Lead the editorial vision of Cincinnati’s premier lifestyle media brand, telling the stories that matter while shaping how Greater Cincinnati sees itself and its future.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Cincinnati Magazine is essential to living your best life here. We are seeking an accomplished, forward-thinking Editor-in-Chief to lead the editorial vision, content strategy, and continued evolution of one of the region’s most recognized media brands. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2027, Cincinnati Magazine has chronicled the people, places, ideas, and experiences that define Greater Cincinnati. Today, the brand reaches more than 170,000 readers each month through print and upwards of over 405,000 collective contacts through all platforms including digital and social, newsletters, and events.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Editor-in-Chief is the magazine’s chief storyteller and public face, shaping a distinctive editorial vision while keeping the brand relevant, compelling, and deeply connected to the community. This leader will champion editorial integrity, understand the business, and serve as a trusted partner to the Publisher while bringing editorial excellence, entrepreneurial thinking, and a passion for identifying the stories Cincinnati needs to hear, developing talent, and engaging audiences across platforms. In addition, this person is responsible for:
Editorial Vision & Brand Leadership
- Set and execute the editorial vision across print, digital, newsletters, social media, and emerging platforms while protecting the magazine’s distinctive voice and credibility.
- Identify the people, trends, cultural conversations, and issues shaping Greater Cincinnati and balance the brand’s established identity with ideas that expand audience engagement.
Content & Editorial Excellence
- Oversee the development, assignment, editing, and production of compelling content while maintaining high standards for accuracy, quality, originality, fairness, and storytelling.
- Develop distinctive features, profiles, investigations, service journalism, and recurring franchises while collaborating with writers, editors, photographers, designers, and digital team members.
Digital & Audience Growth
- Continue evolving Cincinnati Magazine as a dynamic, multi-platform media brand; grow digital readership, newsletters, social reach, audience loyalty, and brand relevance.
- Use audience insights, analytics, emerging technologies, and new formats to inform strategy without compromising editorial judgment or quality.
Team Leadership & Culture
- Lead, mentor, and inspire a direct and extended team of approximately 10, fostering creativity, accountability, collaboration, trust, and high standards.
- Protect and strengthen the organization’s culture while embracing change, encouraging experimentation, developing talent, and taking thoughtful risks that strengthen the brand.
Community & Relationship Leadership
- Build meaningful relationships with Cincinnati’s business, civic, cultural, philanthropic, culinary, arts, sports, and community leaders while maintaining appropriate editorial independence.
- Serve as the visible face of Cincinnati Magazine throughout the region and develop a deep understanding of the people and institutions shaping Greater Cincinnati.
Publisher Partnership & Business Stewardship
- Serve as a trusted sounding board and calming influence for the Publisher, bringing perspective, sound judgment, candor, and solutions while partnering across the organization to strengthen the brand.
- Respect business realities and thoughtfully steward editorial and organizational resources, developing opportunities that support audience growth, events, sponsorships, and other business initiatives while maintaining clear editorial standards.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, media, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
- 10–15+ years of progressive experience in journalism, magazine publishing, digital media, editorial leadership, or a closely related field.
- Proven editorial leadership and team management, with experience developing high-quality, multi-platform content and establishing an editorial vision.
- Exceptional writing, editing, interviewing, storytelling, and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to identify compelling stories and develop distinctive editorial franchises.
- Strong digital and audience expertise, including digital publishing, social media, newsletters, SEO, analytics, and evolving media consumption.
- Demonstrated business acumen and cross-functional leadership, balancing editorial priorities with audience engagement, brand development, revenue objectives, and thoughtful resource stewardship.
- Effective relationship orientation and Cincinnati knowledge, with the ability to collaborate effectively with senior executives, community leaders, contributors, creative professionals, and external stakeholders while developing a deep understanding of Greater Cincinnati.
PERSONAL & LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES
- Collaborative & Low-Ego – Builds trust, listens well, welcomes different perspectives, and prioritizes the success of the overall brand.
- Confident & Diplomatic – Makes difficult editorial decisions, defends editorial integrity, and manages disagreement professionally.
- Curious & Engaged – Brings energy and genuine interest to people, ideas, trends, and the Greater Cincinnati community.
- Entrepreneurial & Adaptable – Embraces change, sees opportunities, and is willing to take thoughtful risks and experiment with innovative approaches.
- Authentic & Relationship-Oriented – Builds credibility quickly and develops meaningful relationships across the organization, the Publisher, and the broader community.
WHY JOIN CINCINNATI MAGAZINE?
- Lead a Recognized Cincinnati Institution: Shape the next chapter of an established publication with a distinguished history and strong regional identity.
- Influence the Region’s Conversation: Tell compelling stories that reflect the people, ideas, businesses, culture, and experiences shaping Greater Cincinnati across print, digital, social, newsletters, and events.
- Shape the Future of Local Media: Build relationships at the center of Cincinnati’s community while bringing new ideas, technologies, voices, and storytelling approaches to a respected regional brand.
CONTACT
Ivy Bayer, Publisher
