diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ca34fab..c08c86c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ Each managed directory must contain a `.wp-materialize.json` manifest. See `conf
 
 1. `wp` CLI must be installed and available in PATH for `apply`.
 2. `local` does not require `wp`.
+3. `pandoc` must be installed and available in PATH when using `renderer: "pandoc"`.
 
 Install dependencies:
 
diff --git a/configurations.md b/configurations.md
index efcb8bd..d8759b1 100644
--- a/configurations.md
+++ b/configurations.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Top-level fields:
 2. `repo_storage_dir` (string, required)
    Directory where git repositories are cloned or updated.
 3. `renderer` (string, optional)
-   Markdown renderer to use. Allowed values: `default`, `py-gfm`.
+   Markdown renderer to use. Allowed values: `default`, `py-gfm`, `pandoc`.
 4. `git_repositories` (array, optional)
    List of git repositories to manage. Default is an empty list.
 5. `directories` (array, optional)
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Top-level fields:
 3. `author` (object, optional)
    Inherited author for this directory and its children. Must resolve to a single author.
 4. `renderer` (string, optional)
-   Markdown renderer to use for this directory. Allowed values: `default`, `py-gfm`.
+   Markdown renderer to use for this directory. Allowed values: `default`, `py-gfm`, `pandoc`.
    If omitted, it inherits from the parent scope.
 5. `subdirectories` (object, optional)
    Explicit list of subdirectories to traverse.
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ The `renderer` field inherits implicitly: if omitted, the renderer is inherited
 from the parent scope; if specified, it overrides the parent without an explicit
 `inherit` flag.
 
+Renderer dependencies:
+1. `default` uses the Python `Markdown` library.
+2. `py-gfm` requires the `py_gfm` package (imported as `mdx_gfm`).
+3. `pandoc` requires the `pandoc` binary to be available on PATH.
+
 `files` entries:
 
 Each key is a Markdown file name (relative to the manifest directory).
@@ -95,7 +100,7 @@ Each value is an object with the following fields:
 4. `last_modified` (string, optional)
    Manual override for the post modified time in `YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm` format.
 5. `renderer` (string, optional)
-   Markdown renderer to use for this file. Allowed values: `default`, `py-gfm`.
+   Markdown renderer to use for this file. Allowed values: `default`, `py-gfm`, `pandoc`.
    If omitted, it inherits from the parent scope.
 6. `categories` (object, optional)
    Overrides categories for this file. Uses the same `content` and `inherit` fields
diff --git a/examples.md b/examples.md
index 163d384..c607b02 100644
--- a/examples.md
+++ b/examples.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Root directory manifest (`.wp-materialize.json`):
   "categories": { "content": ["Systems", "Infrastructure"], "inherit": true },
   "tags": { "content": ["automation", "wordpress"], "inherit": true },
   "author": { "content": ["editorial"], "inherit": true },
-  "renderer": "py-gfm",
+  "renderer": "pandoc",
   "subdirectories": { "content": ["design", "notes"], "inherit": true },
   "files": {
     "post.md": {
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Root directory manifest (`.wp-materialize.json`):
     },
     "essay.md": {
       "use_heading_as_title": { "level": 1, "strict": true },
-      "renderer": "default",
+      "renderer": "py-gfm",
       "created_on": "2025-01-10 09:30",
       "last_modified": "2025-02-14 16:45"
     }
diff --git a/src/config.py b/src/config.py
index 6471a4d..56ab02f 100644
--- a/src/config.py
+++ b/src/config.py
@@ -113,6 +113,6 @@ def _require_renderer(value: object, context: str) -> Optional[str]:
     if not isinstance(value, str) or not value.strip():
         raise ConfigurationError(f"{context} must be a non-empty string")
     renderer = value.strip()
-    if renderer not in {"default", "py-gfm"}:
-        raise ConfigurationError(f"{context} must be one of: default, py-gfm")
+    if renderer not in {"default", "py-gfm", "pandoc"}:
+        raise ConfigurationError(f"{context} must be one of: default, py-gfm, pandoc")
     return renderer
diff --git a/src/manifest.py b/src/manifest.py
index d2a65a7..0ab44a1 100644
--- a/src/manifest.py
+++ b/src/manifest.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ def _parse_renderer_field(value: object, issues: list[ValidationIssue], context:
         issues.append(ValidationIssue("Must be a non-empty string", context=context))
         return None
     renderer = value.strip()
-    if renderer not in {"default", "py-gfm"}:
-        issues.append(ValidationIssue("Must be one of: default, py-gfm", context=context))
+    if renderer not in {"default", "py-gfm", "pandoc"}:
+        issues.append(ValidationIssue("Must be one of: default, py-gfm, pandoc", context=context))
         return None
     return renderer
diff --git a/src/markdown_utils.py b/src/markdown_utils.py
index 240b954..e51533f 100644
--- a/src/markdown_utils.py
+++ b/src/markdown_utils.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import re
 
 import markdown as md_lib
+import subprocess
 
 from .errors import ValidationIssue
 
@@ -81,5 +82,22 @@ def convert_markdown(
         except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - depends on markdown internals
             issues.append(ValidationIssue(f"Markdown conversion failed: {exc}", context=context))
             return None
+    if renderer == "pandoc":
+        try:
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                ["pandoc", "--from=markdown", "--to=html5"],
+                input=markdown_text,
+                text=True,
+                capture_output=True,
+                check=True,
+            )
+            return result.stdout
+        except FileNotFoundError as exc:
+            issues.append(ValidationIssue(f"pandoc is not available: {exc}", context=context))
+            return None
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exc:
+            stderr = exc.stderr.strip() if exc.stderr else ""
+            issues.append(ValidationIssue(f"Pandoc conversion failed: {stderr}", context=context))
+            return None
     issues.append(ValidationIssue(f"Unknown renderer: {renderer}", context=context))
     return None