The Atlantic is hiring a senior editor to join the newsroom’s Science and Health team. This editor will oversee staff writers and work closely with the team’s other editors to produce stories that lead the national conversation about the frontiers of science. This position will be instrumental in steering our coverage of life on Earth and beyond—its present, past, and future—and of the forces that shape it. Topics this role may focus on include physics, biology, neuroscience, climate change, geology, and more.

The ideal candidate should have a deep curiosity about science and a deep understanding of at least one area of scientific discovery. This person must be adept at assigning magazine stories of the highest standard that speak to a wide audience; narrative sophistication and a passion for big ideas both are essential. This position will at times include night, early-morning, and weekend work.

Other qualifications of the ideal candidate include:

• At least 10 years of experience, with a demonstrated ability to define the conversation around issues of national importance
• Strong leadership abilities and experience managing reporters. This person should excel at helping reporters see a story more clearly, pursue their most ambitious instincts, and turn out compelling writing.
• Equal comfort editing fast-breaking scoops, shaping ideas-driven pieces, and overseeing deeply reported projects.
• An unwavering commitment to excellence and an eagerness to work closely with others on the team.

Salary minimum: $105,000; Salary maximum: $200,000

This position is based in New York or Washington, D.C.