Assistant Editor, BBC Yoruba

The Assistant Editor, BBC Yoruba, leads the day-to-day editorial output of the service, supporting the Nigeria Languages Editor in implementing strategy across all BBC-owned and operated platforms.

Job Requisition ID: 48302

Job Closing Date: 15 July 2026

Lagos, NGA, 101233

Job Details

JOB BAND: E

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time

DEPARTMENT: BBC News, Yoruba

LOCATION: Lagos, Nigeria

Any offer of employment with the BBC is conditional upon the candidate having the legal right to work in Nigeria and having successfully completed the mandatory National Youth Service programme (NYSC) or holding a valid certificate of exemption.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Assistant Editor, BBC Yoruba, leads the day-to-day editorial output of the service, supporting the Nigeria Languages Editor in implementing strategy across all BBC-owned and operated platforms. Working within the wider Nigeria Languages structure, the role reports to the News Editor, who sets the regional vision, while maintaining the editorial autonomy required to serve audiences with rigour, relevance and independence

This role requires strong editorial judgement and courage, with the ability to uphold BBC Editorial Guidelines and defend impartial decisions under pressure.

It is suited to an editor with strong journalistic instincts and clear digital ambition—someone who can sustain momentum, grow audience reach, and deliver against strategic goals

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

BBC World Service is establishing a new Nigeria Language Services Unit in Lagos, bringing together BBC Pidgin, BBC Yoruba and BBC Igbo under a single editorial leadership structure for the first time.

BBC Yoruba serves audiences across West Africa and a highly engaged global diaspora. It delivers independent, impartial journalism to a predominantly young audience navigating political uncertainty, widespread disinformation and ongoing challenges to democracy and good governance. The BBC’s editorial independence is central to the trust and value audiences place in the service.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Commission, shape and deliver high-impact original journalism, including exclusives, investigations, explainers as distinctive digital first content.

• Work closely with other Assistant Editors and the News Editor to identify shared editorial priorities, coordinate coverage of cross-service and cross-border stories and minimise duplication.

• Develop and implement a data-led video strategy, driving measurable digital growth with a clear focus on increasing reach among younger and female audiences.

• Use audience insight, analytics and platform trends to shape commissioning, distribution and editorial decision-making, ensuring content remains competitive and relevant.

• Apply performance data consistently to editorial planning, using analytics tools to track growth, evaluate success against targets and inform both short-term output and longer-term strategy.

• Embed a culture of performance awareness within the team, supporting journalists to understand what drives engagement and how to use data to improve their output.

• Identify gaps and opportunities in audience reach, proactively adjusting content mix, formats and editorial priorities to maximise impact.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Proven experience managing and developing journalism teams, with the ability to build a positive, high-performing culture and support individuals to deliver their best work.

• Strong track record of commissioning, shaping and delivering high-impact digital journalism, with a clear understanding of what drives audience engagement.

• Demonstrable success in developing and implementing data-led video strategies, delivering measurable audience growth and impact.

• Advanced understanding of audience analytics, search optimisation and platform performance, with the ability to translate data into effective editorial decisions.

• Strong editorial creativity, with the ability to adapt storytelling approaches and formats for different platforms, audiences and consumption behaviours.

• Experience of using innovative storytelling techniques, including data journalism and other approaches that enhance clarity, depth and audience understanding.

• Strong communication skills in English and Yoruba, both written and verbal, with the ability to represent the BBC effectively in senior internal forums.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

– Proven ability to shoot, script and edit video stories using tools such as Final Cut Pro (FCPx) and QEdit, with the ability to deliver polished, engaging, audience-focused content which is optimised for digital platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

– Excellent scriptwriting and storytelling skills for a variety of digital formats, including short, mid and long form video and audio (podcast) formats.

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

For any general queries, please contact: [email protected]

We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered. Please click on the APPLY NOW button to proceed with your application.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:
• Fair pay and flexible benefits specific to your location and contract type.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.