Policy Managing Editor - Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia seeks a highly skilled and innovative, 100% remote, Policy Managing Editor to lead our Policy Team in expanding the breadth and depth of our public policy content. The Policy Team is responsible for researching, curating, and presenting comprehensive, neutral information on critical policy debates across the United States. As the Managing Editor, you will be at the forefront of Ballotpedia’s mission to close the political information gap. Your work will directly contribute to this mission by providing the facts and key arguments across a diverse range of policy topics.

In this role, you’ll oversee a dynamic team of writers, guiding the development of key projects designed to clarify the complexities of policy discussions for our readers. These projects may include creating indices of political arguments spanning the spectrum or conducting in-depth research at the state and national levels. Your work will directly contribute to Ballotpedia’s goal of becoming a comprehensive Encyclopedia of American Politics, focusing on expanding policy verticals and creating innovative content formats such as databases, indices, and other structured data models.

As Managing Editor, your primary responsibility will be hiring, training, and supervising a team of policy writers. You will ensure that the team produces high-quality, well-organized content and focuses on structuring and presenting complex policy information in innovative, accessible formats for internal and external audiences. This position will also require you to lead content development initiatives, ensure timely project delivery, and provide strategic oversight for long-term research efforts.

This role requires strong leadership and editorial skills, deep analytical capabilities, and the ability to manage complex, large-scale content production while navigating the rapidly evolving political landscape. You will report to the Director of Content Strategy and play a key role in shaping Ballotpedia’s policy coverage strategy.

The anticipated start date for this position, subject to change, is mid-January 2025.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management and Team Supervision

• Oversee policy content creation projects from inception to completion.
• Train, onboard, and manage staff writers, ensuring compliance with Ballotpedia's standards and processes.
• Develop and maintain documentation and training materials for team use.
• Hold team members accountable for delivering high-quality content on time.
• Drive the development of policy expertise within the team.
• Review and provide constructive feedback on written content and team reports.
• Write and edit high-visibility products, ensuring accuracy and clarity.

Content Production and Project Planning 

• Develop and implement project plans, ensuring alignment with the organization's vision and goals.
• Assign tasks, track progress, and ensure timely delivery of policy content.
• Lead large-scale content production projects, providing guidance and maintaining quality control throughout.

Research, Analysis, and Content Innovation

• Design innovative approaches to policy analysis and content creation that fill information gaps.
• Ensure content adheres to Ballotpedia’s values and resonates with diverse political perspectives.
• Collaborate with leadership to translate strategic ideas into actionable team projects.
• Contribute to grant proposals, capacity estimates, and cost projections for growing content production.

Qualifications:

• Be dedicated and willing to work hard to support the mission of Ballotpedia.
• Proven experience managing a content team, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Strong editorial, leadership, and supervisory skills with a focus on providing clear, actionable feedback with a positive and effective approach.
• Ability to quickly grasp complex policy issues and communicate them effectively.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to synthesize complex information and identify key debate points in policy discussions.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, capable of juggling multiple priorities and deadlines, balancing long-term strategic goals with day-to-day team operations, and adapting to changing priorities.
• Strong understanding of the political landscape and the ability to create balanced, non-partisan content.
• Experience in developing content strategies and leading large-scale research projects.

Environment

The Policy Managing Editor will work remotely from their home location. All Ballotpedia staff work remotely. To join Ballotpedia, you must have a computer with Internet access. Ballotpedia uses Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and more), Slack, and Asana to accomplish our goals. Some familiarity with Google Workspace, Slack, and Asana is helpful.

Ballotpedia has a flexible work environment, BP Flex, in which every employee enjoys unlimited vacation and flexibility in scheduling. During new employee training, each employee will be oriented to the principles of Ballotpedia’s flexible environment.

Compensation

The starting pay range for the Policy Managing Editor is $80,000-95,000, commensurate with experience.

In addition to salary, Ballotpedia offers bonuses based on performance and a $8,000 annual benefits stipend, which may be used to pay for a complete benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement accounts; and more. If benefits are not elected, the $8,000 stipend is taxed as regular income and added to salary.

To Apply

To apply, click ‘Apply for this job’ below and complete the form.

Please attach:

• Résumé
• Cover letter detailing your interest in Ballotpedia’s mission and this position

Please ensure that your current address is included in your résumé or cover letter. Applications without addresses will not be accepted.

Please note that if you are hired for this position, Ballotpedia participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ballotpedia is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.

About Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing Americans with accurate, relevant, and reliable information about politics, elections, and public policy. Our goal is to close the ballot information gap and help voters make informed decisions. We value innovation, humility, hunger, and a collaborative spirit and are committed to continuously improving our offerings to better serve our audiences, readers, and candidates.