Investigative Reporters & Editors, Inc. is hiring: Editor-in-Chief in Nashville

About Floodlight

Floodlight is a nonprofit, independent newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action. Since launching in 2021, Floodlight has collaborated with local and national news outlets including The Guardian, NPR, ProPublica, the Los Angeles Times, the Texas Tribune, the Louisiana Illuminator and Capital B. Floodlight stories reach millions and are distributed directly to hundreds of news editors and republished through aggregation services. Floodlight produces both medium- and long-form online and video stories and operates with a model based on collaboration with external partners. Floodlight’s reporting is nonpartisan and adheres to the standards of the Institute for Nonprofit News for financial transparency and editorial independence. The organization is supported by philanthropic grants and gifts from individuals, with full authority over editorial content and independent news judgments.

Our team of seven consists of two reporters, an investigative producer, an audience director, a chief operating officer, an executive director and an editor-in-chief, who will retire at the end of 2025. We work remotely, with occasional travel for reporting, in-person meetings, industry conferences or events.

About the Role

The editor-in-chief will lead Floodlight’s editorial mission, manage a team of investigative journalists, and work with a network of reporters and editors from external media partners on collaborative projects. The ideal candidate is a strong, fair and collegial leader with extensive editing, reporting and management experience in investigative journalism and a deep understanding of Floodlight’s collaborative approach and climate journalism space. This role involves shaping newsroom culture, leveraging team strengths, and helping staff deepen their skills.

Key responsibilities include editing and fact-checking across formats (medium- and long-form text, as well as video scripts), managing partnerships with national and local outlets, and setting expectations for story development and schedules. The editor-in-chief will oversee the editorial calendar, oversee a quarterly and annual reporting process, and lead twice-weekly editorial meetings. This role includes speaking at industry events, promoting Floodlight’s work, and representing the organization externally. The editor-in-chief will collaborate with the audience director to determine partner fit for stories and manage partnership expectations.

The editor-in-chief will work closely with Floodlight’s executive team and report to the executive director. The current editor-in-chief plans to retire at the end of the year, with a planned overlap for a smooth transition.

Responsibilities

• Set and implement the strategic editorial vision in alignment with Floodlight’s goals and mission
• Manage editorial staff and the audience director; conduct performance reviews and lead staff recruitment
• Ensure reporting meets high editorial standards, including leading the fact-checking process and navigating legal reviews
• Lead twice-a-week editorial meetings and manage the story budget
• Oversee the editorial calendar and production across multiple distribution channels
• Secure rights for visuals for publication and distribution of stories
• Represent Floodlight by speaking at news industry conferences and preparing contest entries
• Prepare quarterly and annual editorial reports for internal and external audiences
• Consult with the business staff on grant proposals and reports
• Oversee expansion of partnerships with external news organizations

Ideal Candidate Qualities

• 5+ years experience managing a team of journalists and at least 10 years in journalism
• Strong editorial judgment and interpersonal skills; ability to mentor a diverse team
• Strong collaborative skills with partner media organizations
• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities with keen attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills and strategic decision-making authority
• Self-starter, highly motivated and resourceful; comfortable working remotely with occasional travel

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, starting at a minimum of $130,000 per year. Floodlight provides 25 days of vacation/PTO, 12 paid holidays, 10 days of medical/emergency/bereavement leave, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Floodlight reimburses health insurance premiums and qualified health expenses up to the federal maximum ($529/month single, $1,067/month family). Floodlight provides a 401(k) plan with up to 4% employer match. We encourage applicants from underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

We know there are great candidates who might not check all these boxes or possess important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, please apply and tell us about yourself.

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