Director, Editorial Booking Arlington, VA

The big picture: Axios is a modern media company dedicated to providing trustworthy, award-winning news content in an audience-first format. We are hiring a Director of Editorial Booking to lead editorial booking for Axios Live’s most high-profile events.

Why it matters: Axios Live stages are where leaders come to make news. Reporting to the Managing Editor of Axios Live, the Director, Editorial Booking will serve as a senior editorial representative working alongside the Managing Editor to book top-tier news makers, move quickly in breaking news moments, and ensure every conversation meets Axios’ editorial standards.

Go deeper: Axios Live events are among the most sought-after platforms for news makers. We’re looking for a seasoned editorial leader to own booking strategy for events that represent Axios to today’s key influencers, and lead editorial booking across Smart Brevity programming around the world.

This role plays a critical leadership function across Axios Live programming and will:

• Lead, manage, and mentor the associate director, setting clear expectations, workflows, and performance standards across Axios Live programming.
• Collaborate with the managing director on editorial booking strategy for Axios Live’s portfolio of annual summits and franchise events, including flagship properties such as the Future of Health Summit.
• Serve as a key talent manager across Axios Live, building trusted relationships with both external news makers and Axios newsroom talent to strengthen bookings, cultivate on-stage talent, and ensure reporters and leaders are thoughtfully deployed across live programming.
• Work on editorial booking for Axios House and other Axios Live products at major global tentpoles, including Climate Week/UNGA, and other similar high-profile moments.
• Secure senior news makers — including CEOs, elected officials, administration leaders, and global decision-makers — while delegating and guiding bookings across the team.
• Serve as a liaison between Axios Live, the Axios newsroom, and Axios leadership to align booking priorities and programming strategy.
• Exercise strong editorial judgment in fast-moving news environments, including making real-time decisions to pivot talent, framing, or programming in response to breaking news.
• Ensure Axios Live programming meets Axios’ editorial standards, reflects diverse and compelling perspectives, and maintains editorial independence.
• Oversee editorial preparation for live events, including interview prep, run-of-show development, scripts, stage cues, and briefing materials.
• Guide collaboration on event language and marketing materials, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and Smart Brevity principles across platforms.
• Provide guidance to senior newsroom leadership during live events, ensuring the team is coordinated, materials are accessible, and programming remains responsive to news developments.
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with principals, chiefs of staff, communications teams, and senior influencers to support both immediate bookings and long-term Axios Live growth
• Travel regularly to Axios Live events across the U.S. and internationally, providing on-site editorial leadership and supporting programming execution at major summits, franchise events, and global tentpoles.
• Leverage AI and emerging tools to improve efficiency across research, booking, and production workflows, and to help scale best practices across the booking team.

We’re looking for a senior editorial leader who brings sound judgment, strong relationships, and a collaborative management style. Ideal candidates will have:

• 5+ years of editorial booking or media experience, with demonstrated experience leading or mentoring other bookers or producers.
• A proven…