News & Politics – Politics Team Leader Job at Star Tribune in Saint Paul

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 157-year legacy. With seven Pulitzer Prizes and numerous other accolades, we stand as a beacon of journalistic excellence in Minnesota. We are the heart and voice of the North.

Our mission is to build a better Minnesota by connecting us with the people, ideas, and stories that strengthen our communities. We’re seeking dynamic leaders who are passionate about journalism and democracy to help shape this future. If you are excited about reinventing one of our state’s most trusted institutions and leading us into a new era of growth and excellence, we want to hear from you.

Job Summary: Editor for our Politics & Government Team

The Minnesota Star Tribune is looking for an editor who will drive ambitious and enterprising coverage of politics and government in Minnesota and beyond, including the Minnesota Legislature, the governor and state executive branch, state agencies, political parties, elections, and our congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.

This is a high-profile and fast-paced role. It requires a leader willing to coach reporters away from process, incremental and press-conference driven coverage in favor of highly readable stories that are revelatory, distinctive and useful. You will succeed in this role by helping your reporters break news and produce compelling enterprise and accountability journalism. You excel at all aspects of story development and story forms, and have a vision for how to make this work an indispensable part of our readers’ lives.

You will:

1. Be relentlessly audience centric. Ensure that reporters and others on your team are developing and implementing data- and audience-informed coverage plans for their topic areas.
2. Be enterprising and entrepreneurial. Our readers most value news and insightful reporting not seen elsewhere.
3. Collaborate with the News & Politics Editor, its Deputy Editor and other news leaders to determine daily, weekly and ongoing coverage strategies across multiple platforms.
4. Collaborate closely with the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Audience, Product, Consumer Growth and Revenue teams to ensure our journalism reaches its widest audience, and adhere to best practices around analytics, search and discovery.
5. Engage with community leaders, citizens and subscribers at forums and other events, articulating how the Star Tribune lives its journalistic mission and values.
6. Demonstrate leadership skills that emphasize respectful inclusion while driving for excellence.
7. Effectively recruit, hire and train for a broad range of skillsets.
8. Lead and deliver transformational edits as needed on major initiatives.
9. Enforce deadlines on stories from the quick turn to the long-range.
10. Work regularly from the Star Tribune’s downtown headquarters and occasionally from our Capitol Bureau in St. Paul. You will also remotely supervise our correspondent in Washington, D.C.

Qualifications:

1. A bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
2. At least 3 years' experience covering politics or another high-profile beat.
3. Sharp editorial judgment and the ability to work with reporters who have a wide range of experience on the beat — serving as a coach, manager and guide in a constantly changing news environment.
4. A commitment to using 21st century digital tools, tracking and analyzing online audience trends and building strategies to engage readers.
5. Management skills that foster a creative and supportive culture.
6. Communication and collaboration skills to work across a matrixed organization.
7. Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments, track budgets and multitask in a high-pressure environment.
8. A commitment to the Star Tribune’s standards, mission and values, including journalism that reflects the diversity of Minnesota and the Star Tribune’s audience.

To apply:
Please upload a resume and a memo describing how you would approach the opportunity to build on our current coverage, and why you are the best person for the position.

Pay for this position starts at $89,317 a year, based on the H-scale level in the contract of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild.

Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. The Minnesota Star Tribune offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401(K) match, healthcare coverage – medical, dental, and vision, life, disability, paid time off, and a broad range of other benefits. Learn more at benefits.startribunecompany.com.

Questions? Contact Erin Golden, News & Politics Editor, at erin.golden@startribune.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Even if you don't meet every single requirement for this role, we encourage you to apply. At The Minnesota Star Tribune, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

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