Senior Food Editor — Gulfshore Life Magazine

Gulfshore Life Magazine • Full-time • Bonita Springs, FL, US • 2w ago

Senior Food Editor – Gulfshore LifeLocation: Bonita Springs, FL | Full-time, on-siteWho We AreGulfshore Life is Southwest Florida’s leading luxury lifestyle publication, covering the people, places, and culture of Naples and beyond. We produce 12 monthly issues and multiple special editions annually, delivering deeply reported, high-level lifestyle journalism that connects with an affluent, discerning audience.We’re looking for a Senior Food Editor who doesn’t just report on food—they shape the conversation around it, defining what food journalism looks like in a dynamic, growing luxury market.This full-time position is based in Bonita Springs, Florida. Remote applicants will not be considered. Who You Are We need a high-level thinker and industry insider with strong editorial judgment, deep connections and the ability to shape high-level stories. You:

Have strong relationships in the food industry and know how to cultivate sources that lead to real insider access—not just surface-level reporting.
Understand food beyond restaurants—you track sourcing, technique, winemaking, industry economics and how these elements shape dining culture.
Think strategically about coverage—you don’t just write and edit; you package, frame, and develop stories that feel fresh, compelling and essential.
Can develop and lead contributors—you cultivate strong freelance talent and ensure distinctive, high-quality writing without excessive rewrites.
Have a taste and eye for fine dining—and can range beyond it. You break down the nuances of a vertical wine tasting, dive deep into soulful foodways and cover mom-and-pop institutions with equal aplomb.

What Sets You Apart

You see the bigger picture. You’re not just covering restaurant openings—you’re tracking industry trends, sourcing shifts and dining culture evolutions before they make headlines.
You bring real access. Chefs, sommeliers and insiders trust you because you know the right questions to ask—and you use that access to tell deeper, more insightful stories.
You have range. You cover fine dining, soulful foodways and off-the-beaten-path finds with equal fluency—always delivering coverage that feels distinctly Gulfshore Life.
You drive the conversation. You don’t wait for pitches—you walk into a restaurant and come out with three strong angles that others wouldn’t have thought to pursue.

What You’ll Do

Lead and elevate our food coverage. You’ll bring a sharp editorial vision and deep industry knowledge to craft stories that set Gulfshore Life apart. Lead and elevate Gulfshore Life’s food coverage, shaping stories that reflect our brand’s high-level, authoritative voice. You’ll bring a strong editorial vision and deep industry knowledge, working closely with the Editor-in-Chief to refine and develop coverage that stands out in a competitive luxury market. We’ll provide the tools and context you need upfront so you can take full creative ownership quickly. As you demonstrate editorial fluency and strong industry instincts, you’ll drive the direction of Gulfshore Life’s food coverage with confidence.
Be the top food insider in the region. You’ll build and maintain strong relationships with chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers and artisan producers to uncover what’s next before anyone else.
Develop and manage a network of contributors. You’ll cultivate smart, well-connected freelancers and ensure the right voices are telling the right stories—while overseeing the section’s editorial calendar to maintain a smooth workflow from concept to publication.
Pitch, write and edit at a high level. You’ll oversee food features, profiles and deep-dive industry stories in all our lifestyle publications, ensuring they are insightful, compelling and structured for our audience.
Own digital food coverage. You’ll write the biweekly Taste newsletter, develop original web content and develop a digital strategy for food journalism across platforms.
Maintain the 150-plus restaurant Dining Guide and related materials.
Oversee food-related special editions like Celebrate and Salut, the Naples Winter Wine Festival magazine.
Shape and refine packaging. You understand that good writing isn’t enough—stories need to be framed, headlined and visually packaged to engage and resonate.
Collaborate across departments. You’ll work with design, digital and events teams to ensure our food coverage is multiplatform and has an impact beyond the page.
Represent Gulfshore Life in the food space. You’ll be at industry events, restaurant openings and strengthening our visibility in the local food world.

Requirements

7+ years of food journalism experience, with deep industry knowledge and a strong track record of original reporting.
Strong editorial vision and a strategic approach to storytelling, shaping coverage that feels fresh, high-level and essential in a competitive luxury market.
Strong organizational and time-management skills to handle monthly deadlines while overseeing multiple projects simultaneously.
Detail-oriented and can manage editorial calendars, production schedules and contributor assignments efficiently.
Strong digital fluency. You understand how food coverage translates across platforms—social, web, newsletters—and can adapt tone, format and structure to engage different audiences.
Strong personal food network and know how to identify key players, establish those relationships and build up a network quickly.
Comfortable with a high bar, willing to refine your approach to meet Gulfshore Life’s standards and eager to engage in thoughtful editorial discussions that push coverage to the next level.
Knows how to elevate contributors, not just rewrite them. You edit with authority and can coach writers to improve rather than fix their work yourself.
Balances creativity with execution. You bring big ideas but also know how to meet deadlines, juggle multiple pieces and consistently push coverage forward.

Why This Role?

You will be the defining voice in one of the country’s most dynamic, growing luxury markets.
You’ll shape ambitious, high-level food coverage—balancing longform journalism, sharp service writing and creative storytelling with artful photography and visual direction.
You’ll work with a top-tier creative team that values smart, authoritative, aspirational journalism.
You’ll be part of a well-established luxury brand with strong regional influence and 55 years in the market.
You'll get to reconnect to the parts of the magazine world that got you excited about it in the first place—emphasis on the art of storytelling; smart, insightful coverage; a strong editorial filter; collaborative creative work; and artfully produced features.

Benefits:Full-time new hires: Eligible to participate in all Company benefit plans, including:

Health, Dental, Vision Insurance, and HSA
- 1^st of the month after 30 days employment
- Subject to plan terms

Eligibility for company-paid benefits such as life insurance & EAP and employee-paid benefits such as short-term disability
PTO – Earned on Accrual Basis
Company-Paid Holidays
401(k)

How to ApplySend a PDF resume, cover letter and 3+ clips (or a portfolio link) to hiring@gulfshorelife.com with the subject line “GL Senior Food Editor.”This full-time position is based in Bonita Springs, Florida. Remote applicants will not be considered. *Please no phone calls or emails regarding this position.

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