JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Editor Kew magazine

Band: D
Post No: 823
Department: Content and Learning: Publishing and Media
Resources
Reports to: Head of Publishing
Line Management day to day management of Kew magazine
designer and
Responsibilities: freelance chief sub-editor

Overall purpose of the job

• To plan, create and produce high-quality issues of Kew magazine on schedule and to
budget. To ensure that the magazine continues to be a powerful channel through
which to communicate Kew’s purpose and message worldwide, providing good value
for money.
Main Responsibilities
MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS ASPECTS
• Managing daily work of the magazine team (designer and chief subeditor), recruiting
freelances as necessary.
• Maintaining good contacts with freelance writers and photographers.
• Maintaining on-going relationship with publishing services partner Cultureshock
Media.
• Setting and managing editorial budgets in consultation with the Head of Publishing.
• Ensuring Kew magazine content is in line with Kew’s mission, vision, policies and
communications strategy
• Directing overall editorial tone of Kew magazine according to agreed editorial
strategy / policy – the integrity, character and style.
• Contributing as a member of the Kew magazine business advisory group; monitoring
and advising on strategic business development, and the positioning of the magazine
so that it provides best return on investment for Kew as an organisation.

PLANNING AND COMMISSIONING EDITORIAL CONTENT

• Researching and planning varied and topical features (text and illustrations) to
ensure that each issue is a well-balanced magazine and commercially viable.
• Writing briefs and commissioning all editorial content; from staff, freelance writers
and photographers.
• Writing features and editing text.
• Setting editorial tone of each issue – character, style and content and how it reads.
• Ensuring content is in line with Kew’s policies and mission, working with all personnel
and stakeholders at Kew to promote their work
• Maintaining impetus and managing the ongoing development of the magazine so as
to realise its full editorial and commercial potential e.g. developing special issues and
supplements, in consultation with the Head of Publishing.
• Appointing magazine’s editorial board and chairing quarterly editorial board
meetings.

SCHEDULING AND PRODUCTION

• Planning and monitoring editorial / production schedules
• Forward planning for each issue (such as anticipating future features and getting
photographs taken a year ahead)
• Art directing the magazine (in conjunction with the designer). Selecting pictures for
features and overseeing briefs for photographers.
• Approving initial layouts and passing finished layouts for press.

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• Passing advertisements for press to ensure ethical, environmental and sustainable
standards are in line with Kew’s policies.
• Handling all necessary administration relating to the magazine.
• Maintaining and developing the magazine’s presence on E-news and website.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education and Experience

• Degree or equivalent, in a subject such as horticulture, the environment, plant

science
• Editorial skills training/professional qualifications and/or work experience in an
editorial/publishing environment, working at editor level preferably on magazines and
other highly designed, visually led publications

Skills and Competencies

• Sound knowledge and experience in magazine publishing, at editorial/managerial and

‘hands on’ levels
• Good contacts and ‘leverage’ in publishing, horticultural/ecology/plant science
communities
• Excellent general editorial skills including commissioning, creative editorial
development, workflow and review procedures, editing, ‘subbing’, proof reading,
writing
• Excellent use of English; strong oral, and written communication skills, a meticulous
eye and attention to detail
• Well developed visual sense (in context of publication design)
• Good general knowledge of print publication processes especially with respect to
magazine production, some knowledge of digital media publishing technologies
advantageous
• Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills; ability to manage simultaneous
aspects of magazine content commissioning, development and production, working
with many contacts
• Good interpersonal skills to manage magazine team, freelances, authors, and for
general networking; strong customer focus, negotiation skills, sensitivity and tact
• Good basic IT literacy including Microsoft Office, Mac and desk top publishing
technologies (Quark)
• Sound knowledge of one or more aspects of horticulture and related biology,
familiarity with botanical terminology
• Sound understanding of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and positioning and role as an
organisation within the global plant science conservation community
• Basic knowledge and awareness of IP / copyright practices

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Kew Publishing – organisation chart

Kew Magazine
Editor Band D
823 FT

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