Senior Editor

Job Summary/Basic Function

CCRC is seeking a full-time Senior Editor who will support the center’s editorial and communications efforts. Reporting to the Communications Director, the Senior Editor will serve as the primary editor for research publications, develop engaging print and digital content, and translate complex research into accessible materials for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers.

About the Role

The Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University, studies community colleges because they provide critical access to postsecondary education and are uniquely positioned to promote social mobility in the United States. Our mission is to conduct research that helps these institutions strengthen opportunities and improve outcomes for students from all backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Edit, proofread, and format CCRC papers, reports, briefs, proposals, and other material.
• Provide feedback and guidance for writers during manuscript development.
• Liaise with authors, reviewers, and designers to coordinate all phases of publication production.
• Write and edit research summaries, press releases, blog posts, website content, email newsletters, and other material.
• Review publication layouts for errors, style inconsistencies, and adherence to brand standards.
• Post and curate content on the center’s websites and help maintain social media accounts.
• Collaborate with research and communications staff on project-related tasks.
• Participate in CCRC events and professional development activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ years of experience in editorial or social science research roles, with a proven track record of editing and refining publications that shape complex qualitative and quantitative findings into compelling narratives with actionable recommendations for practice.
• Superior understanding of grammar, spelling, and standard style conventions.
• Strong writing skills, critical thinking, and creativity.
• Able to understand complex academic prose, edit text discussing statistical methods/results, and distill research findings and implications for broader audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to work autonomously and in a team environment.
• Able to track and prioritize multiple projects and to anticipate and meet deadlines.
• Experience editing in Microsoft Word, including using “track changes” and formatting tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Prior experience editing applied research or academic papers, preferably in social sciences such as sociology and economics.
• Familiarity with APA style.
• Experience writing and editing content for the web and for nonacademic venues.
• An eye for design and an interest in digital storytelling.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted editing/proofreading tools.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation And Benefits
The salary range reflects the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for the position at the time of the job posting. Salary decisions are dependent on several factors including but not limited to market and organizational considerations, experience, and qualifications of a selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
Our benefits contribute significantly to the total compensation package that includes medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance plans; flexible and hybrid work schedules; tuition remission; life insurance; short and long-term disability insurance; an exceptional employer retirement matching program; health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, and a robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Contact Information

The position may begin immediately and is based in New York City. Please find the application link at https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/about-us/employment.html and include a cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and 2–3 editing samples (ideally anonymized before-and-after documents, such as Word files with tracked changes) with your application.