Deputy Food and Wine Editor (Luxury Lifestyle / Food Journalism)

Bonita Springs, FL | Full-Time | On-Site About the Role Southwest Florida's leading luxury lifestyle publication, covering Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, and surrounding communities for more than five decades, is hiring a Deputy Food and Wine Editor. The locally owned magazine produces 12 monthly issues and multiple special editions, delivering high-level lifestyle journalism for a discerning readership with a strong emphasis on taste, context, and visual authority. Food is a central pillar of the publication and community. This role leads the magazine's food and wine coverage with authority, access, and a clear editorial point of view across print and digital. Beyond the food pages, the deputy editor serves as a trusted senior editor across the magazine, contributing to structure, editorial quality, and writer development. This is an on-site position; remote applicants will not be considered unless willing to relocate. What the Role Covers Shaping the food and wine vertical's editorial vision, ensuring stories are conceived for both print and digital and reflect the magazine's aspirational, design-conscious sensibility Building and maintaining relationships with chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and makers across the Southwest Florida food community Assigning, editing, and developing contributors, briefing freelancers, guiding stories from pitch through final review, and cultivating a strong bench of writers and photographers Producing original reported features, service stories, and insider pieces that meet the magazine's standards for authority and sophistication Helping assign and edit stories across sections beyond food Leading digital extensions of food coverage, including original web content, the biweekly Taste newsletter, and repeatable concepts for social and simple video formats Managing the 150+ restaurant Dining Guide with consistency, accuracy, and strong editorial oversight Taking a leading role on food annuals and special publications Collaborating with design, digital, and events teams to extend food content across platforms Qualifications 7+ years of food journalism or high-level lifestyle journalism with senior-level editing responsibility and significant food and wine experience Demonstrated ability to shape structure, sharpen angles, and elevate writers Experience leading or anchoring a beat with original reporting Strong organizational and time-management skills Experience developing and managing junior editors and freelancers Strong visual sense and experience working alongside art and photo teams Digital fluency and comfort thinking across formats and platforms A well-developed food network Willingness to attend evening and weekend events as needed Familiarity with the Southwest Florida market strongly preferred Benefits Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance with HSA, company-paid life insurance, EAP, PTO, paid holidays, and 401(k). To Apply Visit Mediabistro for full details and application instructions. #J-18808-Ljbffr