Top Talent like Tara are on Pangea

Pangea, a YC company, connects companies with fractional talent. Fractional hiring allows companies to move faster and work with more specialized talent, while giving talent more flexibility and independence. If you are talent open to fractional work, apply here. If you’re a company looking for high-quality fractional talent, learn more here.

Tara Lustberg

Creative & Brand Strategist
Project Manager
Copywriter
New York, NY, US
Available for hire fromNegotiable
Contracts
Editorial Operations & Managing Editor Leader | Creative & Content Ops | Workflow, Team & Production Optimization | Digital, Print & Multi-Platform
I’m an editorial operations and managing editor leader with more than 18 years of experience building, scaling, and modernizing content systems across media, marketing, and client-facing organizations. I’ve led newsroom and creative operations for multi-title publishing portfolios, in-house studios, and cross-functional content teams, translating editorial vision into clear workflows, sustainable production models, and consistently high-quality output across digital, print, newsletters, and emerging formats. My work focuses on: • Designing and refining editorial and creative workflows in high-volume, deadline-driven environments • Leading editors, writers, designers, and freelancers with clarity, empathy, and accountability • Partnering closely with product, marketing, sales, and strategy teams to align content with business goals • Managing budgets, vendors, and resources to improve efficiency without sacrificing editorial standards • Using analytics, audience insights, and AI-enhanced tools to support smarter content planning and production I’m known for a calm, direct, people-first leadership style and for bringing order to complex content ecosystems. I thrive in roles where strong operations enable better storytelling—whether that storytelling supports journalism, brand trust, audience growth, or business outcomes.

Work History

V

Contributing Managing Editor/Production Manager

Various Publications• Managed editorial production and creative workflows for major national brands at Hearst, Dotdash Meredith (People Inc), and other leading media organizations • Developed style guides, workflow documentation, and editorial frameworks to support consistency and scale. • Oversaw vendor management, resource planning, multi-platform schedules, and quality control. • Contributed to creating high-quality content by leveraging diverse writing, editing, and design skills to meet rigorous editorial standards consistently.
S

Editorial Director, New York Family

Schneps MediaMar 2025 - Nov 2025 • 9 mos• Lead editorial strategy and newsroom operations across eight print magazines and digital platforms, shaping multi-platform storytelling rooted in community, culture, and family life. • Direct editorial calendars, coverage priorities, and resource allocation for high-volume content environments. • Guide editors, writers, and freelancers across reported features, service journalism, and opinion content. • Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, sales, product, and design to deliver cohesive editorial packages and special initiatives. • Manage budgets, vendors, and creative resources to ensure efficient, sustainable operations. • Implement newsroom processes that improve cross-platform publishing, editorial quality, and production efficiency.
E

Senior Director, Creative Studio

eAccountableFeb 2023 - Sep 2024 • 1 yr 8 mos• Directed an in-house creative and editorial studio, overseeing end-to-end production of digital content, newsletters, campaigns, and thought-leadership initiatives. • Built and scaled creative operations and workflow systems to support consistent, high-quality output across teams. • Partnered with strategy, marketing, and product leaders to translate complex subject matter into audience-driven storytelling. • Managed budgets, vendor relationships, and global freelance resources. • Piloted AI and automation tools to enhance editorial workflows, research, and content development. • Balanced creative storytelling with data and performance insights to improve engagement and efficiency.
P

Managing Editor

Pregnancy & Newborn MagazineMar 2022 - Sep 2024 • 2 yrs 7 mos• Oversaw editorial operations across digital platforms, leading content development, production workflows, and cross-functional communication. • Directed production schedules, budgets, and vendor management. • Supervised editors, designers, and contributors, fostering a collaborative and accountable creative culture. • Integrated branded and sponsored storytelling while maintaining editorial integrity. • Led operational transformation efforts to improve transparency, speed, and alignment.
D

Deputy Managing Editor, Parents and Parents Latina

Dotdash MeredithJul 2015 - Mar 2022 • 6 yrs 9 mos• Oversaw multi-brand editorial operations across major national publications, managing large-scale print production. • Directed daily editorial operations, including planning, budgeting, and resource allocation. • Built newsroom systems that improved workflow transparency and reduced bottlenecks. • Partnered with marketing, product, and branded content teams on integrated initiatives. • Created editorial documentation and operational dashboards to guide strategy. • Managed multimillion-dollar budgets, contracts, and vendors.
H

Assistant Managing Editor / Editorial Production Manager, Woman's Day Magazine

Hearst MagazinesJan 2007 - Nov 2014 • 7 yrs 11 mos• Managed end-to-end editorial production workflows for 20+ annual print issues, overseeing schedules, page flow, and delivery across multiple titles. • Led weekly production and issue-planning meetings, developing editorial calendars, book maps, and production timelines to support high-volume publishing. • Coordinated cross-departmentally with editorial, design, advertising, and prepress teams to align content, layouts, and strategic ad placements. • Built and maintained templates, style guides, and digital archives, improving workflow clarity, consistency, and efficiency. • Oversaw color correction and photo-editing workflows, partnering closely with prepress teams to ensure quality control and on-time asset delivery. • Managed invoices, contracts, and production budgets, ensuring financial accuracy and operational accountability.
P

Editorial Production Project Manager

Peoples EducationApr 2005 - Nov 2006 • 1 yr 8 mos

Education

R

Rutgers University

Bachelor’s Degree, English, Women's Studies
R

Rutgers University School of Communication and Information

Bachelor's degree, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

How Pangea Works

Effortlessly discover top talent

We've distilled the candidate search from endless hours down to just a few minutes. Using Pangea's AI-powered search tools, you can find top fractional talent able to take on your next project. Our system looks at your company's niche and your needs to find the perfect match faster than any traditional hiring platform.

Start working with talent today

The top talent on Pangea is ready to get started with you right now. You can message or hire a candidate right from their profile page and start assigning work as soon as they respond. And the best part? Pangea's fractional contract structure lets you start small and ramp up as your needs change, keeping your costs manageable and your team's capabliities flexible.

Track work and invoices in one place

Assign tasks, track progress, and complete invoices all on Pangea. We've combined every part of the hiring process into one platform to eliminate the miscommunication that's unavoidable on other freelance platforms. We even send out 1099s to your contractors at the end of the year!

Talk with a Talent Expert

Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.
Available Now
Book a Call
Editorial Operations & Managing Editor Leader | Creative & Content Ops | Workflow, Team & Production Optimization | Digital, Print & Multi-Platform
I’m an editorial operations and managing editor leader with more than 18 years of experience building, scaling, and modernizing content systems across media, marketing, and client-facing organizations. I’ve led newsroom and creative operations for multi-title publishing portfolios, in-house studios, and cross-functional content teams, translating editorial vision into clear workflows, sustainable production models, and consistently high-quality output across digital, print, newsletters, and emerging formats. My work focuses on: • Designing and refining editorial and creative workflows in high-volume, deadline-driven environments • Leading editors, writers, designers, and freelancers with clarity, empathy, and accountability • Partnering closely with product, marketing, sales, and strategy teams to align content with business goals • Managing budgets, vendors, and resources to improve efficiency without sacrificing editorial standards • Using analytics, audience insights, and AI-enhanced tools to support smarter content planning and production I’m known for a calm, direct, people-first leadership style and for bringing order to complex content ecosystems. I thrive in roles where strong operations enable better storytelling—whether that storytelling supports journalism, brand trust, audience growth, or business outcomes.

Talk with a Talent Expert

Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.
Available Now
Book a Call

Top Talent like Tara are on Pangea

Pangea, a YC company, connects companies with fractional talent. Fractional hiring allows companies to move faster and work with more specialized talent, while giving talent more flexibility and independence. If you are talent open to fractional work, apply here. If you’re a company looking for high-quality fractional talent, learn more here.

Tara Lustberg

Creative & Brand Strategist
Project Manager
Copywriter
New York, NY, US
Available for hire fromNegotiable
Contracts

Work History

V

Contributing Managing Editor/Production Manager

Various Publications• Managed editorial production and creative workflows for major national brands at Hearst, Dotdash Meredith (People Inc), and other leading media organizations • Developed style guides, workflow documentation, and editorial frameworks to support consistency and scale. • Oversaw vendor management, resource planning, multi-platform schedules, and quality control. • Contributed to creating high-quality content by leveraging diverse writing, editing, and design skills to meet rigorous editorial standards consistently.
S

Editorial Director, New York Family

Schneps MediaMar 2025 - Nov 2025 • 9 mos• Lead editorial strategy and newsroom operations across eight print magazines and digital platforms, shaping multi-platform storytelling rooted in community, culture, and family life. • Direct editorial calendars, coverage priorities, and resource allocation for high-volume content environments. • Guide editors, writers, and freelancers across reported features, service journalism, and opinion content. • Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, sales, product, and design to deliver cohesive editorial packages and special initiatives. • Manage budgets, vendors, and creative resources to ensure efficient, sustainable operations. • Implement newsroom processes that improve cross-platform publishing, editorial quality, and production efficiency.
E

Senior Director, Creative Studio

eAccountableFeb 2023 - Sep 2024 • 1 yr 8 mos• Directed an in-house creative and editorial studio, overseeing end-to-end production of digital content, newsletters, campaigns, and thought-leadership initiatives. • Built and scaled creative operations and workflow systems to support consistent, high-quality output across teams. • Partnered with strategy, marketing, and product leaders to translate complex subject matter into audience-driven storytelling. • Managed budgets, vendor relationships, and global freelance resources. • Piloted AI and automation tools to enhance editorial workflows, research, and content development. • Balanced creative storytelling with data and performance insights to improve engagement and efficiency.
P

Managing Editor

Pregnancy & Newborn MagazineMar 2022 - Sep 2024 • 2 yrs 7 mos• Oversaw editorial operations across digital platforms, leading content development, production workflows, and cross-functional communication. • Directed production schedules, budgets, and vendor management. • Supervised editors, designers, and contributors, fostering a collaborative and accountable creative culture. • Integrated branded and sponsored storytelling while maintaining editorial integrity. • Led operational transformation efforts to improve transparency, speed, and alignment.
D

Deputy Managing Editor, Parents and Parents Latina

Dotdash MeredithJul 2015 - Mar 2022 • 6 yrs 9 mos• Oversaw multi-brand editorial operations across major national publications, managing large-scale print production. • Directed daily editorial operations, including planning, budgeting, and resource allocation. • Built newsroom systems that improved workflow transparency and reduced bottlenecks. • Partnered with marketing, product, and branded content teams on integrated initiatives. • Created editorial documentation and operational dashboards to guide strategy. • Managed multimillion-dollar budgets, contracts, and vendors.
H

Assistant Managing Editor / Editorial Production Manager, Woman's Day Magazine

Hearst MagazinesJan 2007 - Nov 2014 • 7 yrs 11 mos• Managed end-to-end editorial production workflows for 20+ annual print issues, overseeing schedules, page flow, and delivery across multiple titles. • Led weekly production and issue-planning meetings, developing editorial calendars, book maps, and production timelines to support high-volume publishing. • Coordinated cross-departmentally with editorial, design, advertising, and prepress teams to align content, layouts, and strategic ad placements. • Built and maintained templates, style guides, and digital archives, improving workflow clarity, consistency, and efficiency. • Oversaw color correction and photo-editing workflows, partnering closely with prepress teams to ensure quality control and on-time asset delivery. • Managed invoices, contracts, and production budgets, ensuring financial accuracy and operational accountability.
P

Editorial Production Project Manager

Peoples EducationApr 2005 - Nov 2006 • 1 yr 8 mos

Education

R

Rutgers University

Bachelor’s Degree, English, Women's Studies
R

Rutgers University School of Communication and Information

Bachelor's degree, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

How Pangea Works

Effortlessly discover top talent

We've distilled the candidate search from endless hours down to just a few minutes. Using Pangea's AI-powered search tools, you can find top fractional talent able to take on your next project. Our system looks at your company's niche and your needs to find the perfect match faster than any traditional hiring platform.

Start working with talent today

The top talent on Pangea is ready to get started with you right now. You can message or hire a candidate right from their profile page and start assigning work as soon as they respond. And the best part? Pangea's fractional contract structure lets you start small and ramp up as your needs change, keeping your costs manageable and your team's capabliities flexible.

Track work and invoices in one place

Assign tasks, track progress, and complete invoices all on Pangea. We've combined every part of the hiring process into one platform to eliminate the miscommunication that's unavoidable on other freelance platforms. We even send out 1099s to your contractors at the end of the year!

Talk with a Talent Expert

Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.
Available Now
Book a Call
Pangea empowers fractional work across the world for marketing and design roles.