Managing Editor - EU Politics

Position description

We’re opening a new chapter in European journalism. Be a part of it.

About us

Contexte is an independent media outlet: employee-owned with a subscription-only model. Our mission is to provide policy professionals with the information they need to make decisions. Contexte establishes a new standard of quality information by delivering and curating the most factual, in-depth policy news and analysis.

This is why we:

• Offer expertise to help our readers navigate complex environments;
• Provide deep, nuanced and verified analysis to get as close as possible to the facts;
• Maintain independence from external influences through economic and editorial autonomy.

The company has grown rapidly since its launch in 2013. Today, we are a team of 110, including 35 journalists in Paris and 21 in Brussels.

Our political news is delivered every morning to the inbox of 14,000 subscribers working in NGOs, private companies, public administrations, consultancies and law firms.

We cover policies spanning energy, transport, agri-food, environment, health, tech and media. We also lift the hood on how governments exercise political power and how lobbyists develop their influence. Our products are designed to provide timely, actionable information, so professionals can stay ahead of developments and make informed decisions for their organisations.

Our existing cross-cutting French-language politics vertical, "Pouvoirs", has covered the ground, from leaks of the Letta report, to analysis of the European Commission’s hyperpresident and cross cutting issues like the EU’s budget and simplification drive. An English-language vertical on energy policy was the first of our ambitious new line of products focused on EU policy. Now we’re pursuing our expansion in Brussels with a second EU vertical, Politics, expected by the end of 2025.

Position overview

We are seeking a Managing Editor to launch this second English-language vertical, focused on European politics. Beyond the headlines, we aim to inform our readers about how the EU decides, develops and organises its work, so they understand who is in charge, how decisions are made, and how power is influenced. Our journalists will investigate institutional dynamics and internal shifts, track structural changes in political life, highlight emerging actors and ideas, and analyse the broader impact of major political developments. They will shed light on overlooked power centres and track the development and regulation of lobbying practices in Brussels.

You will work closely with editorial management and report to the Editor-in-Chief based in Brussels. Given the cross-cutting nature of the Politics beat, you'll also have to work closely with journalists and managing editors from other verticals to conceive and develop story ideas.

As we are a growing newsroom, the ideal candidate will be comfortable working within a developing project, open toadapting responsibilities, coverage priorities, team dynamics, and workflows as we evolve. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys building and shaping an editorial strategy to meet the needs of our audience.

We welcome candidates from varying level of management experience: seasoned Managing Editors eager to launch a project, lead a small team, and grow into a larger editorial leadership role - such as Editor-in-Chief - as the EU project expands; or journalists who are excited to learn and develop leadership and management skills, and who will excel in managing a small, dedicated team over the long term.

Our vision is to create a truly international newsroom, where French and English-speaking journalists work closely together to provide timely and relevant coverage of EU policies. Our newsroom is structured to foster cross-language collaboration for in-depth reporting.

Key responsibilities

Leadership and Teamwork:

• Inspire, motivate and empower staff to ensure they deliver to the best of their ability;
• You will lead a team of English-speaking journalists and an adaptation editor, guiding the English-language coverage of politics issues for an audience of EU professionals;
• In tandem with the Managing Editor for the Pouvoirs vertical (France edition), you will structure the work of the team to avoid duplication and maximise expertise between Brussels-based French- and English-language journalists, ensuring the team works together to gather information, share insights, and discuss angles before creating content tailored to each audience.

Editorial Workflow:

• You will oversee a streamlined editorial workflow, assigning reporters to topics and facilitating information-sharing across desks;
• You will manage a shared editorial strategy that emphasises relevance and avoids duplication, while allowing for collaborative content collection and tailored final products for each language edition.

Management:

• Our approach to management is based on responsibility and guidance, rather than traditional top-down management. To us, being a manager means fostering trust and encouraging growth within the team. You will play an active role in supporting team members’ growth by providing constructive feedback and helping each journalist realise their potential.

Strategy and growth:

• Work together with editorial management to refine our editorial vision, expand our European offer, and recruit new team members as we grow to foster a multicultural European newsroom.

Required skills

• You are a native English speaker or have full professional fluency, with impeccable written English. French is a plus;
• You are good at managing and empowering journalists, fostering a collaborative and trust-based work environment;
• You are comfortable with an evolving project and are open to adjusting responsibilities, coverage priorities and team dynamics as required;
• You are familiar with and passionate about EU politics, influence and institutions, and can translate complex policy issues for an informed professional audience;
• You are comfortable with making clear, sometimes difficult decisions that serve the team’s best interests, even if they are not universally popular.

Measures of success

• Timely production of high-quality, audience-relevant English-language content;
• A positive, supportive newsroom culture where team members thrive professionally and personally;
• Audience growth through consistent delivery of valuable, actionable insights into EU policies;
• A unified European newsroom that fosters collaboration while delivering tailored content for each audience.

What you will join

• A collaborative, mission-driven newsroom in Brussels, launching its first international products and embracing diverse cultures;
• The opportunity to play a foundational role in building a European newsroom focused on shared expertise, cross-language collaboration and top-notch journalistic standards;
• A commitment to work-life balance and team support.

Interview process

• Interview with our Editorial Director and Brussels Editor-in-Chief;
• Interview with managers from our Brussels and Paris offices;
• Interview with our journalists in Brussels;
• Interview with our CEO and HR Director.

Application instructions

To apply please send your CV and Cover Letter.

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