U.S. Naval Institute
Editor-in-Chief Naval History
U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland, United States, 21403
Overview
Read on to find out what you will need to succeed in this position, including skills, qualifications, and experience. Founded in 1873, the non-profit U.S. Naval Institute (located at but not part of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD) is an independent publisher for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security. The Institute is seeking an Editor-in-Chief for Naval History magazine (first published in 1987; six print issues per year, plus online-only content).
The Naval Institute’s team of 65 full-time employees is highly integrated across the book publishing, periodicals, news, events, and business teams. We work a hybrid schedule with employees in the office three days a week plus two days remote. There is significant flexibility in the schedule and hours, but all employees are expected to be in the office three days per week.
The current Editor-in-Chief will retire in late January 2026, and we plan to hire his replacement by mid-November to provide full overlap and training.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Reads and evaluates all incoming historical manuscripts
Prepares slates for each issue of Naval History, edits articles, and coordinates the efforts of other contributing editors
Ensures accuracy by fact-checking articles as needed
Works with photo researcher to obtain illustrations and cover art
Writes captions and subheads
Works with design and production team to ensure quality design and efficient production of the magazine to meet deadlines
Supervises online distribution and presentation of Naval History content - schedules and oversees the publication of online-exclusive articles each week
Determines topic, researches and writes content, and supervises the production and design of every article
Using U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard reports, oral histories, and other sources, researches and compiles or writes sidebars and/or brief articles to complement feature articles in the magazine as well as researching and writing text for informational graphics
Commissions and/or solicits expert writers and historians to write original articles
Writes a bi-monthly column, 'On Our Scope'
Works with Web Director, Design Director, and EVP for Periodicals to ensure that Naval History has a strong online presence, including on USNI’s web site and social media pages
Serves as the host for two article-promoting podcasts per month
Annually prepares an editorial calendar that specifies the main focus of each of the next year’s issues
Actively participates in the development of Naval Institute conferences and events and supports the programs as required
Represents Naval History at conferences, meetings, and receptions as well as at other public events
Coordinates the efforts of senior and associate editors as well as a photo researcher — seeks opportunities to expand circulation and revenues and maintain high level of scholarship in the magazine
Requirements
Strong background in writing, editing, proofreading, and historical research
Personnel and project management skills required
Strong knowledge of and interest in historical military matters, especially within the sea services
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, InDesign, Photoshop, online content management systems (such as Drupal and WordPress), and social media platforms
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in English, history, or associated field desired
At least five years’ experience in editorial and magazine production
Military experience and/or knowledge of military and naval history highly desirable
Able to read, analyze, and interpret military-specific and historical manuscripts
Ability to respond to inquiries from authors, vendors, or other Naval Institute departments
Ability to write correspondence and material for publication that conform to prescribed style and format
Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, USNI Editorial Board, and members
Strong editorial judgment required — able to read hundreds of manuscripts per year and select the best ones for publication
Able to work with authors to help them improve and hone their ideas and arguments
Able to provide advice to Publisher on editorial calls
Can see and define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions — makes calls on editorial and art requirements
Must be able to travel occasionally for research trips and seminars (up to two or three short trips per year)
The U.S. Naval Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Salary $80,000 to $100,000
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries
Non-profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Read on to find out what you will need to succeed in this position, including skills, qualifications, and experience. Founded in 1873, the non-profit U.S. Naval Institute (located at but not part of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD) is an independent publisher for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security. The Institute is seeking an Editor-in-Chief for Naval History magazine (first published in 1987; six print issues per year, plus online-only content).
The Naval Institute’s team of 65 full-time employees is highly integrated across the book publishing, periodicals, news, events, and business teams. We work a hybrid schedule with employees in the office three days a week plus two days remote. There is significant flexibility in the schedule and hours, but all employees are expected to be in the office three days per week.
The current Editor-in-Chief will retire in late January 2026, and we plan to hire his replacement by mid-November to provide full overlap and training.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Reads and evaluates all incoming historical manuscripts
Prepares slates for each issue of Naval History, edits articles, and coordinates the efforts of other contributing editors
Ensures accuracy by fact-checking articles as needed
Works with photo researcher to obtain illustrations and cover art
Writes captions and subheads
Works with design and production team to ensure quality design and efficient production of the magazine to meet deadlines
Supervises online distribution and presentation of Naval History content - schedules and oversees the publication of online-exclusive articles each week
Determines topic, researches and writes content, and supervises the production and design of every article
Using U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard reports, oral histories, and other sources, researches and compiles or writes sidebars and/or brief articles to complement feature articles in the magazine as well as researching and writing text for informational graphics
Commissions and/or solicits expert writers and historians to write original articles
Writes a bi-monthly column, 'On Our Scope'
Works with Web Director, Design Director, and EVP for Periodicals to ensure that Naval History has a strong online presence, including on USNI’s web site and social media pages
Serves as the host for two article-promoting podcasts per month
Annually prepares an editorial calendar that specifies the main focus of each of the next year’s issues
Actively participates in the development of Naval Institute conferences and events and supports the programs as required
Represents Naval History at conferences, meetings, and receptions as well as at other public events
Coordinates the efforts of senior and associate editors as well as a photo researcher — seeks opportunities to expand circulation and revenues and maintain high level of scholarship in the magazine
Requirements
Strong background in writing, editing, proofreading, and historical research
Personnel and project management skills required
Strong knowledge of and interest in historical military matters, especially within the sea services
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, InDesign, Photoshop, online content management systems (such as Drupal and WordPress), and social media platforms
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in English, history, or associated field desired
At least five years’ experience in editorial and magazine production
Military experience and/or knowledge of military and naval history highly desirable
Able to read, analyze, and interpret military-specific and historical manuscripts
Ability to respond to inquiries from authors, vendors, or other Naval Institute departments
Ability to write correspondence and material for publication that conform to prescribed style and format
Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, USNI Editorial Board, and members
Strong editorial judgment required — able to read hundreds of manuscripts per year and select the best ones for publication
Able to work with authors to help them improve and hone their ideas and arguments
Able to provide advice to Publisher on editorial calls
Can see and define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions — makes calls on editorial and art requirements
Must be able to travel occasionally for research trips and seminars (up to two or three short trips per year)
The U.S. Naval Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Salary $80,000 to $100,000
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries
Non-profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr