Application Instructions

Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.

Join the future of news

We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

About Our Team

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

Why This Role Matters

The Washington Post is searching for a rigorous and innovative photo assignment editor. The strongest candidates will have a track record of assigning, editing and delivering state-of-the-art visual journalism that resonates with local, national and international audiences.

The successful candidate possesses a strong news radar, sharp storytelling skills and a talent for finding emerging stories and angles. Candidates should be committed to speed, clarity and accuracy and should be agile in shifting rapidly from subject to subject, while reaching a massive digital audience.

Responsibilities:

• Assign photography (and at times video), conduct visual research and generate visual stories (daily and enterprise) for our report.
• Pitch, write and edit visual-first stories.
• Cover and juggle a range of assignments, from breaking news to immersive visual enterprise stories.
• Work closely with correspondents and editors in our D.C. newsroom, across the U.S. and around the world.
• Collaborate with our breaking-news teams in Washington, London and Seoul.
• Regularly partner with visual enterprise, video, audio, graphics, design and audience editors to deliver visuals that are engaging, accurate and informative.
• Think creatively about visual storytelling approaches that take advantage of all our publishing platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Preferred qualifications:

• At least five years of professional journalism experience.
• A track record of editing complex stories with authority across a broad range of formats.
• A nuanced eye for photography and the ability to work successfully with both our staff photojournalists and a diverse range of freelance photographers.
• A strong understanding of visual storytelling and editing on various surfaces, including print.
• The ability to write briefly and accurately for photo presentations is required.
• A bias for speed, with the flexibility to pivot smoothly between breaking news and more ambitious, high-impact visual enterprise.
• An appetite for visual journalism that mixes photography with video, graphics, text and audio.
• Strong understanding of digital tools (Photoshop, PhotoMechanic, etc.) and working knowledge of Premiere or other video editing programs.
• Candidates should possess a fundamental understanding of photography, copyrights, usage permissions, and relevant legal standards.

The position is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom and will require some night and weekend shifts to meet deadlines and respond to breaking news.

Candidates should upload a resume and cover letter outlining the experience they’d bring to the role to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by July 11 will be prioritized. Cover letters should be addressed to Photo Department Head Robert Miller and Head of Visuals Greg Manifold.

The salary range for this position is: $92,600 — $138,800. The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.

Collaboration makes us stronger. That’s why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.

Compensation and Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
• Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
• Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and two personal days
• 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
• Robust mental health resources
• Backup care and caregiver concierge services
• Gender affirming services
• Pet insurance
• Free Post digital subscription
• Leadership and career development programs

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.