1,500+ words).

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