Texas Monthly has an immediate opening for a digital managing editor, who will report to the director of editorial operations. A managing editor at Texas Monthly demonstrates leadership within the editorial department by leading the operations of one of its primary publishing platforms. The digital managing editor will oversee the deadlines and processes required for texasmonthly.com from beginning to end, helping to ensure that our storytelling is produced with efficiency, integrity, and accuracy, and managing the day-to-day flow of story publication, monthly goals, and longer-term digital projects.

The digital managing editor will be a part of the editorial operations team, which creates and maintains workflows for the magazine’s many publishing platforms and more generally serves as collegial, highly organized connective tissue within the department for administrative and logistical needs, communication, and operations.

The digital managing editor should be enthusiastically savvy about digging into website analytics and have an intellectual curiosity around all things digital, with the goal of helping editors and writers give their stories the best chance possible of finding and connecting with digital readers. This job requires grace and collegiality under pressure, as well as an affinity for storytelling and a fondness for all things Texas.

This full-time staff position is based in Austin, Texas. It offers stability at a nationally renowned media company that is growing in audience and revenue and has a culture defined by collegiality, curiosity, ambition, experimentation, the highest journalistic standards, and an abiding sense of service to our millions of readers both in and outside of Texas. This position also offers generous benefits, including a comprehensive health-insurance plan, 401(k) matching, profit sharing, and eligibility for performance-based bonuses. Compensation is competitive and negotiable.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Overseeing the website’s editorial calendar and ensuring that there is a steady flow of stories coming in for the web
• Updating the home page and other landing pages on the website regularly with new stories
• Monitoring progress toward weekly and monthly traffic and story-count goals and working with multiple stakeholders, including the engagement team and assigning editors, to make adjustments as needed to hit goals
• Analyzing web traffic data to identify and communicate trends and opportunities that align with Texas Monthly’s editorial vision
• Researching and communicating best practices for publishing on the web, including SEO strategy, story formatting, headline writing, and publication timing
• Coordinating across departments on traffic goals and audience strategy, as well as on digital product updates and website feature requests
• Project managing specific initiatives, such as spearheading updates to the website taxonomy and organizing and/or digitizing parts of Texas Monthly’s archive, as delegated by the director of editorial operations
• Being a friendly listening ear to editorial staffers and serving as a resource and sounding board for their concerns, questions, or suggestions for improvements to the digital product and workflow
• As part of the editorial operations team, participating in initiatives and decision-making about editorial standards, culture, and expectations within the department
• Assisting with hiring and onboarding as needed
• Assisting with freelance contract management as needed
• Upholding and modeling Texas Monthly’s values of integrity, honesty, diligence, enthusiasm, and collegiality

Application process:

Interested candidates should fill out this form by February 3. Only applications submitted through that form will be considered.

Texas Monthly will review applications on a rolling basis and may reach out to some candidates before that date, but all applications received by the deadline will be reviewed. Promising candidates will have an initial interview with the director of editorial operations and the HR manager. Select candidates may then be asked to complete a skills test. Texas Monthly will then ask 2–3 finalists to do a final round of interviews with senior leaders and other relevant staffers.

Candidates who are interested in the position but would like to know more information about the role or about Texas Monthly before applying can book an information call with the director of editorial operations via Calendly.

Texas Monthly is committed to diversity and to cultivating an inclusive environment. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.

Successful candidates will possess the following skills, abilities, and qualities:

• Ability to communicate clearly, tactfully, and professionally, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to rapidly sift through possibilities, surface the most plausible ones, set an order of operations, then direct a team to see that sequence through to completion
• Highly organized and able to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities
• Savvy judgment around how to best deploy editorial resources and staff time for the biggest impact on the web
• Sharp research skills around website analytics, digital best practices, and SEO data

Education/experience:

• Five or more years of journalism experience, preferably at a magazine or similar publication
• Previous experience working in operations or managing editorial projects, especially online
• Experience with Parse.ly and/or Google Analytics
• Experience with SEO tools such as Semrush is a plus

About Texas Monthly

Since 1973, Texas Monthly has chronicled life in contemporary Texas, reporting on vital issues such as politics, criminal justice, the environment, industry, and education. Often referred to as “the National Magazine of Texas,” Texas Monthly is known for smart, literary journalism and in-depth investigative reporting that illuminates issues of public policy and drives the discussion of what’s important in the Lone Star State. Additionally, Texas Monthly continues to be the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering music, the arts, travel, restaurants, museums, and cultural events with its insightful recommendations.

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