ISBA Seeks Managing Editor

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) seeks a motivated professional to manage the production of the Illinois Bar Journal, the Association’s flagship publication. The Managing Editor will also oversee the production of ISBA section newsletters, the IBJ advertising program, and the Illinois Courts Bulletin. The Managing Editor position will preferably be based in the Springfield, Illinois headquarters of the ISBA, but candidates desiring to work in the ISBA’s Chicago Office are also invited to apply.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Manage production of the monthly Illinois Bar Journal (IBJ), in consultation with the IBJ Editor & Publisher; solicit, edit, and manage content-flow of articles; generate timely and high value article ideas; create content for IBJ (e.g., columns); supervise freelancers who produce lead articles and columns; manage relationship with IBJ printer; perform online indexing and subject-matter tagging.
• Oversee production of ISBA section newsletters (day-to-day management performed by the newsletter managing editor).
• Oversee the IBJ advertising program (day-to-day management performed by the advertising coordinator).
• Proofread and edit the Illinois Courts Bulletin.
• Author blog posts for Illinois Lawyer Now.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Illinois Bar Journal Editorial Board.
• Stay abreast of developments in digital information technology (e.g., apps, tablet-friendly versions) and implement as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent communications skills
• Supervisory/management skills
• Excellent work ethic
• Excellent organizational skills—must be able to manage multiple projects at once
• Ability to manage time and meet deadlines
• Knowledge of (ideally, training and experience in) the law
• Understanding and willingness to stay abreast of evolving digital communication technology

REQUIREMENTS

J.D. degree is preferred, but not required. The ideal candidate will possess either: (1) a J.D. degree with significant journalism/communications experience; or (2) a bachelor’s degree or higher in journalism (or a related field) plus significant experience in legal-related journalism or publishing.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

Perform in office work which is primarily sedentary in nature. Other than the ability to travel on occasion, no special physical demands are required.

The Illinois State Bar Association offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive package of employee benefits including employer paid health, life and disability insurances, and a staff profit sharing plan and 401(k). EOE.

Interested qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume directly to resumes@isba.org.  Application materials submitted as attachments should be MS Word or PDF format only and must be received by Feb 9, 2018 in order to be considered.