Assistant Editor, Opinion

Times Opinion is seeking an experienced copy editor to run its copy desk. The ideal candidate has years of copy editing experience and a proven record of supervising staff and meeting deadlines with many moving parts in a fast-paced environment.

Opinion’s copy chief is the guardian of Times style for the section, responsible for the team that has the last set of eyes on everything Opinion publishes. The copy chief is a player-coach, a seasoned copy editor who edits pieces and acts as the sounding board for the Opinion staff and the copy team. 

The editor has exceptionally high standards and a collaborative spirit. The editor is enthusiastic about Opinion’s report and committed to presenting diverse opinions, with a keen eye for detail, sharp editorial judgment and the skills to spot problems before publication. 

The editor will have a supervisory role and be responsible for prioritizing and assigning work, in text and multimedia, to other copy editors on tight deadlines. The editor is an advocate for the copy team — a managerial role that includes annual performance reviews, coordinating individuals’ time off and weekly schedules (including evenings and weekends) and attention to long-term goals, like the recruitment of talent and the ongoing career development of existing staff. 

The work includes editing and approving headlines, captions, social media posts, metadata and other display copy, as needed, in print and in digital, and working collaboratively with the design and audience teams to optimize stories for various platforms. The copy chief, with input from colleagues, manages corrections for the department. A diplomat’s finesse is essential. 

The copy chief reports to Opinion’s managing editor.

Responsibilities:

• Ensuring clarity, accuracy and consistency across a range of Opinion  content, including text and multimedia pieces

• Ensuring consistent application of Times style and standards 

• Overseeing the copy desk, including the flow of copy from editors to publication, and the management of the copy staff

• Editing and approving headlines, captions, social media posts, metadata and other display copy, as needed, in print and in digital as needed 

Basic Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of copy editing experience

• Well organized, meticulous and comfortable in a fast-paced news environment

• Capable of responding to shifting priorities and demands based on department needs and the news cycle

• Able to apply excellent communication skills and thrive in a collaborative setting

• Willingness to work evenings, and the flexibility to occasionally work on weekends

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supervising editors 

• Fluency in New York Times style preferred but not required

• Experience juggling multiple streams of copy with different deadlines 

REQ-018061