The Washington Post is seeking a rigorous, creative and fast-moving photo assignment editor to help drive visual storytelling across our newsroom. 

This role is central to how The Post reports the news visually, from breaking coverage to ambitious enterprise. The photo assignment editor will assign, shape and deliver high-impact photography and visual stories that resonate with local, national and global audiences. The ideal candidate combines sharp news judgment with a sophisticated visual sensibility and a strong understanding of how storytelling translates across platforms. 

We are looking for an editor who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can pivot quickly between assignments and is eager to experiment with new approaches to visual journalism. This role requires close collaboration with reporters, editors and visual teams across the newsroom to ensure our photography is timely, authoritative and distinctive. 

This position is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom and will require some night and weekend shifts. 

What Motivates You: 

• You are passionate about visual storytelling and its power to shape how audiences experience the news. 

• You thrive on the urgency of breaking news and the challenge of producing high-impact work on deadline. 

• You enjoy collaborating with photographers and journalists across disciplines. 

• You are curious about new formats and platforms for visual storytelling. 

• You are driven to produce work that is both visually compelling and journalistically rigorous. 

How You’ll Support the Mission: 

• Assign photography, conduct visual research and generate visual stories across daily and enterprise coverage. 

• Pitch, write and edit visual-first stories that elevate The Post’s journalism. 

• Manage a wide range of assignments, from breaking news to immersive, high-impact visual projects. 

• Work closely with correspondents and editors in Washington and across the U.S. and globally. 

• Collaborate with visual, design and audience teams to deliver engaging, accurate and informative reader experiences. 

• Develop creative visual storytelling approaches that take advantage of all publishing platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. 

The Skills and Experiences You Bring: 

• A track record of editing complex visual stories across a range of formats. 

• A strong eye for photography and the ability to work effectively with a diverse group of freelance photographers. 

• Deep understanding of visual storytelling across digital and print platforms. 

• Ability to write concise, accurate copy for photo presentations. 

• Comfort working quickly and pivoting between breaking news and longer-term enterprise. 

• Experience with visual storytelling that integrates photography, video, graphics, text and audio. 

• Proficiency with digital tools such as Photoshop and PhotoMechanic; working knowledge of Premiere or other video editing software is a plus. 

Interested candidates should upload a résumé and a cover letter to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by Apr. 30 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Deputy Director of Photography Oliver Laurent and Director of Photography Robert Miller. 

The salary range for this position is $92,600 - $138,800. The actual starting salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.