The Hired Guns are seeking a Managing Editor for a News and Lifestyle Site who lives and breathes Houston and is ready to shine some swagger on what will soon be the third biggest city in the country. Your job is to bring to life the news, the stories, the culture and the brashness that this bold city has to offer.
The Nitty Gritty
The backstory on the organization and why they need to hire you!
If you believe that there is an opportunity to tell the story of Houston through a new media venture, listen up! We are seeking a Managing Editor with a bold vision who has the guts to tell the stories of Houston and its people, someone who can drive editorial strategy, tone, and point of view while serving as the day-to-day editor. Your virtual rolodex is bursting with talent, and you have a strong opinion on everything from the best tacos in Texas to the worst rush-hour routes. Most importantly, you have a keen eye for a story that will be newsworthy not only to Houston but also to the rest of the country. Combining news, lifestyle, service, and regional sports and politics, your mission will be to grow the site (and its social extensions) into a daily must-read.
We’re looking for a highly skilled digital editor (or an experienced writer ready to cross over to edit) with a distinctive voice, outstanding audience-development chops, and strong leadership skills who’s ready to ladder up their career trajectory. You’ll be hiring a team of clever and dialed-in writers and editors to create addictive quality content that will keep locals engaged and entertained and the world glued to Hustle-town.
Why You?
How you’ll know if you’re a fit…
You don’t just live in Houston—you’re firmly convinced it’s the center of the universe. Your civic pride is second only to your commitment to assigning, writing, and editing stories that inspire loyalty from locals and visitors alike. You have an impressive track record as a Texas-based writer and editor, with a stable of freelancers teeming with talent. You love nurturing new writers and inspiring the experienced to turn in their best work. You have an innate story sense—an ability to identify and position local stories of national importance, to deep-dive into data, and to figure out the hows and whys of hits and misses. You don’t just stick to words—video, podcasts, and social are all part of your vocabulary too.
The ideal candidate is an editorial strategist with a deep understanding of digital operations and audience growth, but also the alchemy of combining service journalism, culture, commentary, and news into a single property with a well-articulated voice, tone, and POV. While the big picture excites you, you’re also willing to roll up the shirtsleeves and delve into project management, SEO, analytics, social, team cadence, training and development—all while ensuring your writers are turning out quality work. And while the site may be local, its backing is national, and unlike many jobs in journalism, you won’t be under-resourced.
The Inside Skinny
Why you should quit your job right now and join this organization!
Because doesn’t every editor/writer want the opportunity to do fulfilling (and fun!) work on a daily basis? Because this is an incredible opportunity for the right person to make their mark. Because you welcome a challenge and are ready to share your vision with an audience hungry for content that respects them and challenges them at the same time.
The Hired Guns does not and will not discriminate in considering and referring candidates for employment, or in its treatment or advancement of its employees, and will not tolerate harassment, on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
