Senior Editor, Religion & Spirituality

Full Time Job
OVERVIEWNPR's National desk is looking for a Senior Editor to help lead an exciting effort to expand our coverage of religion and spirituality. As part of this initiative, NPR will be standing up a national-local collaborative structure with Member stations in order to better capture the depth and breadth of faith and spiritual belief across the U.S. This topic team will have the benefit of Religion News Service (RNS) as an editorial partner and subject matter expert. This Senior Editor will be responsible for convening and leading the religion and spirituality topic team, which will combine resources from NPR, RNS and member stations. This editor and the team structure is aimed at giving station reporters extra support and expertise to pursue ambitious projects that a reporter working alone cannot realistically do. The Senior Editor will lead the team in meeting regularly to discuss issues, share sourcing and look for ways to produce national pieces that can be shaped for local audiences. The editor will be accountable for generating and editing material created by this team for all platforms, including broadcast and digital, as well as for crafting and communicating coverage plans for news events related to religion and spirituality. This is a two-year full-time position, with the potential for extension. This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA. RESPONSIBILITIES
• In collaboration with NPR National Desk and Collaborative Journalism leaders, establish a team of NPR, member station and Religion News Service staff working together to do deep and engaging reporting and storytelling for a national audience, as well as local audiences, on all platforms.
• Make assignments and provide editorial guidance on events and issues related to religion and spirituality, in partnership with member stations and the RNS; identify and coordinate coverage opportunities and themes.
• Convene and run regular conference calls with member station partners and those from Religion News Service. Distill from those calls ideas for national stories or series.
• Generate story ideas, review story pitches, help determine the best approach to storytelling, including making suggestions for interviews, building sources and guiding coverage.
• Vet and edit RNS content for air and publication on NPR platforms.
• Provide editorial guidance to member station reporters on stories for local air and websites.
• Ensure that all material meets NPR program's standards and practices, including standards of fairness, objectivity, balance, consistency and technical quality.
• Perform other duties as assigned.The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• 5 years of experience as an editor or reporter in public radio or a national media organization
• Demonstrated experience in and passion for covering religion and spirituality
• Proven editing ability and outstanding news judgment
• Demonstrated experience in building and motivating teams, establishing clearly defined roles and expectations, and sustaining a collaborative work structure
• Experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance and fairness
• Demonstrated ability to generate and execute complex creative ideas and to assimilate and organize large amounts of information
• Proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system
• Ability and willingness to work varied shifts PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Interpersonal style that empowers and builds collaboration; supports participation, accountability and dedication to mission
• Demonstrated ability to focus collaborative efforts on the achievement of agreed outcomes within finite timeframes and budgets
• Positive approach to embracing change
• An understanding of the public radio system, including the relationship between NPR and member stations is a plus.EDUCATION REQUIREMENTBachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience.WORK LOCATION
• Remote Permitted: This is a remote permitted role. This role is based out of our Washington, DC office but the employee may choose to work on a remote basis from a location that NPR approves.JOB TYPE
• This is a full time, exempt position lasting for two years.COMPENSATIONSalary Range: The U.S. based anticipated salary for this opportunity is $122,500 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR's benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees. Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.NPR Pay Range$122,500 — $122,500 USDYou may read NPR's privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.