We are building up our National Magazine Award-nominated publications. We are looking for an experienced and forward-looking Photo Editor to help produce strong and captivating editorial experiences.

This is a full-time staff position, based in either our New York or San Francisco office.

The Role

The Photo Editor will oversee the photo direction of 3 Medium publications: Matter, Cuepoint, and Backchannel.

The Photo Editor will focus primarily on Matter — Medium’s general-interest publication — in working with the editors and Art Director to develop a distinct photographic sensibility through both commissioned shoots and photo research.

The Photo Editor will also work with Cuepoint — Medium’s music publication — and Backchannel — our tech publication — in assigning occasional shoots and assisting the Art Directors in sourcing compelling pick-up images.

The Photo Editor will be a core member of our editorial team, participating in story- and idea-meetings, evaluating pitches for photographic potential, and helping to set unique visual directions for all Medium publications. They will also regularly pitch original or preexisting photo essays, and standalone photo-driven features.

The Photo Editor should also (naturally) think in video, animation, puppet shows, installations, collage, Snapchat stories, Vines, and other forms of visual storytelling that we haven’t even thought of yet.

The Photo Editor will manage budgets and complex shoot schedules, as well as oversee our accounts with stock houses and photo agencies. They will also manage invoices and contracts, and work with Medium’s art directors and designers to create a productive, creative, and mindful day-to-day art department.

What We’re Looking For

The Photo Editor should have a minimum of 5 years of professional editorial experience at a magazine, online publication, or editorial art department.

Demonstrated experience working with editors, art directors, and designers to craft stories through compelling visuals and memorable reading experiences at a national web and/or print publication is key, as well as a passion to further innovate in web publishing.

The Photo Editor will be directing shoots locally, nationally, and worldwide, so their network of photographers should be strong and wide. Subjects will range across Music, Tech, Conflict, Reportage, Portraits, Interiors, and just about anything else you can imagine.

Candidates should be ready to discuss and demonstrate expertise in video, multimedia, and various web- and mobile photo and motion platforms. They should be totally comfortable with a seamless integration of photography, illustration, type, GIFs, etc., and can collaborate in all of those fields.

The Photo Editor should be totally comfortable running a photo desk of one (for now), but not afraid to do their own silos and retouching, or laying out a story (with flair!) for publication in the Medium editor.

Lastly, the Photo Editor will have to pitch story ideas to the editors in weekly meetings — ideas that are timely, global, vital, and visual. Stories that are on the news and/or on the tip of our tongues. Stories that folks aren’t just going to share, but remember.