Job Opportunities
About 5280 Publishing
Named America’s best big-city magazine in 2018 and 2020, 5280 has been telling Denver’s story for more than 25 years. Readers depend on 5280 for compelling long-form journalism, smart guides to the city and region, superb design, and unforgettable photography. Locally owned and independently operated, the company also publishes 5280 Home, 5280 Traveler, and 5280 Health magazines, as well as the award-winning Colorado Parent family of publications.
5280 Publishing Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and offers competitive salary and benefits.
No phone calls, please.
Digital Editor
5280 is seeking an innovative and creative digital editor to join its award-winning team. This senior-level staffer will be responsible for overseeing the daily editorial operations for 5280.com, identifying new opportunities for growth and engagement, and steering 5280’s long-term digital efforts. The ideal candidate should be a highly organized, talented editor with impeccable judgment, a strategic and tactical thinker, a seasoned pro when it comes to headline writing and SEO, and an exceptional multitasker who thrives in a fast-paced digital journalism environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Conceiving of, assigning, and editing daily stories for 5280.com, as well as digital-first packages and longform features
- Editing The Local, 5280’s daily newsletter and the Colorado Explorer (biweekly)
- Directing all digital projects and initiatives—from new website features to newsletter launches and cross-platform opportunities—and ensuring they’re completed on deadline and on budget
- Coordinate with 5280 Magazine editorial leadership on editorial mission and strategy
- Collaborating across departments to determine the short-term and long-term strategies for 5280’s digital business, and working with the team to bring those goals to fruition
- Managing the digital editorial team of three staff members
- Overseeing the digital editorial budget and processing invoices and expenses
- Monitoring real-time and monthly analytics to pinpoint trends and new opportunities for growth and engagement
- Working with the digital team to develop and execute a robust social media strategy
- Training the staff on digital best practices
- Building and maintaining working relationships with a stable of freelancers
- Working with 5280’s contract developer on website upgrades and fixes, as needed
- Writing for 5280.com and 5280 Magazine
Must-haves:
- Five years of digital media experience, preferably in local journalism
- Experience managing digital editorial workflows and web development projects
- Robust knowledge of SEO best practices, including conceptualizing content for keyword optimization and writing successful SEO headlines and meta descriptions
- Proficiency with WordPress, html, Google Analytics, Parse.ly, Hubspot, and Adobe Creative Suite
Preferred experience:
- Strong management, organization, and communication skills
- Background in newsletter creation and social media strategy and management
- Familiarity with photography, photo editing, and video editing experience
Salary: Starting at $70,000
Benefits:
- Health insurance (FSA, FSA dependent care, HSA options, Teledoc)
- Dental insurance
- Vision coverage
- Paid parental leave
- Public transportation or parking subsidies
- 401K
- Fitness club membership option
- Paid time off
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
5280 Magazine is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants of diverse abilities, backgrounds and life experiences to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
To Apply
Candidates should send a brief cover letter, resumé, and five fully fleshed-out story idea pitches tailored to a 5280.com audience to careers@openmediafoundation.org using the subject line “Digital Editor.”
Associate Editor
5280 Magazine is seeking an associate editor to join its award-winning, dynamic staff. The ideal candidate should be a creative, sophisticated, collaborative editor, who has a passion for magazine making and a broad editorial skill set.
Responsibilities include:
- Concepting, assigning, editing, and writing for 5280’s front-of-the-book section
- Producing/writing approximately four to five service packages per year
- Writing for all sections of the magazine
- Writing for 5280.com
Additional opportunities:
- Writing and editing mid-length narrative stories
Must-haves:
- Four years of journalism experience; magazine experience is a plus
Experience:
- Robust reporting and writing skills
- Conceiving of and producing lively, multifaceted service packages
- Capacity to interact collaboratively with art and photo departments
- Strong creative, conceptual thinking
- Ability to hit deadlines
- Basic InDesign skills and familiarity with multiple content-management systems a plus
Benefits:
- Health insurance (FSA, FSA dependent care, HSA options, Teledoc)
- Dental insurance
- Vision coverage
- Paid parental leave
- Public transportation or parking subsidies
- 401K
- Fitness club membership option
- Paid time off
Salary: Starting at $48,000
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
5280 Magazine is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants of diverse abilities, backgrounds and life experiences to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
We offer a laid-back and humane work environment, a creative downtown workplace (that is, when COVID-19 subsides), and the chance to do great work with an excellent team. Salary and benefits are competitive. 5280 Publishing is an equal-opportunity employer.
TO APPLY:
Candidates should send a brief cover letter, resumé, three published work samples (PDF format or links), and five fully fleshed-out story idea pitches with the subject line “Associate Editor” to lindsey@5280.com.
Colorado Parent Seeking Art Director
Availability: Immediately
Colorado Parent magazine is seeking an Art Director to join its award-winning team. The ideal candidate should be a creative, collaborative designer, who has a passion for visual storytelling.
Responsibilities include:
- Design and production of 9 issues of Colorado Parent magazine, including covers, all articles, and infographics.
- Collaborate with a team of editors on the visual concept of articles.
- Work with printer in all aspects of production and prepress.
- Develop annual production schedule.
- Monitor and assist with visual aspects of website and social media.
- Collect art for all areas of the magazine.
- Organize and direct photo shoots, from cover to detail shots.
- Champion the visual brand of Colorado Parent magazine across all aspects of the business.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Five years graphic design experience. Magazine or other publication/marketing emphasis preferred.
- Critical thinker with a knowledge of visual storytelling and designing for enhanced reader understanding and experience.
- Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud for Mac, including InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. Applicants without experience in these programs will not be considered.
- Experience in HTML5 and solid knowledge of CSS and inline CSS is preferred.
- Intermediate photo editing skills, including but not limited to basic color correction, subject retouching, image cropping and expanding, and image background cleanup.
- Sophisticated use of typography.
- Knowledge of current magazine and media trends, and understanding of visual branding.
- Ability to work within tight deadlines, multitask, and take constructive criticism.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Benefits:
- Health insurance (FSA, FSA dependent care, HSA options, Teledoc)
- Dental insurance
- Vision coverage
- Paid parental leave
- Public transportation or parking subsidies
- 401K
- Fitness club membership option
- Paid time off
Salary: $50,000
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
5280 Magazine is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants of diverse abilities, backgrounds and life experiences to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
We offer a laid-back and humane work environment, a creative downtown workplace (that is, when COVID-19 subsides), and the chance to do great work with an excellent team. Salary and benefits are competitive. 5280 Publishing is an equal-opportunity employer. Position is full-time and currently a mix of remote and in-person.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and 4-5 design samples (a link to online portfolio or online work samples is acceptable) to coloradoparentjobs@5280.com and include “Art Director Application” in subject line. No phone calls please.
Editorial Internship Program
5280 offers editorial internship positions in the summer, fall, and spring. Internships are hands-on and involve a variety of responsibilities as well as the opportunity to regularly interact with the editorial staff.
Primary duties include fact-checking stories, contributing research to larger stories and feature packages, and writing shorter stories for the front-of-the-book sections. Interns also enter descriptions for the calendar listings, and write for 5280.com.
We also offer a dining-specific internship for those interested in food writing. The intern will work closely with our food editors to fact-check and write for the dining section of the magazine, enter descriptions for dining guide listings, and write for 5280.com. Those interested should specify dining internship in the subject line of their application email, and tailor their cover letter accordingly.
As part of the program, interns will take part in training sessions and mentorship. Training sessions are run by editors and provide an overview of how the magazine works, from pitching to editing to art/design. The mentorship program pairs each intern with two editors, offering interns a chance to gain firsthand knowledge about a career in journalism.
Requirements: Although a magazine, journalism, or English degree (or working toward a degree) is preferred, it’s not required. Published clips are required (college newspaper is OK). A commitment of three to four days a week is preferred. The internship is paid. Remote work is OK.
To apply: Please email a cover letter, resumé, and three to five published clips to editinternships@5280.com. Applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are encouraged to apply.
Deadlines for applications: Summer (March 1); Fall (July 1); Spring (November 15).
Creative Services Internship
5280 offers a six month design internship within the company’s in-house creative team. Internships are hands-on and involve a variety of responsibilities as well as the opportunity to work regularly with the advertising, marketing, and events departments. This person will assist with ad campaigns, event collateral, marketing initiatives, and much more. In addition to design responsibilities, this person will help with overflow admin work and provide production assistance as needed.
As part of the program, interns will take part in training sessions conducted by various members of the advertising, marketing, and editorial teams to gain a first-hand grasp on the world of publishing. Interns are also given the opportunity to collaborate with members of design and marketing to refine their portfolio and set them up for success in their future job search.
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled or recently graduated with a degree in graphic design
- Thorough, detail-oriented, and comfortable handling multiple tasks at once
- Possesses keen design instincts and the ability to make quick decisions about type, image, and layout
- Great communication skills and the ability to take direction/criticism and apply to a design
- Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign
- Basic knowledge of WordPress
- Available to work 20 hours per week minimum (28 hours maximum)
Internship Benefits Include:
- Option to participate in 5280 magazine events.
- Inclusion in the magazine’s printed masthead.
- Opportunity to add work to your portfolio.
Details: A commitment of 90 days is preferred. The internship is paid. This position will be required to be in our downtown office at least two days a week. Remote option available for remaining hours.
To apply: In order to be considered for this position you must email a cover letter, resumé, and 3 design samples in a single PDF file to designjob@5280.com. Applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are encouraged to apply.
Deadlines for applications: We are looking for an intern to start immediately. Please send your application as soon as possible, but no later than May 18, 2022.