Rapid-Response Investigations Editor

The Washington Post•Washington, DC

23h•$122,500 - $228,900•Onsite

About The Position

The Washington Post is seeking an accomplished, high-energy editor to help lead our rapid-response investigations team, driving accountability coverage on the most urgent stories of the moment. This role is at the heart of The Post’s mission. The team is dedicated to producing high-impact, timely investigative journalism that holds powerful institutions, including the U.S. government, to account. The work will combine speed and depth, delivering revelatory reporting on fast-moving developments while maintaining the rigor and authority that define The Post’s investigative report. We may hire an editor to lead the team, or to serve as deputy to the team leader. In either case, this individual will work with a group of award-winning investigative reporters who have been critical to some of The Post’s most incisive accountability work and will shape coverage that is ambitious, competitive and deeply sourced. We are looking for an experienced journalist who can generate ideas, move quickly on emerging storylines and collaborate across the newsroom to bring investigative muscle to breaking news. This position is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom.

Requirements

A track record of editing high-impact investigative journalism.
Exceptional line-editing skills and the ability to shape complex stories with clarity and authority.
Demonstrated experience breaking news and driving scoops across a range of topics.
Proven ability to lead and develop reporters in a fast-paced newsroom.
Deep understanding of investigative reporting techniques, including sourcing, public records and legal considerations.
Strong collaborative instincts and experience working across teams and disciplines.
Familiarity with audience data.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, respectful management style.

Responsibilities

Help lead and manage a team of investigative reporters focused on rapid-response accountability journalism that resonates with readers.
Generate and shape story ideas that respond to the most urgent developments in politics, policy and public life.
Edit stories to the highest standards, sharpening reporting, framing and writing while ensuring accuracy, fairness and rigor.
Collaborate with reporters and editors across departments to pair investigative expertise with beat knowledge. Work particularly closely with the Visual Forensics team.
Guide reporters through complex sourcing decisions and uphold the highest ethical standards.
Drive a steady cadence of scoops, enterprise and accountability reporting.
Use audience data and performance insights to maximize impact.
Ensure projects move efficiently from conception to publication, balancing urgency with depth.
Foster a supportive, high-performing team culture that prioritizes development, collaboration and excellence.