[Hiring] Specialist, Copy Editor @Pearson

Role Description

The role involves comprehensive editorial responsibilities, quality assurance, and collaboration across various teams to ensure high standards in educational assessment content.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., literature, language, journalism) or equivalent certification/on-the-job training.
• Minimum of three years’ editorial experience and two years’ experience in educational assessment.
• Demonstrates strong end-to-end copyediting proficiency: spelling, grammar and terminology, punctuation, syntax, diction, and usage.
• Interprets and applies major style and usage references with confidence (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, Gregg Reference Manual, Garner’s Modern English Usage, and other industry standards).
• Proficient with Adobe Acrobat and various Microsoft Office 365 apps: Word, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, and Excel.
• Understands the basics of HTML/XML for web publishing and adapts to evolving software and requirements.
• Communicates clearly and respectfully; listens, synthesizes, and applies information effectively.
• Gives and receives feedback constructively; accepts direction and acts on it.
• Reliable and organized: meets deadlines with appropriate quality; manages time effectively.
• Exercises sound judgment and analytical decision-making; advocates/persuades when necessary and knows when restraint/negotiation is more productive.
• Self-managed, resilient, and adaptable to process and duration modifications; works independently when required.
• Accountable for editorial proficiency and quality; uses systems correctly; owns errors and identifies root causes.
• Demonstrates decency and professionalism: mentors or accepts mentoring; maintains confidentiality, openness, and truthfulness.
• Displays curiosity about rules, processes, tools, perspectives, and the broader business context.

Responsibilities

• Implements grammar, spelling, usage, punctuation, syntax, and style per department, client, and industry standards; applies rules consistently.
• Ensures uniformity and consistency across assessment components; sustains focus and reliably identifies errors throughout the workday while minimizing mistakes.
• Exercises good judgment when applying client style guidelines; queries when deviations from style would be appropriate for best outcomes; may create/modify client style guidelines.
• Understands the copyeditor’s scope of responsibility, knows what to do when requested to go beyond scope, and flags concerns when needed.
• Proactively seeks learning opportunities to strengthen editorial expertise by refining skills, expanding knowledge of style guides, and integrating emerging best practices.
• Adheres to quality assurance and quality control steps and review guidelines; recognizes the impact of editorial errors on item/test validity and broader reputational and program risks.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the application of copyright law in assessment and knows when to escalate concerns.
• Understands educational assessment foundations (content standards, alignment, validity, item-level statistics).
• Considers assessment design interactions (passage–item relationships, item types, metadata, accommodations) and the impact of editing cross-components.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of assessment best practices (universal design, plain English, accessibility design).
• Uses Pearson-preferred applications and platforms (e.g., ABBI, eStyle, Oracle) and demonstrates strong understanding of related publishing workflows.
• Identifies appropriate digital job aids and documentation and knows when and whom to ask for help or training; may develop job aids and create training for colleagues.
• Assists with staff training, including mentoring, seminars, and one-on-one support; engages proactively in Editorial and Assessment Trends channels.
• Works collegially across Editorial, Asset Services, Content, CDS, and Pearson; shares essential information across projects and understands the editor’s span of influence.
• Serves as lead editor when assigned: ensures Editorial obligations are met; coordinates with Content, Program Teams, and other departments and influences program decisions.
• Creates effective training/process documents and work logs; reviews/approves schedules.
• Coordinates editors’ work, monitors schedules, tracks assets through all phases; communicates status, scope changes, risks, issues, defects, deadlines, resources, and overtime needs to manager.
• As a lead editor, makes final editorial decisions on behalf of Editorial and escalates issues to manager in a timely manner and takes responsibility for editorial quality.
• Provides lead editor guidance and support to other lead editors.
• Leverages AI tools to develop, review, and enhance assessment content that meets quality and accessibility standards; integrates AI-generated assets with appropriate editorial oversight.
• Demonstrates proficiency in AI-supported content development; prompts, refines, and evaluates AI outputs; iterates with sound editorial judgment.
• Understands role across CDS and Pearson; aligns with Asset Services, CDS, and Pearson goals and contributes to their fulfillment.
• Attends team/town-hall meetings and acts on disseminated information; completes administrative tasks on time.
• Supports efficiency initiatives and provides training to vendors/contractors when appropriate.
• Identifies problems and escalates as appropriate; balances cost, efficiency, schedule impact, and quality to set priorities.
• Maintains appropriate business behaviors; collaborates effectively as a partner or team member.

Compensation

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by factors including skill set, experience, and location. The hourly rate for this role is $24.70 – $29.56. This position is not bonus eligible.

Application Information

Applications will be accepted through September 30, 2026. This window may be extended depending on business needs.