What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Editor position at The Five Star?
Job Title: Senior Editor – MortgagePoint Magazine
Location: Dallas, TX
Employment Type: Full-Time
About Us
MortgagePoint Magazine (www.themortgagepoint.com), powered by the Five Star Institute, is a premier publication serving mortgage and banking professionals through insightful journalism, industry trend analysis, and expert commentary. With an active print and online presence, alongside conference programming, professional memberships, education programs and multimedia initiatives, MortgagePoint provides essential intelligence at the intersection of housing finance, servicing, regulation, and innovation.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Senior Editor to lead and elevate our editorial vision across platforms. The ideal candidate is a sharp, strategic editor with an eye for impactful stories and a strong understanding of the housing finance space. Reporting directly to the Editor-in-Chief, this role will oversee two in-house reporters and a network of freelancers, contributing to both daily digital publishing and our monthly print edition, as well as supporting podcast programming, conference panels, and special reports.
Key Responsibilities
- Content Strategy & Execution
- Curate and assign or produce timely, relevant, and high-quality stories that engage a professional audience in mortgage and banking.
- Edit and refine copy for clarity, tone, and alignment with our editorial mission across print and digital.
- Ensure accuracy and compliance with journalistic standards, particularly in financial/regulatory reporting.
- Team Leadership
- Manage and mentor two in-house reporters and coordinate with freelance contributors.
- Provide regular feedback and help develop the editorial team's reporting and writing skills.
- Multimedia & Events
- Support podcast and video development by shaping topics and preparing scripts/interview outlines.
- Assist in the development of conference panel programming, identifying industry trends, panelists, and topics.
- Industry Engagement
- Build and maintain a network of trusted sources across the mortgage, banking, and regulatory landscapes.
- Conduct interviews and represent the magazine at key conferences and media events (limited travel required).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with design, marketing, and sales teams to ensure cohesive storytelling across channels.
- Coordinate layout and production using Adobe InDesign and InCopy and manage digital publishing through WordPress.
- Use HubSpot for content promotion, newsletter planning, and performance tracking.
- Strategic Sales Support
- Collaborate with the sales and marketing teams to provide editorial guidance on sponsored content, special issues, and thought leadership opportunities.
- Ensure that partner-facing content aligns with MortgagePoint’s editorial standards and audience value.
- Contribute to the development of editorial calendars that support thematic sponsorship alignment, without compromising editorial independence.
- Occasionally join sponsor or partner meetings to provide editorial context or help shape content programs.
- Maintain clear boundaries between advertising and editorial to preserve reader trust and integrity.
Qualifications
- 5–8 years of editorial experience in finance, real estate, or business journalism.
- Strong knowledge of the mortgage industry and the ability to ramp up quickly in technical subject areas.
- Exceptional editing, story development, and team leadership skills.
- Familiarity with WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign/InCopy), and HubSpot.
- Comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment with strong attention to detail.
- Local candidates in the Dallas area are preferred.
Why Join Us?
- Help shape the voice of a highly respected trade publication serving a critical industry over the last 20 years.
- Work with a dynamic and mission-driven editorial team.
- Gain exposure across print, digital, podcasting, and live events.
- Competitive salary and benefits, with growth opportunities in an expanding media platform.
