Head of Editorial

Career Guide

A Head of Editorial sets the editorial vision for an organization and leads a team that produces high-quality content. This role balances creative direction, audience needs, brand voice, and business goals while ensuring a reliable publishing process.

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Key Responsibilities

Set editorial strategy and annual content priorities
Define and maintain brand voice and editorial standards
Lead and develop editors, writers, and contributors
Oversee content planning and publishing calendars
Edit and approve high-impact content for quality and accuracy
Partner with product, marketing, and communications teams on content goals
Use audience insights to guide content decisions
Improve editorial workflows and production efficiency
Manage budgets, freelance spend, and vendor relationships
Handle sensitive topics, corrections, and editorial risk management

Top Skills for Success

Editorial Leadership

Editing

Storytelling

Content Strategy

Brand Voice Development

Audience Research

Content Planning

Stakeholder Management

People Management

Performance Measurement

Project Management

Change Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Managing Editor

Director of Content

Director of Editorial

Editorial Director

Transition Opportunities

Chief Content Officer

VP of Content

Head of Brand

Head of Communications

Head of Content Marketing

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Performance MeasurementBudget ManagementExecutive CommunicationWorkflow DesignHiring and Team DesignCross-functional Leadership

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple editorial performance dashboard, own a quarterly budget, and practice executive-ready updates that tie content output to measurable outcomes. Take ownership of one end-to-end workflow improvement and document clear standards for quality, reviews, and publishing.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 90,000 to 130,000

Mid LevelUSD 130,000 to 190,000

Senior LevelUSD 190,000 to 260,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand in digital media, B2B, and consumer brands, with increased emphasis on audience growth, content performance, and efficient production.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Digital publishersNews organizationsConsumer brandsB2B software companiesEcommerce companiesEducation platformsHealthcare organizationsFinancial services companiesNonprofit organizationsAgencies

Industry Sectors

MediaTechnologyRetailHealthcareFinanceEducationProfessional servicesNonprofit

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one-page editorial strategy that outlines audience, pillars, formats, and success measures

Build a portfolio of leadership examples such as team growth, process improvements, and content wins

Standardize editorial guidelines and review processes to improve quality and consistency

Run a quarterly content planning cadence with clear owners, deadlines, and priorities

Partner with analytics teams to define a small set of content success measures

Develop a hiring plan and skills matrix for the editorial team

Strengthen cross-functional alignment by setting shared goals with marketing, product, and communications