Copy Editor- La Raza

Education: No requirement
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, 20036, United States
Posted by: National Council of La Raza
Job Category: Advocacy
Salary: $41,600
Last day to apply: February 2, 2009
Last updated: December 4, 2008
Type: Full time
Language(s): English, Spanish
Job posted on: December 4, 2008
Area of Focus: Media and Journalism

BACKGROUND
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

OVERVIEW
NCLR’s credibility with funders, policymakers, the media, mainstream organizations, the general public, and our nationwide network of Affiliates depends to a considerable extent on the quality of the written materials the organization produces. The purpose of the Office of Quality Control is to present NCLR’s messages clearly and professionally in a way that reflects the organization’s principles, standards, and style—in other words, materials are accurate, grammatically correct, clearly written, and attractively presented. The Quality Control process also provides an opportunity for staff to improve their skills in writing and presentation.

NCLR’s Office of Media Relations (OMR) carries out media activities that communicate the organization’s message to the public. OMR also oversees the Office of Quality Control. The Copy Editor will work closely with the Director of Quality Control and editing staff in the Washington, DC headquarters.
Additional Qualifications:
RESPONSIBILITIES

· Editing English-language documents including correspondence, proposals and reports to funders, brochures, training materials, reports to the Board of Directors and Corporate Board of Advisors, material for NCLR’s website, major published reports, and other documents
· Gaining a thorough knowledge of writing standards and styles of the organization and communicating those standards to staff through the editing process
· Working closely with the Director of Quality Control, editing staff, and the graphics and publications unit to ensure consistency in writing and presentation standards
· Ensuring proper and timely return of edited materials to staff, including those in the Washington, DC headquarters and field offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, Sacramento, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
· Providing guidance to staff on grammar, punctuation, NCLR writing style, and other areas for improvement
· Keeping well-informed of the institution’s activities and initiatives to ensure consistent information from project to project in the editing process
· Fact-finding to ensure error-free presentation of information
· Conducting writing trainings for staff on a semiannual (large class) and ongoing (one-on-one) basis
· Developing training materials (mini lessons on grammar rules, etc.) to be posted on NCLR’s Intranet site

QUALIFICATIONS

The Copy Editor must possess:
· Excellent communication skills for working effectively with staff who have varying levels of written English ability
· Excellent public speaking skills
· A thorough knowledge of the mechanical aspects of English grammar and punctuation
· The ability to exercise good editorial judgment and to maintain confidentiality of information
· A keen eye for detail
· An ability to meet deadlines and function effectively under pressure, coupled with the ability to work in a team environment, knowing when to seek assistance and direction from others
· Highly competent skills in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, EXCEL, and PowerPoint; Internet use required
· Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills (preferred but not required)
· Familiarity with Chicago style

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.
How to Apply:
MAIL, FAX, OR EMAIL COVER LETTER, RÉSUMÉ, AND WRITING SAMPLE TO:
National Council of La Raza
Raul Yzaguirre Building, 1126 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Attn: Jennifer Kadis, Director of Quality Control
Fax: (202) 776-1790
jkadis@nclr.org