Writer/Editor

About the Foundation

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

About the Role

The Writer/Editor will generate and write original articles and edit features and other content as needed for Trend & Tradition: The Magazine of Colonial Williamsburg, as assigned by the Editorial Manager. The role also provides writing and editing support for book publishing.

Responsibilities

• Use news judgment to propose, research, conduct interviews, and write original articles pertaining to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's mission, activities, research, programming, and general news.
• Write a minimum of 12 original articles per issue, ranging from 200 to 2,000 words, including profiles, “Behind the Scenes,” general-interest stories, and Foundation updates.
• Exercise independent editorial judgment, participate in idea sessions, propose potential articles, and bring fresh ideas to long-standing features and columns.
• Suggest and produce complementary content, including original headlines, captions, illustrations, and photography.
• Collaborate with the editorial staff to expand and produce stories based on team ideas and execute long-term planning for magazine issues.
• Conduct fact-checking using Associated Press Style, edit features and news articles, and align stories with the Foundation’s mission.
• Cultivate relationships with other departments (Development, Museums, Digital Marketing) to gather material for regular magazine features.
• Proofread final galleys of the magazine before submission for printing.
• Support book publications as a writer, editor, or proofreader, and generate potential book projects.

This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and may evolve based on operational needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in English, Journalism, or History.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of professional feature writing and editing experience.
• Three (3) published writing clips, resume, and references required for consideration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in book publishing.
• 3+ years’ experience in a magazine setting.
• Familiarity with InDesign and project management tools (e.g., Trello).

Skills

• Knowledge of American colonial history.
• Proficiency in AP Style.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to work independently and take direction.
• Comfortable using both Mac and PC environments.
• Knowledge of Colonial Williamsburg and its 18th-century history.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Standing: Constantly
• Walking: Frequently
• Sitting: Constantly
• Use of hands/fingers: Constantly
• Climbing or balancing: Rarely
• Stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling: Rarely
• Reaching with hands/arms: Frequently
• Talking or hearing: Constantly
• Lifting up to 10 lbs.: Rarely
• Lifting up to 25 lbs.: Rarely (with assistance)
• Lifting up to 50 lbs.: Rarely (with assistance)
• Lifting over 100 lbs.: Rarely (with assistance)
• Wet/humid conditions: Rarely
• Work near moving mechanical parts: Rarely
• Fumes/airborne particles: Rarely
• Extreme cold/heat: Rarely
• Risk of electrical shock: Rarely

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM.

Pay

Compensation range: $69,700 to $104,500. Actual pay will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.