Substantive Editors and Copy Editors | United Kingdom | 2022

Chemonics seeks substantive editors and copyeditors for their Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research program. XCEPT brings together world-leading experts and local researchers to examine conflict-affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the drivers of violent and peaceful behavior. Funded by UK aid, XCEPT offers actionable research to inform policies and programs that support peace.

XCEPT is looking to build a pool of well qualified substantive editors and copyeditors to provide substantive editing support to ensure high quality research outputs. The substantive editor will support in ensuring XCEPT research outputs (research reports, briefing notes, working papers, reviews of evidence, etc.) are coherent. The copyeditor will provide high-quality English language editing and quality assurance, and support in improving the readability of XCEPT research outputs where necessary.

Chemonics International Inc. is a US-based international development consulting company, operating in over 95 countries. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities:

Broadly, the substantive editor will:

• • Optimize concision without changing meaning – often consulting with the lead authors
    – Incorporate clarifying information where appropriate in consultation with the lead authors
    – Analyse meaning and structure and, if necessary, revise to improve readability
    – Assess the arguments and conclusions being presented within an output and where necessary suggest improvements
    – Improve the flow, clarity and tone of the writing
    – Write transitions, if needed
    – Correct imprecise or inappropriate vocabulary
    – Spot-check factual material, such as place names, for accuracy and consistency
    – Flag concerns or potential misstatements by authors
    – Provide guidance to ensure considerations for HMG policy and programming are relevant and clearly brought forward in the research outputs

Broadly, the copyeditor will:

• • Improve the flow, clarity and tone of the writing
    – Replace passive voice with active voice, if essential for comprehension
    – Divide long, complex sentences, and eliminate redundant words, if necessary
    – Correct imprecise or inappropriate vocabulary, as well as grammatical and punctuation errors
    – Analyse meaning and structure and, if necessary, revise to improve readability
    – Check consistency of proper nouns (e.g., country names), position titles, and acronyms
    – Ensure written products adhere to the XCEPT Style Guide throughout
    – Ensure the consistent formatting of in-text citations, references and footnotes in addition to page properties, such as headings, figures, tables and other elements
    – Assist with formatting and finalizing documents for submission

Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of the English language
• Proven experience as an editor or a similar role
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills with the ability to work rapidly and reliably to meet deadlines
• Ability to respond to feedback and requested edits in a timely and effective manner, with close attention to detail
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office
• Proven experience writing or editing to a policy audience preferred
• Proven experience in research communications preferred
• For substantive editors, it would be an advantage to have some knowledge of geographies relevant to XCEPT research: West Africa; Sahel; North Africa; Horn of Africa; Middle East; Afghanistan and its bordering countries; Ukraine and its bordering countries; and/or Western Balkans
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity