Managing Editor

The National Wildfire Tracking Team (NWTT) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public safety information and situational awareness organization dedicated to providing timely, accurate, and verified information during wildfires, severe weather, disasters, and other emergency incidents across the United States. Our mission is to help communities, emergency responders, media organizations, and decision-makers by delivering reliable, real-time disaster intelligence when it matters most.

About the role

NWTT is seeking a Volunteer Managing Editor to help lead and coordinate our growing digital newsroom. This is a leadership role responsible for working closely with the Editorial Director to oversee daily editorial operations, coordinate volunteer journalists and contributors, and ensure the timely publication of accurate, high-quality reporting during active incidents. The ideal candidate has a passion for journalism, breaking news, weather, wildfires, emergency management, or public safety and enjoys working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment where the work can directly benefit communities during disasters.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily newsroom operations alongside the Editorial Director.
• Manage and support a nationwide team of volunteer reporters, researchers, writers, and editors.
• Assign coverage of breaking news, wildfires, severe weather, and other disaster events.
• Review and edit articles, social media posts, and live updates for accuracy, clarity, and consistency.
• Verify information before publication using trusted and official sources.
• Help develop editorial workflows, newsroom procedures, and publishing standards.
• Assist in planning and coordinating live-stream coverage of major incidents.
• Develop and maintain production guides, newsroom documentation, and best practices for volunteers.
• Monitor developing incidents and help prioritize newsroom coverage.
• Work collaboratively with weather analysts, field contributors, livestream producers, and technical teams.
• Maintain NWTT's editorial standards, professionalism, and commitment to factual reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience in journalism, news editing, communications, media production, or digital publishing.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Interest or experience in wildfire, weather, emergency management, public safety, or disaster response.
• Experience covering breaking news is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with livestream production or broadcast news workflows is a plus.
• Ability to remain calm and organized during fast-moving events.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Comfortable working remotely with volunteers across multiple time zones.

Schedule

Flexible volunteer schedule. Availability during significant wildfire, severe weather, or disaster events is appreciated. Estimated commitment: 5–15 hours per week, with additional opportunities during major incidents.

Benefits

• Experience leading a growing nonprofit digital newsroom.
• Opportunities to work alongside journalists, meteorologists, emergency managers, and public safety professionals.
• Build leadership, editorial, and newsroom management experience.
• Make a meaningful impact by helping deliver life-saving information during emergencies.
• Opportunity to shape the future of one of the nation's emerging disaster intelligence organizations.

About the organization

Every year, millions of Americans are impacted by wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other disasters. Accurate information can save lives. As NWTT's Volunteer Managing Editor, you'll help ensure communities receive trusted, verified, and timely information when they need it most. Your leadership will play a vital role in building a newsroom dedicated to public service and situational awareness.