Senior Editor, Research

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Job Description:

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis beginning April 15, 2026. 

We are seeking a senior editor to lead ProPublica’s growing research team, guiding high-impact investigative work across the newsroom while supporting rigorous, collaborative and responsive research at scale.

The research team plays a critical role in many of ProPublica’s most impactful and widely read stories, contributing deep reporting, verification and sourcing to both long-term investigations and fast-turn accountability journalism. Research reporters regularly earn co-bylines and contributor credits across text, audio and video projects, and they collaborate closely with reporters, editors and partner newsrooms across the country.

Researchers typically balance two to three long-term projects while fielding short-term needs, providing expertise in public records, financial and government research, open-source intelligence and advanced verification.

This role reports to the assistant managing editor, national. You’ll lead ProPublica’s seven-member research team that works collaboratively across our national, local, Texas and Local Reporting Network desks.

As Senior Editor, Research, You Will: 

• Help build and maintain strong relationships with editors, reporters and partner newsrooms, ensuring research is integrated early and effectively into reporting.
• Serve as an escalation point for research reporters and newsroom staff, helping resolve complex reporting challenges, tight deadlines and sensitive sourcing or verification issues.
• Manage and prioritize newsroom projects in collaboration with senior editors and newsroom leadership, balancing urgent newsroom needs with longer-term investigative projects.
• Assign research work, shape strategy and ensure consistent, high-quality research support across desks, beats and regions.
• Provide hands-on editorial guidance to research reporters, including coaching on records strategies, advanced sourcing, database use, OSINT techniques and verification.
• Collaborate closely with reporters and editors to define research goals, frame investigations and connect the dots across large volumes of information.
• Effectively manage a substantial research resources budget, including contract   negotiations for relevant research tools and resources.
• Hire, onboard, mentor and provide performance feedback for a distributed research staff, including a deputy research editor and freelancers, as needed.
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive and supportive team culture that values rigor, curiosity and shared success.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have: 

• At least 10 years of newsroom, investigative or research experience, with at least five years of experience managing a research team, ideally in a journalism capacity. We will prioritize candidates who have managed and supervised staff.
• Significant in-depth research experience, ideally in the investigative journalism context, but we’re also open to candidates with deep government or academic research skills that can be useful to our work. 
• Prior experience managing a budget, negotiating subscription and database contracts and serving as the contact for vendors. 
• Demonstrated ability to identify and quickly use emerging technologies and applications relevant to investigative research.
• Experience building morale and fostering professional growth in a geographically distributed team.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with an appetite for working across the newsroom and with external partners. 
• Exceptional organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, meet tight deadlines and perform effectively under pressure. 
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally for staff retreats, trainings or other required events.

This job is full time and includes benefits. This role is open to remote candidates, but preference will be given to applicants located in or willing to relocate to the New York City or Washington, D.C., areas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

The expected salary range for this position is $150,000 to $170,000.

This is a good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment and location. ProPublica is committed to paying its staff equitably, and these ranges should not be considered career salary limits or caps.

Questions? Send an email to talent@propublica.org. 

No phone calls, please.

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