Essays Editor

The Guardian•New York, NY

33d•$62,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Guardian US is looking for an experienced editor to manage its flagship weekly essay series. This is a role for a curious, big-picture thinker who wants to elevate fresh ideas that explain our rapidly changing world. The editor will commission and edit argument-driven long reads published every Sunday in our “The Featured Essay” series. The ideal candidate will have experience editing journalism that explores the intellectual currents behind the news cycle, and a nose for creative thinkers who can draw sharp ideas out of the swirl of culture and politics. The role involves working with writers to hone their arguments and find smart and colorful ways to make their case – whether through reporting, narrative, or traditional opinion writing. The editor will ideally come with a list of topics to explore and writers to work with. The Guardian US is an entirely digital operation that seeks to engage US readers by combining the Guardian's international coverage with US voices and expertise. Core coverage areas include US politics, technology, the climate emergency, economic and racial inequality, health, sports, culture, and more. Guardian US launched in 2011 and has bureaus in New York, Washington DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. The Guardian is an independently owned, mission-driven organization funded by readers around the globe.

Requirements

Substantial experience editing ideas-driven journalism – features, essays, and/or opinion – at newspapers, magazines or digital publications
Knowledge of and contacts among top writers, thinkers and experts in geopolitics, science, government, culture, humanities and other fields of contemporary relevance
Planning, organizing and project management skills
Expert news judgment and knack for story ideation
The ability to work under pressure and prioritize
Collaborative and calm under stress

Nice To Haves

An editor who can bring occasional levity to the series, who isn’t just thinking about the destabilizing forces driving our current moment – but also about creative ways people are coming together, hopeful cures to what ails us, and ideas that inspire.

Responsibilities

Generate ideas for topics to be explored in the Guardian US’s featured essay section
Identify appropriate writers, shepherd essays from commission to publication
Field and respond to essay pitches
Co-manage an editorial calendar and coordinate with production teams to illustrate and lay out essays
Work closely with the senior editor, news and features, and the wider features team, along with other editors involved with the series, including our head of narrative and deputy editor, race and equity
Monitor upcoming books that may be a good fit for the series for potential extracts
Contribute to features team ideas meetings and occasionally oversee non-essay features