The Wall Street Journal is seeking a visionary Bureau Chief to lead our national security coverage.
As the primary leader of this high-profile beat, you will set the editorial agenda for how the Journal covers the most critical issues in U.S. geopolitics. You will lead a team of world-class reporters in Washington covering foreign policy, the Pentagon, the State Department and the intelligence community, ensuring our coverage is indispensable to global decision-makers. The Bureau Chief is responsible for the overall excellence of the bureau’s output, balancing the urgency of breaking news with the sophisticated, deep-dive investigative reporting that defines the Journal.
You Will:
- Set the Strategy: Define the bureau’s coverage priorities, identifying the “big shifts” in global power, defense technology, and diplomatic strategy before they hit the mainstream.
- Lead the Team: Manage and mentor a seasoned team of reporters and a deputy editor, fostering a culture of excellence, high-impact storytelling, and collaborative reporting.
- Drive Impact: Direct the bureau’s most ambitious projects, ensuring the Journal consistently delivers scoops, features and investigations that drive the global conversation.
- Collaborate Globally: Work closely with senior editors in New York and international bureaus to coordinate a seamless global narrative on national security.
- Innovate: Champion new storytelling formats and digital-first strategies to expand the Journal’s reach and engage new audiences.
You Have:
- 8+ years of experience in high-level journalism, with a significant portion dedicated to covering or managing national security, foreign policy, or defense.
- Exceptional Editorial Vision: The ability to see the “big picture” and steer a team toward stories that matter most to a sophisticated global audience.
- Elite Editing Skills: A mastery of narrative structure and the ability to turn complex geopolitical maneuvers into clear, compelling prose.
- Cool Under Fire: Proven experience managing high-stakes news cycles and making critical editorial decisions under intense deadline pressure.
- Deep Sourcing: A sophisticated understanding of the D.C. power structure and the instincts of a veteran investigative journalist.
This position is based in Washington, D.C.
To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter explaining how you would approach the job by January 29th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage early submission as the position may be filled before the deadline.
To apply, go here.
