Executive Editor, Forbes Wine

Forbes•Jersey City, NJ

6h•$140,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Forbes is an iconic global media brand that has symbolized success for over a century. Fueled by journalism that informs and inspires, Forbes spotlights the doers and doings shaping industries, achieving success and making an impact on the world. Forbes connects and convenes the most influential communities ranging from billionaires, business leaders and rising entrepreneurs to creators and innovators. The Forbes brand reaches more than 140 million people monthly worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature ForbesLive events and 49 licensed local editions in 81 countries. Forbes is seeking a proven editorial leader to launch and lead Forbes Wine, a new wine-focused editorial vertical debuting in the first half of 2026. This role will define the editorial vision, brand voice, and operating model for a platform that places wine at the intersection of business, culture, sustainability, and global influence—aligned with the broader Forbes mission. The Executive Editor, Forbes Wine will be responsible for building a lean, high-impact editorial operation from the ground up, including hiring and managing staff, cultivating top-tier freelance contributors, and overseeing all written, video, and social content. The ideal candidate is a respected wine journalist and editor with deep industry credibility—equally comfortable shaping editorial strategy, editing with rigor, writing with authority, and representing the brand on camera and at live events. This role will report to the Group GM for Forbes Vetted and Forbes Wine and will work in close partnership to ensure editorial excellence aligns with audience growth and business objectives.

Requirements

Deep expertise in wine, with a strong commitment to wine education
Established relationships across the wine industry, including writers, sommeliers, winemakers, and influencers
Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a consumer-friendly, authoritative voice
Demonstrated experience leading editorial teams and managing contributors
Comfort on camera and speaking in live or public-facing settings
Willingness to travel for industry events, regional reporting, and Forbes Wine programming

Nice To Haves

WSET or CMS certification (or equivalent professional experience) preferred
Prior experience launching or scaling an editorial brand strongly preferred
Residing in the New York or Tri-State area is a plus

Responsibilities

Define and own the editorial vision, voice, and standards for Forbes Wine
Create and oversee the editorial roadmap for launch and ongoing coverage
Develop brand guidelines, including style guide and editorial brand book
Write, assign, and edit wine-focused articles and email newsletters
Build and manage a high-caliber roster of freelance writers, critics, and contributors
Oversee the editorial calendar across digital, email, video, and social platforms
Lead the development of a flagship Forbes Wine ratings and reviews program
Design the operational framework, including tasting logistics, reviewer structure, freelance budgets, and tasting coordination
Define the scoring rubric and recommend the ratings approach (100-point, 20-point • Forbes-specific system such as the 5-star rubric used by our travel licensee, or hybrid)
Establish rollout strategy, including regional coverage, vintage reporting, tasting schedules, and launch timelines
Collaborate with product, audience development, marketing, and email teams to support growth and distribution strategy
Advise on monetization opportunities, including paywall strategy and ancillary revenue models
Hire, onboard, and manage two direct reports in 2026, with responsibility for future team growth
Manage freelance and editorial budgets across content and reviews
Serve as a visible ambassador for Forbes Wine at industry events, tastings, and wine dinners
Produce and/or appear in video, social, and live programming