The Washington Post is seeking an aggressive, investigative-minded reporter to cover politics, someone who can report authoritatively and write the definitive stories of our political era. 

This is a high-profile role for an experienced and versatile reporter. The political enterprise reporter will be tasked with writing agenda-setting profiles of major political figures, with a focus on vetting backgrounds to unearth scoops and write rich narratives. They will also be responsible for digging into the consequences of politics, reporting on how decisions made in Washington have shaped our culture and shaped the lives of people throughout country. 

The ideal candidate combines deep reporting experience with a strong narrative voice, capable of delivering both high-level accountability reporting and immersive, scene-driven storytelling. 

This position is based in our Washington, D.C. newsroom. 

What Motivates You: 

• You thrive on accountability reporting and following twisting narratives. 

• You are just as comfortable roaming the White House and halls of Congress as you are visiting a small town to exhaustively report on the consequences of political decisions. 

• You excel in fast-moving, high-stakes environments and are eager to take on complex stories at the heart of politics. 

• You are curious about power — how it operates in Washington and across the country. 

• You are competitive and eager to break news on a high-stakes beat. 

• You're excited to experiment with a variety of storytelling formats.   

How You’ll Support the Mission: 

• Pitch and execute distinctive coverage of political figures and the impacts of policy and administrative decisions. 

• Produce ambitious news, analysis and enterprise stories grounded in original reporting and fresh insight.  

• Cultivate and maintain high-level sources across the political spectrum. 

• Chronicle internal debates, policy decisions and political strategy, illuminating their real-world consequences.  

• Track emerging trends in politics, helping shape coverage that anticipates how the country is shifting. 

• Collaborate with data reporters, visual teams and editors to produce impactful, multi-format storytelling. 

The Skills and Experiences You Bring: 

• A track record of breaking news and producing impactful enterprise reporting on politics, business, investigations or related fields. 

• Expert-level source-building skills and comfort covering powerful institutions.  

• Experience working with data, public records and financial disclosures. 

• Demonstrated ability to explain complex systems clearly and accurately. 

• A honed instinct for accountability stories and uncovering hidden dynamics. 

• A collaborative mindset and experience working across teams to elevate coverage. 

Interested candidates should upload a résumé, cover letter and three examples of their work (as PDFs) to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by May 12 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Senior Editor for Political Investigations Patrick Caldwell, Deputy Politics & Government Editor Emily Rauhala and Politics & Government Editor Nick Baumann. 

The salary range for this position is $137,300 - $228,900. The actual starting salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.