Managing Editor

The Flatwater Free Press is hiring a managing editor to help lead one of the most ambitious, fastest-growing nonprofit news organizations in the country.

We are building with a clear purpose: to fill the gaps in Nebraska's local news ecosystem wherever they appear. Sometimes that means investigations no one else has the resources to pursue. Sometimes it means enterprise features, smart service journalism or partnerships that get our reporting into communities across the state. Increasingly, it means building the operational and editorial systems that allow us to have outsized impact, and thinking about how best to leverage our assets to best serve Nebraskans border to border.

The Flatwater Free Press operates more like a magazine than a daily publication, seeking to work alongside our journalistic partners to create the most effective news ecosystem Nebraska can muster. We're looking for an editor who can help.

This is a senior leadership position at Flatwater Free Press and within the Nebraska Journalism Trust, working closely with News Director Matthew Hansen and alongside a growing newsroom that has become an essential source of accountability and enterprise journalism in Nebraska. Our stories spotlight Nebraskans doing amazing things and hold our systems accountable. What you might ownThis role is intentionally broad and will be built in the image of the successful applicant. The right candidate may take on some or all of the following:

Editorial operations and productionLead editor on many of the stories inside our quickly growing, award-winning newsroom. Manage the editorial pipeline from ideation to assignment to publicationOversee a freelance program that routinely tells feature stories that bind Nebraskans together.

Ensure stories are published accurately, thoughtfully packaged and optimized for digital audiencesEditingEdit ambitious journalism with rigor, speed, fairness, kindness and careWork with reporters to sharpen story framing, structure, clarity and impactHelp maintain and elevate Flatwater's editorial standardsFreelance and contributor managementBuild and manage a strong freelance pipelineSource, assign, edit and support contributors across NebraskaHandle contracting, workflow and feedback with professionalism and efficiencyPartnerships and distributionServe as a key point of contact for partner newsrooms and collaborators statewideCoordinate syndication and content sharingHelp oversee newsletters and other recurring audience touchpoints, including exploring new opportunitiesLeadershipHelp hire, supervise and mentor reporters and other editorial staffTranslate big-picture strategy into daily executionContribute to newsroom systems, culture and long-term growthYou might be a fit if you…Have at least three years of newsroom experience, particularly in editing, production or newsroom leadershipCan manage multiple deadlines, projects and relationships without losing your coolHave strong editing instincts and sharp news judgmentUnderstand digital publishing, newsletters and audience strategyLove local journalism and care deeply about the role it plays in civic lifeBonus points for product thinking or multimedia experience.

This editor can live anywhere in Nebraska, with a preference for working out of our Lincoln office. Omaha office also acceptable. A moving allowance is available.

The salary range for this position is $65,000-$75,000 annually; however, we recognize that exceptional talent comes at a premium and are prepared to exceed this range for candidates who bring outstanding qualifications and experience.

Why FlatwaterThe Flatwater Free Press is a nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations, enterprise and feature journalism that matters to Nebraskans.

We're five years old and on rock-solid financial footing, which means there is significant opportunity for growth and added responsibility. The systems are still being built. The culture is still being shaped. The organization is growing fast and exploring new opportunities you can mold.

You'll join a newsroom with momentum, ambition and a willingness to experiment — one that believes local and statewide journalism still matters deeply, but may need to look and operate very differently to succeed.

To applyPlease apply directly here on our website: https://nebraskajournalismtrust.org/uncategorized/managing-editor-flatwater-free-press/Flatwater and its parent organization, the Nebraska Journalism Trust, are committed to reflecting the communities we cover. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, especially from communities underrepresented in journalism — including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

This is not boilerplate. It is central to who we are.