FiveThirtyEight has announced the names of a number of exceptional journalists who will be joining our team, along with our Managing Editor, Mike Wilson, and our Creative Director, Kate Elazegui. We’re getting more and more excited as we think about the scope and ambition of our data journalism project, and as we have some incredibly talented and creative co-workers moving into our offices in New York.
However, we still have a ways to go in building our team. For right now, we are directing our attention toward several job openings: a Director of Business Development, two Features Editors, and two Copy Editors. A description of these jobs, and how to apply for them, follows below.
Director, Business Development
FiveThirtyEight is hiring a Director of Business Development, one of our most senior positions. We want someone to help us build a sustainable first-class journalistic enterprise, developing and executing FiveThirtyEight’s business and content strategy. The Director for Business Development will have an outward-facing role — evaluating prospective partners for content and sponsorships, and managing third-party relationships — as well as inward-facing responsibilities, such as helping the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor in managing the newsroom and serving as a representative to our colleagues at ESPN, ABC News and Disney.
The basic qualifications are as follows:
Five years of business development or other highly relevant experience, preferably in an entrepreneurial, digitally-focused environment. Excellent project management skills, and the ability to manage multiple, time-sensitive projects with competing demands for resources. Professionalism and people skills in interacting with a diverse array of colleagues: external vendors and clients, journalists, editors, ESPN managerial personnel. Experience in managing and growing business relationships, and digital content and marketing strategies; strong and effective strategy execution skills, including deep understanding of the Internet, new media and interactive platforms and the associated business models. Meticulous attention to detail, especially in evaluating budgets and revenue opportunities.
Put more succinctly, we’re hoping to identify a candidate who possesses a rare combination of attributes. The job requires both high-level creative and strategic thinking, and the attention to operations that will allow us to execute on those plans. While the job does not require a background in data journalism and analysis, enthusiasm for the overall FiveThirtyEight project is essential.
The job is based out of New York, and will sometimes require travel, and night and weekend work.
If you are interested in this position, please send a resume to 538JOBS AT GMAIL DOT COM. Please put “BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT” in the subject line.
While we’re asking for a lot from this position, we have a lot to offer in return. You’ll have tremendous influence on a growing and dynamic media brand. You’ll have excellent opportunities for professional growth. You’ll have some great colleagues. And you’ll have a ton of fun.
Features Editor
We are also hiring two Features Editors, who will assist Mike Wilson and Nate Silver in drawing up high-level editorial plans and editorial standards for FiveThirtyEight, and developing story and project ideas, along with providing day-to-day editing, web production, and deadline management.
The Features Editors will edit 2-3 data-driven feature articles per weekday. These can range from 500 words to much longer. The job will occasionally require editing shorter blog posts. In addition to their responsibilities with the FiveThirtyEight staff, the Features Editors will assist in soliciting and responding to story pitches from freelance contributors.
The ideal candidate will a be self-starter who is capable of managing a heavy workload and who has excellent time management skills. Reliability, creativity, and a strong work ethic are a must. The person should be highly organized, with a demonstrated aptitude in managing multiple stories on a daily basis, while also keeping track of FiveThirtyEight’s long-term plans.
Job requirements are as follows:
A minimum of 3-4 years editing experience, preferably in managing a high volume of copy at a prominent national print or digital outlet. Skill in refining prose for a broad audience. Candidates must be able to demonstrate they are gifted in editorial speed and judgment. Ability to scrutinize empirical claims made by FiveThirtyEight authors. While a formal background in mathematics or statistics in not required, the candidate should be comfortable working with and checking the accuracy of numbers. Strong working knowledge of at least some topic areas pursuant to FiveThirtyEight’s major verticals, such as politics, sports, science, culture and economics. Creativity in developing story ideas, and judgement in adapting them to FiveThirtyEight’s editorial voice and values. Familiarity with HTML, and curating content for online publishing platforms. Strong people management skills; the ability to interact as part of a team of editors and writers with different strengths and needs.
The Features Editor jobs may also involve opportunities to write content for FiveThirtyEight. However, the candidate should expect to devote at least 85 percent of their work hours to editing. The Features Editor jobs are based in New York, and will require a significant office presence, along with occasional night and weekend work.
If you are interested in this position, please send a resume to 538JOBS AT GMAIL DOT COM. Please put “FEATURES EDITOR” in the subject line. If you have previously applied for a different editing position, e.g. Managing Editor, and are interested in the Features Editor positions, you should consider re-submitting your materials.
Copy Editor
FiveThirtyEight is hiring two Copy Editors, who will assist Mike Wilson, and its Blogs Editor, Micah Cohen, in ensuring the accuracy and consistency of style, text, syntax and grammar of feature articles, blog posts and graphics text. The ideal candidate will have experience as a copy editor with a developed sense of prose style and grammar, and outstanding interoffice and communication skills.
The Copy Editors will typically edit several feature-length articles and several shorter blog posts per day, sometimes on demanding deadlines. The job may also occasionally entail working with FiveThirtyEight’s interactive news team, editing the text of longer-term projects. The Copy Editors will assist in writing headlines, producing content for the web, and developing FiveThirtyEight’s style and usage guide.
The most important requirements of the job are as follows:
A minimum of 2 years copy editing experience, preferably at a prominent national print or digital outlet. Familiarity with a well-developed style guide, such as the AP Stylebook, The Chicago Manual of Style or The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage. While a formal background in mathematics or statistics in not required, the candidate should be comfortable working with and checking the accuracy of numbers. Strong working knowledge of at least some topic areas pursuant to FiveThirtyEight’s major verticals, such as politics, sports, science, culture and economics. Familiarity with HTML, and curating content for
online publishing platforms.Punctuality and the ability to edit copy on tight deadlines, occasionally at irregular hours.
The Copy Editor jobs are based in New York, and will require a significant office presence, along with occasional night and weekend work.
If you are interested in this position, please send a resume to 538JOBS AT GMAIL DOT COM. Please put “COPY EDITOR” in the subject line.
A quick note on strategy: if your credentials are somewhere in between the Features Editor and Copy Editor positions, we would recommend that you apply for the Copy Editor position. We anticipate a high volume of applications, and it’s easier to stand out by being impeccably qualified for a position. Candidates who are brought in as Copy Editors will have significant growth opportunities at FiveThirtyEight.
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We look forward to hearing from some of you, and continuing to tell you about our plans for FiveThirtyEight. Watch this space and the ESPN Careers website for additional job openings. For example, we will soon be posting about a set of job opportunities for designers, developers, and interactive journalists.