America Editor, West

The Washington Post is seeking an America editor based on the West Coast or in the Mountain Time Zone to lead a team of reporters covering the U.S. at a time of immense political, social and cultural change.

This editor will join two other editors and more than a dozen reporters deployed around the country to provide essential storytelling that helps readers understand America. This person will drive coverage that deepens our readers' understanding of key priority areas, including but not limited to religion; poverty and affordability; the American dream; demographics; urban and rural life; family and community life; gun violence and gun culture; and drugs and other vices.

The right person for this role will thrive both in a fast-paced breaking news environment and at the helm of a complex accountability story or narrative feature. We’re looking for a skilled story editor who relishes the opportunity to guide and coach reporters to do their best work. 

We are seeking an editor based in the Pacific or Mountain time zones, with the expectation that this editor will take responsibility for national news that breaks late in the Washington day. 

What Motivates You:  

• You are driven to lead distinctive coverage of the country in all of its complexity. 

• You thrive in a competitive environment and are motivated to break news and set the agenda.  

• You are curious about how to reach audiences in new and compelling ways.  

• You value collaboration and are energized by working across teams to elevate storytelling.  

How You’ll Support the Mission:  

• Develop and execute stories that shed light on the issues that animate American life and communities and hold the powerful to account for missteps, misconduct and malfeasance. 

• Drive aggressive news coverage of the biggest breaking news moments in the country, including deploying correspondents, helming live stories and developing coverage plans for the days and weeks that follow. 

• Work in close collaboration with visuals and audience editors to produce compelling, visually distinctive work that pushes the boundaries of innovative storytelling. 

• Use data and performance insights to help guide story selection and maximize impact.  

• Foster a supportive, high-performing team culture that prioritizes development, collaboration and excellence.  

The Skills and Experiences You Bring:  

• At least 5 years of professional journalism experience. 

• A track record of editing or reporting with distinction. 

• A vision for elevating The Post’s National coverage to engage new audiences. 

• A collaborative spirit and superb communication skills. 

• Experience as a supervisor is a big plus. 

The salary range for this position is $122,500 - $204,100. The actual starting salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a Post recruiter will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process. 

Interested applicants should submit a résumé and a cover letter outlining their vision for the role to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by May 31 will be prioritized. Cover letters should be addressed to Deputy National Editor Debbi Wilgoren and National Editor Jennifer Amur.