How to hire a lead editor

How to hire a lead editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead editor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lead editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a lead editor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A lead editor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, lead editors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of lead editors.

   Type of Lead Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$23-45
   Editing Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial department of an organization with publishing various media and digital content. Editorial interns shadow tenured editorial staff on researching stories, validating information, writing captivating articles, interviewing target audiences, and screening submitted manuscripts... Show more	$12-21
   Editorial Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial team in publishing digital and media content, writing articles, and managing readers' reviews. Editorial interns must have excellent knowledge of the industry they work for, suggesting the latest trends and featured topics, taking notes of the tenured employees' advice and observations, and actively joining brainstorming sessions... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Music Videos
   • Photography
   • Web Content
   • Digital Content
   • Proofread
   • Adobe Premiere
   • SEO
   • Blog Posts
   • Motion Graphics
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Facebook
   • Graphic Design
   • Press Releases
   • Video Content

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and resolve editorial disagreements across relevant departmental staff to join up an organizational narrative on each output.
   • Edit dailies for YouTube, Facebook, and syndicate platforms.
   • Facilitate instruction to encourage professional development of writers covering topic, tone, and SEO.
   • Leverage meticulous attention to detail in technical editing and proofreading all content from project inception to completion.
   • Analyze FrameMaker source document and provide feedback to XML architects to improve accuracy of conversion.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead editor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A lead editor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, lead editors' average salary in nebraska is 54% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level lead editors earn 48% less than senior-level lead editors.
   • Certifications. A lead editor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a lead editor's salary.

   Average lead editor salary

   $68,799yearly

   $33.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lead editor salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a lead editor job description

   A job description for a lead editor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a lead editor job description:

   Lead editor job description example

   We're looking for a Lead Content Strategist to join our Financial Tools team. In this this role, you'll work closely with partners in Design, Research, Product and Tech, to build intuitive customer-centric experiences delivered across web and mobile channels.
   Responsibilities includes but not limited to:
   Develop and lead content strategy for select digital products and customer programs, ensuring execution from discovery to delivery Work closely with designers to develop wireframes and iterative prototypes Plan, write and shape content including interface language, product education, naming conventions, navigation and other content for web and mobile experiences Work with stakeholders and cross-functional partners to understand objectives, goals and requirements Drive consistency across products and channels, leveraging voice, tone and content standards Partner with Research and Design in user testing, customer journey mapping and persona development Leverage data to inform and optimize content Manage content governance and approvals process for assigned programs Present concepts and work to peers and leadership
   The role requires a wide variety of strengths and capabilities, including:
   Bachelor's degree (or higher) preferably in Marketing, Communication, Journalism, or related field Experience in leading digital content strategy in a matrixed organization Good to have 5-7 years in UX Writing, UX Design, or other user-focused experiences Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with thorough knowledge of the English language, grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage Proven ability to distill complex information into easy to understand terms Experience in developing customer journey maps Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail Exceptional time management and organizational skills, including the ability to follow schedules, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects Experience adhering to documented standards for brand and copy, including style, voice, and tone Experience working with Designers, Researchers, Product Managers, Technical Teams and Legal/Compliance partners Experience working in Agile environment Experience in Marketing, customer engagement, or community building activities/events a plus
   
   Chase is a leading financial services firm, helping nearly half of America's households and small businesses achieve their financial goals through a broad range of financial products. Our mission is to create engaged, lifelong relationships and put our customers at the heart of everything we do. We also help small businesses, nonprofits and cities grow, delivering solutions to solve all their financial needs.
   
   We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
   
   The health and safety of our colleagues, candidates, clients and communities has been a top priority in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. JPMorgan Chase was awarded the "WELL Health-Safety Rating" for all of our 6,200 locations globally based on our operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment.
   
   As a part of our commitment to health and safety, we have implemented various COVID-related health and safety requirements for our workforce. Employees are expected to follow the Firm's current COVID-19 or other infectious disease health and safety requirements, including local requirements. Requirements include sharing information including your vaccine card in the firm's vaccine record tool, and may include mask wearing. Requirements may change in the future with the evolving public health landscape. JPMorgan Chase will consider accommodation requests as required by applicable law.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find lead editors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any lead editors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level lead editors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lead editor job on Zippia to find and recruit lead editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with lead editor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead editor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lead editor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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