Sr Editor, NFL (CBS Sports)

CBS Sports is seeking a skilled, creative, and highly organized Senior Editor to lead key aspects of its NFL coverage across CBSSports.com and CBS Sports platforms. The role involves setting coverage strategy, overseeing execution across breaking news, live games, analysis, features, rankings, previews, reactions, and enterprise storytelling, with special focus on the NFL Draft. The Senior Editor will directly manage a team of writers, establish priorities, evaluate performance, and foster a collaborative, accountable newsroom culture. This position is based in New York and requires schedule flexibility, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the overall editorial strategy for CBS Sports’ NFL coverage across daily, seasonal, and long‑term priorities.
• Directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of writers, setting clear expectations and providing consistent editorial and performance feedback.
• Lead regular one‑on‑one meetings, contribute to formal performance evaluations, and create development plans.
• Hold writers accountable for productivity, quality, collaboration, audience performance, and editorial standards.
• Establish daily and long‑term coverage priorities, delegate assignments, and ensure deadlines and deliverables are met.
• Generate and develop original coverage ideas, franchises, and enterprise projects that distinguish CBS Sports.
• Assign and edit breaking news, analysis, features, rankings, previews, reactions, and other stories in line with editorial, legal, and ethical standards.
• Lead coverage of NFL games, trades, injuries, coaching changes, free agency, the NFL Draft, and other major league events.
• Make decisive editorial calls during breaking news, live games, and high‑volume coverage periods.
• Work closely with writers to strengthen reporting, sharpen analysis, improve story structure, and craft compelling headlines.
• Evaluate team members’ strengths and workloads, deploying staff strategically across the coverage operation.
• Identify gaps in coverage or capabilities and recommend solutions, including new assignments, development opportunities, or staffing needs.
• Create efficient workflows and communication systems to keep writers aligned and the broader NFL operation organized.
• Use audience insights, SEO principles, and performance data to evaluate coverage, identify opportunities, and inform editorial decisions.
• Coordinate with leaders across fantasy, betting, social, video, newsletters, programming, and other editorial teams to develop cohesive, multiplatform coverage plans.
• Balance immediate audience opportunities with original work designed to build authority and long‑term loyalty for CBS Sports.
• Represent the NFL team in broader editorial planning conversations and communicate priorities to senior newsroom leadership.
• Foster an environment that values creativity, urgency, accuracy, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Basic Qualifications

• At least three years of professional experience in a digital editorial or newsroom environment.
• Meaningful experience directly managing writers or editors, including setting goals, delivering feedback, and evaluating performance.
• Demonstrated record of leading editorial coverage and making high‑level decisions during major news or live‑event windows.
• Exceptional editorial judgment and ability to prioritize coverage in a fast‑moving, high‑pressure environment.
• Proven ability to generate original ideas and turn them into successful stories, franchises, or multiplatform coverage plans.
• Excellent editing, headline‑writing, and story‑packaging skills.
• Strong organizational and operational skills, with the ability to manage people, deadlines, and multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Deep knowledge of the NFL, its teams and players, and the major issues and trends shaping the league.
• Comprehensive understanding of the NFL calendar and news cycle, including games, roster movement, injuries, transactions, coaching changes, free agency, and the NFL Draft.
• Experience using SEO, audience analytics, and other acquisition and engagement tools to inform editorial strategy.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship‑management skills.
• Undergraduate degree, preferably in journalism, communications, or a related field.
• Ability to work from New York with schedule flexibility, including nights, weekends, and holidays as games and news developments warrant.

Additional Qualifications

• Track record of improving employee performance and helping writers produce more ambitious, distinctive work.
• Experience leading a team through organizational changes, evolving priorities, or demanding coverage periods.
• Experience developing major editorial franchises, special packages, or enterprise projects.
• Success collaborating across editorial departments and platforms.
• Familiarity with NFL Draft, fantasy football, sports betting, social media, and emerging audience trends.
• Experience with content‑management, analytics, and editorial‑planning systems.
• Working knowledge of Photoshop or similar visual‑editing tools.

Pay

Hiring salary range: $85,600 – $107,000. The range applies to New York, California, Colorado, Washington state, and most other geographies. Starting pay depends on factors such as location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance coverage
• Disability benefits
• Tuition assistance program
• Paid time off (generous PTO)

Schedule

Requires flexibility to work nights, weekends, and holidays in alignment with NFL games, news cycles, and editorial needs.