About Fix, Grist’s Solutions Lab

Grist is a nonprofit environmental media organization whose mission is to make the story of a better future so irresistible you want it right now. While other media outlets focus on doom and gloom, Grist’s award-winning reporting and innovative storytelling focuses on charting a path toward a just, sustainable future. 
In 2019, Grist launched a new program, Fix, to change the arc of storytelling about climate change. As Grist’s solutions lab, Fix tells imaginative stories that envision promising ways forward. Half network-building and half storytelling, the program identifies, celebrates, and connects solutions-oriented climate and justice leaders who are at the center of the story of progress — and in doing so, it introduces a whole new narrative of what’s possible to address climate change and build a better world.

Grist seeks a Managing Editor to join the Fix team, who will coordinate the day-to-day operations and output of the Fix content team, as well as special editorial projects, including the annual Grist 50 list and emerging projects. The Managing Editor will help the Fix content team develop new ideas, strategies, and approaches to telling stories of what a better, more equitable future could be — through a Fix website, live storytelling events, social media platforms, multimedia projects, and partnerships with culture-shaping organizations. As a member of the Fix team, this role will report to the Fix program director, and work closely with the editor of creative storytelling, director of leadership programming, and the full Fix content team. The Managing Editor will also partner with the Executive Editor of our Editorial team to ensure coordination and collaboration across both teams.

Key Responsibilities

Daily content operations

• Project-manage all aspects of the Fix content schedule and output, ensuring content goals are met or exceeded

• Create and maintain a publishing schedule, setting deadlines & deliverables for both the internal team and external stakeholders

• Organize and arrange key collaboration documents

• Set and run production meetings

• Top-edit and proofread posts before publishing

• Work with the art department to request images, illustrations, and other graphic needs

• Check in regularly with team members on progress, surface challenges, and coordinate needed troubleshooting

• Coordinate product and audience efforts with the innovation and growth team

• Coordinate updates and content management for a new Grist 50 Fixer database

• Occasionally collaborate with fundraising staff to support outreach and development opportunities; draft reports and other materials related to Fix content

• Coordinate content plans with Grist’s editorial leaders

• Generally coordinate the efforts of a growing Fix content team, including a senior-level editor, junior writers and editors; manage a range of contractors — including writers, visual and multimedia journalists, video producers, animators, and illustrators

Special projects

• Create and/or maintain project roadmaps and timelines for Grist 50 and future special projects, such as Grist 50 franchise expansions, deep-dive and interactive features, monthly themed content, live events, Instagram posts, and climate-fiction contests

• Lead or coordinate all internal communication around special projects; set and run regular cross-department meetings as needed

• Lead communication and schedule meetings (as needed) with key external partners, including but not limited to marketing, PR, product, and video

• Create and coordinate email outreach plans around the launch of Grist 50

• Work with Fix program director, editor of creative storytelling, and director of leadership programming to keep Grist 50 and other projects within budget and ensure contracts with external partners are executed

• Manage and track all Grist 50 assets over the years, including Trello boards, communication spreadsheets, timelines, photographs, and copy

• Lead a debrief process for Grist 50 and other key projects, as needed

Other duties may be assigned from time to time.

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in Journalism) or equivalent professional experience

• 8+ years of relevant journalism and/or editorial experience, including project management related to media 

• Proven ability to organize and schedule work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects at the same time

• Superb attention to detail and fact-checking

• Fluency with technology, including experience with Slack, Gmail and other G Suite tools, WordPress, Zoom, Trello, and other project-management tools

• Prior experience managing or coordinating a distributed team

• Demonstrated proficiency in writing and editing correspondence

• Passion for our organization’s mission and work

COMPENSATION:  Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience

Grist offers a dynamic and engaging editorial environment and the opportunity to be part of a unique online publication with a mission that matters.  

No phone calls, please.  Candidates who make it through to the final phases may be requested to complete an additional written assignment.  

Cultivating an inclusive staff is central to Grist’s focus on advancing equity. We’re interested in hearing from people who can work with diverse colleagues of varied experience. Candidates of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Grist is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.