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.

Grist, the nation’s leading climate and environment publication, is seeking a managing editor to play a critical role in leading our growing journalism program. We’re looking for someone with a track record of executing high-impact stories, stellar news judgment, a passion for storytelling, and comfort editing content that critically evaluates proposed climate solutions and tells the nuanced stories of communities facing environmental injustice.

The managing editor will help the Grist editorial team realize its wildest dreams. That means tracking assigned stories through the production process, tending to our weekly story budget and long-term editorial calendar, and playing a project management role on bigger endeavors. We’re also looking for a mentor who can be a partner to our fellowship director in nurturing our editorial fellows, as well as interns. The ideal candidate has extraordinary organizational skills and a genial but firm bedside manner who can help us get s%&t done. 

As a member of the editorial team, you’ll also work with the executive editor to help shape Grist’s larger strategy. And you’ll be called on from time to time to help your fellow editors untangle threads in particularly knotty stories. Nice, but not required: Experience on teams executing large multimedia projects or investigations.

Grist is based in Seattle, but the job doesn’t have to be. We have staff around the country. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage Grist’s publishing schedule, including its weekly budget, editorial calendar, editorial events calendar

• Manage, mentor, and edit fellows and interns

• Manage the grist.org homepage

• Project manage editorial packages and longform videos

• Edit stories from Grist reporters and freelancers

• Manage pitches and matching stories with editors

• Help run editorial meetings along with executive editor

• Assist in selecting partner content for syndication on Grist site

• At least 5 years of editing experience

• Ability to work collegially in a fast-paced environment, juggling multiple priorities and deadlines

• Commitment to mentoring young writers and diversifying the pool of writers working in environmental journalism

• An extensive network of freelance writing contacts and experience working with contributors

• Experience, knowledge, and interest in environmental justice or related issues

• Comfort with technology, social media, and digital tools for journalism

• Superior organizational skills and obsessive attention to details

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills. Demonstrated poise, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to interact with individuals at all levels of the organization

And it sure would be nice if you also had:

• Excitement about exploring innovative and creative ways to tell stories in a fast-moving environment, specifically for mobile devices

• A passion for helping Grist build new, more diverse audiences for environmental stories

• A strong voice and no qualms about using it, while never just preaching to the choir

• The ability to identify stories that will resonate online

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.

To apply, please click on this link: 

Include a resume and a cover letter. No phone calls, please.

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.