Bureau Chief – City Journal, California

Bureau Chief – City Journal, California 

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (MI) is a community of scholars, journalists, activists, and civic leaders who are united by a shared commitment to advancing economic opportunity, individual liberty, and the rule of law in America and its great cities. We are seeking a like-minded individual who will lead the day-to-day operations of a new team of reporters focused on misgovernance and public accountability in California.  

The team will operate through City Journal, MI’s magazine of urban affairs, and be helmed by Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow and investigative journalist Christopher F. Rufo. It will focus on issues of waste, fraud, abuse in the Golden State, working to hold public actors accountable and preserve the public trust.  

The bureau chief will be responsible for all operational aspects of the California team, taking the lead on management of reporters. The chief will also, in concert with Rufo and City Journal leadership, make both tactical and strategic decisions about the focus and direction of the project. 

This is an “impact journalism” team, with the goal of not only reporting the facts, but making real and immediate change. It will be essential for this group to tell compelling stories and identify the elements of those stories which will be persuasive in driving reform.  

This is a high-level, leadership role. A successful candidate will have significant experience directing an investigative project or other major campaign with potential social or political impact. He or she will be comfortable picking up many tasks as needed, including everything from booking to editing to writing. An ideal candidate has an eye for detail, an obsessive commitment to accuracy, and the doggedness to see a vision through. 

Required qualifications 

• California-based, significant experience reporting on the state preferred.  

• Three-plus years in leadership overseeing investigative journalism, political or policy campaigns, or similar work. 

• Dogged commitment to accurate reporting of the facts. 

• Strong media presence; comfortable doing TV, radio, and podcast hits. 

• Willingness to travel for on-the-ground reporting and managerial needs. 

• Ability to work quickly and efficiently in cooperation with a larger editorial team 

• Commitment to impact journalism. 

• Significant familiarity with the work of Rufo, CJ, and MI, and a desire to work in support of MI’s mission. 

• Knowledge of and experience working on issues in and around California. 

• Spanish-language fluency a plus, but not required. 

Candidates must be based in California, or relocate if hired.  

Benefits 

MI offers generous benefits, including a hybrid work environment, four weeks paid vacation, a Flexible Fridays program, paid paternity/maternity leave, medical and dental coverage, medical and dependent care FSA, mental health benefits, remote medicine, paid company cell phone, life insurance, and a 401(k) with a company-funded match. MI staff also benefit from the opportunity to collaborate and socialize with prominent scholars in our policy space. 

The salary range for this position is $170,000 to $250,000/year. The salary offered to a candidate will depend on skills, experience, and education.