Government Editor

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is hiring an Assistant Metro Editor to lead our government team. As a member of our Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom, you will guide our coverage of elected officials, elections, policy-making and the impact of policies on communities at the federal, state and local levels.

The ideal candidate will be a focused, aggressive and highly organized editor who is committed to holding those in power accountable and is constantly looking for ways to turn a story into a compelling read. We want someone who can steer the team to break news, provide authoritative analysis, investigate, and produce vivid profiles. This editor will guide a team of reporters and collaborate with others in our newsroom.

The government editor will:

Have a proven ability to generate investigative and enterprise stories that drive change and lift the veil on the inner workings of elected officials and government agencies.
Have a track record of spotting political trends and breaking news.
Demonstrate an ability to plan and execute meaningful coverage of elections.
Post developing stories rapidly followed by updates that add more detail and context.
Analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness and fairness.
Maintain continuous communication with fellow editors and reporters and other departments including photo, graphics and the digital audience team
Be willing to work non-standard schedules when news coverage or staffing needs demand it.
Be inclusive in coverage, making sure stories include a range of sources and that they fairly represent the rich cultural diversity of our region.  
Use digital tools to monitor audience interest in stories and regularly offer headline tests to boost readership.

Qualifications

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom, and we encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives in your cover letter.

Experience: At least five years’ experience at a metro daily or other news organization, including at least some supervisory experience.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in watchdog and accountability journalism. Be able to file public-record requests and search databases.
Must have the ability to find holes in a story, ask the right questions under deadline pressure, and understand story organization and how to achieve it.
Collaborative spirit; diplomacy when communicating up, down and across teams.
Must understand and uphold the standards, ethics and mission of journalism at The Seattle Times.
Knowledge of local news and local newsmakers is a plus.  

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $70,500 to $96,900.

Benefits:

Medical, dental insurance and long-term disability insurance
Employee assistance program
Optional life and AD&D insurance and long-term care insurance
401(k) plan with employer match
10 days of annual vacation accrual, increasing with tenure up to 20 days
10 days of annual sick accrual; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
9 paid holidays
Subsidized transit cards
Complimentary Seattle Times subscription
Wellness program
Parental leave options