Editor in Chief, Atlas Obscura

June 14, 2024

About Atlas Obscura

Powered by a global community of millions, Atlas Obscura is a media and experiences company dedicated to sharing the world’s hidden wonders. Atlas Obscura produces award-winning journalism and chart-topping podcasts, leads unique guided trips all around the world, and has now published three consecutive New York Times best selling books, with over 2 million copies in print. The company was founded in 2009 as a user-created compendium of the world's most incredible places. This Atlas has grown to include more than 23,000 entries, such as the secret apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower and the New Zealand caves lit by glow-worms.

Editor in Chief - Atlas Obscura

Atlas Obscura is hiring an Editor-in-Chief to collaboratively develop and execute the site’s editorial strategy, and lead our team of talented writers and editors to create top-tier content that inspires wonder and fosters a richer experience of the world.

The Role

Atlas Obscura's editorial work is defined by our pursuit of stories with deep connections to place, on any subject that’s filled with wonder and surprise. As Editor in Chief, you will shape Atlas Obscura's editorial vision and oversee the day-to-day publication of all written content across Atlas Obscura’s owned and operated channels. You’ll manage story assignments and editorial calendars, develop and oversee editorial franchises, and shape launch strategy to effectively grow and engage Atlas Obscura’s audience.

You will foster an environment of creativity, collaboration, and journalistic excellence that upholds Atlas Obscura's mission, to share wonder and curiosity about this incredible world we all share.

Our perfect candidate thrives in all phases of the content life cycle, from blue-sky story ideas to distribution and promotion plans. You must have experience managing editorial staff, a talent for shaping sharp copy, and an innate grasp of Atlas Obscura’s tone, voice, and editorial point of view.

You should be comfortable vacillating between high-level, long-term strategy work and the daily process of creating, editing, and packaging content. You should have experience using audience insights to inform content decisions, and be an expert at juggling multiple projects and their corresponding deadlines.

This is an ideal role for someone who cares deeply about Atlas Obscura’s mission and is enthusiastic about leading a small, entrepreneurial team.

As Editor in Chief, you’ll serve as an ambassador and evangelist for the brand. You are an expert communicator who excels as an organizational point person, coordinating with project stakeholders across departments and discrete business units to ensure company wide editorial alignment and excellence.

The expected base salary range for this position is from $120,000-$160,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education.

Responsibilities

  • Recruit, mentor, and manage a highly talented editorial team, including but not limited to hiring open roles, setting individual and team goals, overseeing performance, and establishing an inclusive culture
  • Set the editorial direction and content roadmap for Atlas Obscura's award-winning website, social channels, emails, apps, and other platforms
  • Spearhead editorial strategy to help define and support traffic and engagement goals across multiple platforms
  • Generate and oversee the full editorial process for deeply engaging, audience-driving editorial ideas—from specific stories, to franchises, multi-platform content and more.
  • Identify opportunities for innovative storytelling and content formats
  • Organize and maintain weekly, monthly, and annual editorial calendars and ensure deadlines and goals are being met
  • Set and manage the editorial budget
  • Cultivate and maintain a strong network of freelancers and contributors
  • Use data insights, analytics, and content performance to inform strategy and the way we curate and edit stories
  • Plan effective rollout strategies for all content; write and refine story packaging in collaboration with editors; work closely with social and audience development teams to communicate digital content plans and promotion
  • Collaborate closely with Brand Partnerships, Entertainment, and Experiential teams to drive commercial and consumer revenue
  • Uphold rigorous editorial standards and journalistic ethics
  • Act as a liaison with other teams on cross-departmental projects including product and brand partnerships
  • Maintain clear processes and communication channels for the team, serving as a resource for team members to help resolve challenges, improve outputs, and ensure work is happening in sync.
  • Represent Atlas Obscura's brand and mission internally and externally

Requirements

  • 7+ years of experience editing and managing content teams
  • Experience with digital content management systems, Airtable, Google Analytics, Chartbeat and a digital media CMS
  • Strong interpersonal and collaborative problem-solving skills
  • Experience managing an edit calendar
  • Ability to juggle a vibrant daily content needs with long-term projects
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and editorial judgment skills
  • Passion for Atlas Obscura's mission of inspiring wonder and curiosity about the world
  • Experience with digital publishing, social media, and multimedia content formats
  • Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to think strategically and drive growth
  • Excellent leadership skills with the capacity to inspire and motivate teams
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Deep understanding of the current state of digital audience behavior
  • Strong eye for design and visual storytelling
  • Insatiable curiosity and a love of exploration is a huge plus!

Interested applicants should apply here.