Location
Portugal (offices in Lisbon and Covilhã), with the possibility to work remotely
Reports to
Head of Partnership Liaison and Communications
Company Overview
IPS_Innovative Prison Systems (operating in North America as ICJS Innovative Criminal Justice Solutions, Llc (USA) and ICJS Innovative Criminal Justice Solutions, Inc. (Canada) a research, advisory and technology development firm specialised in the Criminal Justice field, with a focus on prison services, community sanctions and measures, juvenile justice, and law enforcement. IPS develops, publishes, and distributes the JUSTICE TRENDS Magazine, a premium print and online magazine featuring exclusive interviews with Ministers of Justice, Directors-General of prison and probation administrations, and articles on pressing criminal justice topics globally.
Job Description
We are looking for a junior-to-mid level Editorial & Communications Specialist to support the day-to-day delivery of a magazine focused on interviews and curated articles. The successful candidate will help drive the editorial workflow end-to-end (from outreach and scheduling to copy-editing and publication readiness) and contribute to broader communications efforts, supporting visibility, and partnerships. This is a hands-on role for someone with experience in content creation and editing, who can operate with autonomy, strong judgement, and excellent organisation.
Key Responsibilities
-Manage outreach, scheduling, briefings, and follow-ups with interviewees, contributors, and external contacts to keep the editorial pipeline moving
-Support interview execution: compile background research, map themes and angles, and draft question options in line with the magazine’s voice. Ensure asset collection (bios, headshots, infographics)
-Content editing and reviewing, ensuring alignment with different house styles, across the magazine, company, and projects/products
-Support company communication strategy: prepare copy for email/social/press, create campaigns and strategies, using communication trackers, and assisting with partner/lead communications
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Literature, Media Studies, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
Experience
2–5 years of experience in editorial, journalism, content production, communications, PR, or a related role
Editorial Skills
Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain consistent tone and quality across materials. Strong research capability and sound judgement for validating information, checking sources, and supporting interview preparation.
Communication Skills and Project Management
Highly organised, reliable with deadlines, and able to handle multiple parallel tracks. Comfortable with outreach, follow-ups, and stakeholder management with a professional, clear tone.
Languages
English proficiency required. Portuguese and Spanish are strongly preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
-Experience with multi-format editorial production (e.g., video, audio)
-Understanding of digital distribution and performance metrics (e.g., newsletter metrics, social/website analytics) and willingness to iterate based on what works.
-Comfortable using common comms collaborative tools (e.g., Canva, Figma or similar), and email campaign/CRM tools.
Personal Attributes
Editorial Judgement and Knowledge
Strong sense of what makes content accurate, coherent, and interesting, and the confidence to advance relevant edits.
Discretion and Professionalism
Comfort handling sensitive information, high-profile contacts, and embargoed material responsibly.
Ownership and Initiative
Hands-on, proactive, and able to spot gaps and propose practical fixes to improve workflow and output quality.
Collaboration
Strong team player with the ability to work closely with an Editorial Manager and coordinate smoothly with contributors and external stakeholders.
Adaptability
Thrives in a dynamic environment where plans evolve and priorities can shift quickly.
Application Process
Fill the application form and submit your CV.
https://prisonsystems.eu/job-post/editorial-communications-specialist/
Candidates will be selected through a three-step process:
i) assessment of the curriculum; ii) interview; iii) short practical test.
