Managing Editor

ABOUT MESSAGE LAB

Message Lab is a fast-growing content marketing agency that combines journalism, data, and design to create content that resonates with audiences. We have a strong point of view on how editorial, design, and data work together in the service of a singular goal. It starts with identifying great stories that support the ideas our clients care about and bringing them to life in a range of formats. Our work spans the gamut of a modern publication—from full ground-up publications to individual high-end interactive storytelling pieces, and everything in between. We focus on partnering with our clients to find what they really need to get the job done and use our top-tier skills in strategy, editorial, design, and analysis to deliver.

We run a number of programs and publications for a roster of business and technology clients (including Google, the Gates Foundation, SoftBank, ServiceNow, and others), creating and producing well-sourced, deeply-reported stories. Our editorial team comes from the WSJ, NY Times, Bloomberg, and similar places, and we hold the work we’re doing now to the standards of those publications. To be clear: We’re an agency that does work for companies. You should be someone who thinks that’s interesting and an opportunity to learn exciting new skills (which we don’t expect you to have right away). We have a team focused on using analytics to understand and improve reader engagement who you’ll be expected to work closely with—another great opportunity to learn.

We improve people's experience with our clients’ brands and help rid the world of content no one cares about.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

Message Lab is seeking a Managing Editor to lead our editorial team. In this role you will manage and collaborate with team leads across various departments such as design, operations, strategy, analytics and audience building to uncover new opportunities. The ideal candidate will have strong editing skills, a strong editorial vision, and a nose for the right stories. We’re looking for someone who is curious and excited about guiding clients and our team to identify the right kind of story to tell and the right format to tell it in—not every story wants to be a 2,000-word reported feature. 

This is an opportunity for someone with a deep appreciation for marketing, practical experience using a journalistic toolkit in a services setting, and an enthusiasm for talking to clients and prospects about the benefits of doing this. You’ll be a part of helping us define the vision, use case, and creative process for SEO content, emails, copywriting, reports, and other assets that aren’t traditional journalism but, when done well and utilized properly, can provide value to our clients’ audiences.

This role will report directly to the CEO of Message Lab.

Role location: Fully remote (within the United States). Message Lab is fully remote and we require employees to be available and online during our core business hours (10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. Pacific Time), regardless of their physical location.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Oversee editorial work with clients (directly leading some of it yourself in some cases) with your pulse on the client objectives and our strategy
• Oversee and manage our team of journalists ensuring the team delivers its work on time, on budget and with excellence
• Ensure the editorial team is actively learning the capabilities and processes of other teams that integrate with editorial and surface educational opportunities (e.g., learning content strategy, participating in performance reporting)
• Develop and maintain a vision for how the editorial team grows, including how to integrate and best utilize young staff reporters and inputs like audience research and result reports
• Work with other team leads and team members across the agency to learn what people are working on and try to uncover opportunities for your team to help
• Educate other Message Lab staff about how editorial works and functions, and how editorial team members execute their jobs
• Actively manage and discuss scopes, pricing, timing, and process and financial post-mortems with editorial team and ops to help improve future projects
• Expand our network of freelance writers, so we can consistently assign work to someone with the right skillset
• Be a partner and collaborator with our design team on visual and multimedia storytelling and help advance our capabilities and processes

Essential skills:

• 10-15 years of experience with a strong editorial background 
• Ability to build and lead teams and a personal commitment to effective management
• A deep understanding of how content works within overall business goals
• Exceptional editing skills to ensure high quality content that aligns with client objectives and strategy
• Familiarity with audience development and targeting strategy
• Experience with client management 
• Strong written and verbal written and verbal communication skills

WORKING AT MESSAGE LAB

Hiring philosophy: Message Lab doesn’t just accept differences; we fundamentally celebrate and seek out diversity. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunities for all employees and to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. 

If you are interested in the job but don’t know if you meet every single requirement, please apply. Nobody checks every box; and we know that you are more than just a resume.

Salary range (commensurate with experience and skills): $140,000-$170,000

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability
• 401(k) retirement plan and FSA accounts for medical and dependent care
• Flexible PTO, paid sick, and wellness days
• Parental and pregnancy revival leave
• Fully remote and distributed teams across the US
• Office equipment purchase for new employees and monthly and annual tech budgets
• A growing team that’s motivated to create high quality, industry leading work
• A fun environment that includes lots of laughing, outings, and camaraderie

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