Experience Is the Currency Today
Scroll through enough job boards, and you’ll start to see patterns before they become headlines. Today’s pattern is unmistakable: organizations are hiring for judgment. The roles posted right now aren’t looking for generalists who can learn on the fly. They want seasoned professionals who already know how to run an editorial calendar, negotiate a media buy, or shape a publication’s voice across print and digital.
Three of today’s most compelling listings are senior positions where the hiring organization essentially says, “We know what we need, and we need someone who’s done it before.” That’s a meaningful signal. After two years of companies consolidating roles and asking one person to do the work of three, we’re seeing a correction toward specialization at the top. Editors who edit. Media strategists who strategize. Leaders who’ve already earned their scars.
Also on Mediabistro
For anyone who’s been building expertise in a specific corner of media, today’s listings are worth a close look. If you’re browsing editorial jobs on Mediabistro, you’ll find more senior titles than we’ve seen in months.
Today’s Hot Jobs
Deputy Editor at Poets & Writers, Inc.
Why you should pay attention: Poets & Writers Magazine is one of the most respected names in literary publishing, and this Deputy Editor role puts you at the center of its editorial operation. You’ll shape content across the print magazine, the pw.org website, and a premium newsletter. The $75,000 salary comes with fully paid medical insurance, generous PTO, and the kind of institutional credibility that opens doors for decades.
What they expect you to bring:
- Strong editing experience with long-form articles, essays, and features
- Ability to assign stories, cultivate new contributors, and maintain freelancer relationships
- Comfort working across print, web, and newsletter formats
- Familiarity with the literary publishing landscape and a genuine interest in the craft of writing
Apply for the Deputy Editor position at Poets & Writers
Executive Editor at the Association for Computing Machinery
The big picture here: ACM publishes one of the most widely read technology magazines in the world, and this Executive Editor role is genuinely rare. You’ll lead the editorial team, manage the production pipeline, oversee circulation strategy, and work with the ad sales team to develop new revenue products. The $125K to $140K salary range reflects the breadth of responsibility. This is a publishing leadership role for someone who understands both editorial quality and business performance.
Core qualifications:
- Deep experience in technology publishing, especially with software development audiences
- P&L management and annual budget oversight
- Track record of managing editorial advisory boards and production staff
- Hybrid schedule with three days per week at ACM’s New York City headquarters
Apply for the Executive Editor role at ACM
Media Director at Marketing for Change
What makes this one different: Marketing for Change is a behavioral science-driven ad agency focused entirely on social change campaigns. Their Media Director will lead planning, buying, and earned media strategy across regional, state, and national campaigns designed to shift public behavior. If you’ve spent years optimizing media buys for consumer brands and want your expertise to serve a larger purpose, this is the role where commercial media chops meet mission-driven work.
The ideal candidate has:
- Senior-level media planning and buying experience across specialized channels
- An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to scale an internal media practice
- Experience leading teams and managing agency profitability alongside client satisfaction
- Comfort working at the intersection of behavioral research, creative strategy, and media investment
Apply for the Media Director position at Marketing for Change
Publication Designer at Havenford (Freelance, Remote)
For the design-minded editorial thinker: Havenford is launching a Philadelphia-based editorial publication covering professional services, and they’ve already done the brand strategy homework. Thirty-two pages of brand guidelines, completed cover designs, and content ready to go. They need a publication designer to build the interior layout system, data visualization templates, and typography hierarchy. Think Economist meets Harvard Business Review. The $2,500 to $3,500 Phase 1 rate covers two to three weeks of design system development, with potential for ongoing production work.
You’ll need to demonstrate:
- Experience designing long-form editorial layouts for print or digital publications
- Skill with data visualization, charts, and index templates
- Ability to create comprehensive design system documentation for future production use
- Comfort working within established brand guidelines while building something new
Apply for the Publication Designer role at Havenford
Professional Takeaways
If you’re a mid-career professional who’s been wondering whether your years of specialized experience still carry weight, today’s market says yes. These roles are specifically structured for people who’ve already done the work and can prove it. Before you apply, make sure your portfolio and references reflect depth, not just range.
The ACM and Poets & Writers roles in particular will attract strong candidate pools, so lead with your most relevant editorial accomplishments. And if you do land an offer, our guide on what to do when you get a job offer is worth reviewing before you respond. Specificity wins right now. Show them you’ve already solved the problems they’re hiring for.
Topics:
Hot Jobs
