The distinction between a senior editor and a managing editor can vary depending on a company’s hierarchical management structure; in fact, some businesses may use the terms interchangeably. A managing editor, on the other hand, is a higher position and may be the head of the editorial department. A senior editor usually represents someone who is in a high-ranking editorial position but still reports to the managing editor. In a corporate setting, the distinction between the two may be easier to understand as supervisory and managerial roles, respectively.
For a variety of reasons, some businesses will set up their offices in this manner. Larger departments can benefit from a clear division of responsibilities and chain of command, which allows people in higher managerial positions to focus more on management duties rather than supervising other employees. When working on a large project, a senior editor and a managing editor will frequently collaborate closely and share a workload. A managing editor usually reports to a senior editor, while other members of the department, such as copy editors and associate editors, usually report to the senior editor.
Both types of editors are usually professionals with a lot of experience in their fields. Most will have a bachelor’s degree, if not a higher level of education. Many upper-level editors begin their careers as copy editors, fact checkers, or proofreaders before progressing to higher-level positions with greater responsibilities. Line editing and content editing are two examples of these positions. Promotions to senior or management positions are frequently based on years of experience.
Before a finished product goes to print, a managing editor will usually have the final say. Depending on the nature of the editorial work, he or she may also be in charge of meeting with people like authors or literary agents. The senior editor may have a variety of responsibilities, such as ensuring that the editorial department’s various projects stay on track and are completed by the deadlines. He or she may be in charge of enforcing specific deadlines for all employees in the department, as well as resolving any issues or providing answers to employee questions. Only the most difficult problems will be assigned to the managing editor, who will be more concerned with the “big picture.”