Specialist, Copy Editor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., literature, language, journalism) or equivalent certification/on‑the‑job training.
• Minimum of three years’ editorial experience and two years’ experience in educational assessment.
• Comprehensive editorial expertise: demonstrates strong end‑to‑end copyediting proficiency (spelling, interpreting dictionary entries, compounding/hyphenation, grammar and terminology, punctuation, syntax, diction, and usage); interprets and applies major style and usage references with confidence (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, Gregg Reference Manual, Garner’s Modern English Usage, and other industry standards).
• Technical and software skills: proficient with Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office 365 apps (Word, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Excel); understands HTML/XML basics for web publishing and adapts to evolving software and requirements.
• Communication and collaboration: communicates clearly and respectfully; listens, synthesizes, and applies information effectively; gives and receives feedback constructively; accepts direction and acts on it.
• Professional behaviors and judgment: reliable and organized—meets deadlines with appropriate quality, manages time effectively; exercises sound judgment and analytical decision‑making; advocates/persuades when necessary and knows when restraint/negotiation is more productive; self‑managed, resilient, and adaptable to process and duration modifications; works independently when required; accountable for editorial proficiency and quality, uses systems correctly, owns errors and identifies root causes; demonstrates decency and professionalism—mentors or accepts mentoring, maintains confidentiality, openness, and truthfulness; displays curiosity about rules, processes, tools, perspectives, and the broader business context.

Responsibilities

• Core editorial responsibilities: implements grammar, spelling, usage, punctuation, syntax, and style per department, client, and industry standards; applies rules consistently; ensures uniformity and consistency across assessment components; sustains focus and reliably identifies errors throughout the workday while minimizing mistakes; exercises good judgment when applying client style guidelines, queries when deviations from style would be appropriate, and may create/modify client style guidelines; understands the copyeditor’s scope of responsibility, knows what to do when requested to go beyond scope, and flags concerns when needed; proactively seeks learning opportunities to strengthen editorial expertise by refining skills, expanding knowledge of style guides, and integrating emerging best practices.
• Quality assurance and risk awareness: adheres to quality assurance and quality control steps and review guidelines; recognizes the impact of editorial errors on item/test validity and broader reputational and program risks; demonstrates a strong understanding of the application of copyright law in assessment and knows when to escalate concerns.
• Assessment and content understanding: understands educational assessment foundations (content standards, alignment, validity, item‑level statistics); considers assessment design interactions (passage–item relationships, item types, metadata, accommodations) and the impact of editing cross‑components; demonstrates a strong understanding of assessment best practices (universal design, plain English, accessibility design).
• Technical platforms and publishing: uses Pearson‑preferred applications and platforms (e.g., ABBI, eStyle, Oracle) and demonstrates strong understanding of related publishing workflows (e.g., ABBI interactions with XPRT/TN8, XML issues, MathML); suggests necessary enhancements; identifies appropriate digital job aids and documentation and knows when and whom to ask for help or training; may develop job aids and create training for colleagues.
• Collaboration and community: assists with staff training, including mentoring, seminars, and one‑on‑one support; engages proactively in Editorial and Assessment Trends channels; works collegially across Editorial, Asset Services, Content, CDS, and Pearson; shares essential information across projects and understands the editor’s span of influence; works interdepartmentally, contributing to checklists, process documents, fact‑checking, item writing, scoring checks, and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Leadership and project coordination: serves as lead editor when assigned—ensures Editorial obligations are met, coordinates with Content, Program Teams, and other departments, and influences program decisions; creates effective training/process documents and work logs; reviews/approves schedules (e.g., in Smartsheet); coordinates editors’ work, monitors schedules, tracks assets through all phases; communicates status, scope changes, risks, issues, defects, deadlines, resources, and overtime needs to manager; as a lead editor, makes final editorial decisions on behalf of Editorial, escalates issues to manager in a timely manner, and takes responsibility for editorial quality; provides lead editor guidance and support to other lead editors.
• AI‑enabled editorial use: leverages AI tools to develop, review, and enhance assessment content that meets quality and accessibility standards; integrates AI‑generated assets with appropriate editorial oversight; demonstrates proficiency in AI‑supported content development—prompts, refines, and evaluates AI outputs; iterates with sound editorial judgment; stays current with emerging AI technologies and adapts as they evolve.
• Professional responsibilities and operational excellence: understands role across CDS and Pearson and aligns with Asset Services, CDS, and Pearson goals; attends team/town‑hall meetings and acts on disseminated information; completes administrative tasks on time (timesheets, goals, surveys, training modules); supports efficiency initiatives (standardization, resource sharing, time management and appropriate pace, productivity metrics, hours tracking) and provides training to vendors/contractors when appropriate; identifies problems and escalates as appropriate; balances cost, efficiency, schedule impact, and quality to set priorities; champions new technology, tools, and processes to improve efficiency and efficacy; maintains appropriate business behaviors (responsive communications, scheduling time‑off per protocol, arranging backup coverage); collaborates effectively as a partner or team member.

Pay

Hourly rate: $24.70 – $29.56. This position is not bonus eligible.