Senior Politics, Policy, and Ideas Editor, Vox

About the role

Vox Media Group is seeking a Senior Politics, Policy, and Ideas Editor for its Vox brand. This editor will lead coverage of political developments, policy debates, and big ideas shaping public life. The role involves guiding editorial direction, mentoring writers, and ensuring Vox's political and policy journalism meets high standards of clarity and depth. The editor will work across platforms to produce impactful storytelling on governance, legislation, and the ideas driving national conversations.

Key facts

What you'll do

Set the editorial agenda for politics, policy, and ideas coverage across Vox's digital platforms and newsletters.

Edit and refine long-form articles, explainers, and analytical pieces on current political and policy topics.

Mentor and develop a team of writers, providing feedback and guidance on storytelling and reporting.

Collaborate with the Vox newsroom to identify emerging stories at the intersection of politics and public policy.

Oversee the quality, accuracy, and tone of all political and policy content published under the Vox brand.

Lead brainstorming sessions to generate new angles on governance, legislation, and the ideas influencing American politics.

Coordinate with video and podcast teams to extend political and policy coverage into multimedia formats.

Build and maintain relationships with political analysts, policy experts, and sources to inform editorial planning.

Ensure all content aligns with Vox's editorial standards and mission of making complex topics accessible to readers.

Track audience engagement and analytics to refine editorial strategy and improve the impact of political coverage.

Contribute original reporting and writing on major political developments and policy shifts as needed.

Manage the editorial calendar, assigning stories and setting deadlines to maintain a consistent publishing rhythm.

Partner with the Vox editorial leadership team to set strategic priorities for political and policy journalism.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience editing political, policy, or ideas-focused journalism at a major digital or print publication.

Strong editorial judgment with the ability to shape narratives around complex political and policy issues.

Excellent writing and editing skills, with a track record of producing clear, compelling long-form journalism.

Ability to lead and motivate a team of writers, fostering a collaborative and productive newsroom culture.

Deep knowledge of American politics, governance, and the policy landscape across domestic and international affairs.

Comfort working in a fast-paced newsroom environment with shifting priorities and tight editorial deadlines.

Strong communication skills for coordinating with cross-functional teams including video, audio, and product colleagues.

A commitment to Vox's editorial mission and values around explanatory, accessible, and rigorous journalism.

Experience managing editorial calendars and assigning stories across multiple writers and platforms simultaneously.

Familiarity with digital publishing tools and audience engagement strategies in the modern media landscape.

A minimum of several years of editorial experience in a senior or lead capacity at a respected newsroom.

Nice to have

Background in political science, public policy, or a related field with advanced study or research experience.

Prior experience leading a politics or policy desk at a well-known news organization or magazine.

Familiarity with Vox's editorial voice and the kind of explanatory journalism the brand is known for.

Experience building source networks in political circles, think tanks, or policy research institutions.

Skills & tools

Proficiency in editing and refining long-form political and policy journalism for digital audiences.

Strong command of grammar, style, and editorial standards applicable to digital news publishing.

Ability to use content management systems and digital publishing platforms for story distribution.

Familiarity with analytics tools to monitor story performance and audience engagement metrics.

Skill in coordinating across editorial, video, and podcast teams to produce integrated coverage.

Knowledge of social media platforms and strategies for amplifying political and policy journalism.

Practical notes

This role is based in either New York City or Washington, DC, with flexibility on location.

The position is a full-time editorial role within the Vox newsroom at Vox Media Group.

Candidates should expect to work closely with the broader Vox editorial team on cross-platform projects.

The hiring process may include multiple rounds of interviews with editors and senior leadership at Vox.

This role does not include a specified compensation package in the current listing.