Vanderbloemen is hiring: Editor in Chief in Cleveland

Meet LifeStone Ministries

Founded in 1902, LifeStone Ministries continues the legacy of the Gospel Worker Society and publications of Union Gospel Press by providing discipleship resources that are biblically sound and thoughtfully designed to help individuals and groups grow closer to Christ.

Throughout our long and storied history, a principal belief and passion has always existed that this is a God-ordained ministry. As such, we strive to live out God’s purpose in our lives and help others live out their purposes by encouraging them to wrestle with God and His Word and apply God’s Word to their daily lives. We strive to build trust and integrity with people and prepare them to be moldable and refined by God.

We also work to connect people together, inspiring and equipping healthy communities of believers. It is our intent to build Christian leaders’ conviction and confidence to help transform people into the image of Christ through biblical resources and real-life application training.

Our publications include quarterly Sunday School for all ages, Homeschool bible curriculum, individual and small group discipleship studies, children’s coloring and comic books, and other miscellaneous items. Our digital products include a discipleship app, a Sunday School program, and various video productions. Our outreach includes service locally to individuals and churches and globally through missions in Africa and India with programs designed to meet immediate and long-term needs.

About the Editor in Chief

LifeStone Ministries is a Christian non-profit publishing company with a mission to inspire and empower disciples to create more disciples. Driven by our devotion to Christ, we are committed to making the Word of God more accessible to families and churches of all sizes and backgrounds and to help individuals and groups grow closer to Christ.

The LifeStone Ministries Editor-in-Chief (EIC) is responsible for setting the editorial vision and direction of the company, influencing the discipleship and educational landscape, and helping to shape public discourse.

As the highest-ranking editorial position within the organization, the editor-in-chief is responsible for overseeing the entire editorial process, ensuring the quality and integrity of the content, and shaping the overall direction of the various publications. This pivotal role requires a unique combination of leadership, editorial expertise, technical savvy, and a deep understanding of the evolving digital media landscape.

The EIC must stay updated on digital trends and navigate the challenges and opportunities of digital publishing.

Strong and effective leadership skills are essential in motivating and inspiring the team to produce high-quality content within tight deadlines. The editor-in-chief must also foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, encouraging diversity of thought and perspectives within the team.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential for effectively collaborating with various stakeholders, including the editorial team, management, and external partners.

This position reports directly to the LifeStone CEO. Timely and efficient communication with the CEO is essential to the success of this position.

The EIC strives to maintain theological accuracy according to LifeStone standards.

Building a strong network is crucial for the editor-in-chief to stay informed about industry trends, forge collaborations, and create opportunities for the publications.

The Editor in Chief responsibilities include:

• Hiring, developing, and managing editorial staff and their career paths
• Managing the various editorial projects
• Approving the various publications’ layout, design, style, and tone
• Reviewing written content for spelling and grammar errors
• Reviewing written content for theological accuracy
• Fact-checking information
• Providing suggestions for edits when needed
• Writing occasional pieces to contribute to the publications
• Developing and managing budgets for the editorial team
• Making final decisions about which content and graphics to publish
• Attending meetings to discuss issues and plans for the publications
• Representing the LifeStone editorial team at external functions
• Weekly tactical and strategic communication with the CEO

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Editor In Chief:

• Master’s level degree in related field
• Active member of a Christian community that confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, with a strong personal faith experience.
• Understanding of and commitment to the mission and vision of LifeStone Ministries
• Comfortable leading a team and making decisions for the organization
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Familiarity with standard operating procedures for an editorial department
• Ability to recognize small and large details with an elevated level of accuracy
• Ability to ensure consistency in the style and tone of publications
• Excellent writing, editing, research, and proofreading skills
• Deep understanding of language and writing styles
• Understanding of project management and usage of related software
• Proficiency in the company manual of style and the Chicago Manual of Style
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite