Senior News Editor (English in Africa)
As part of our commitment to African audiences, this role will drive our ambitious strategy to grow English-language reach.
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: F
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC News
LOCATION: Nairobi, Kenya
Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to work in Kenya.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
As part of our commitment to African audiences, this role will drive our ambitious strategy to grow English-language reach.The role will be responsible for commissioning and delivering ambitious and agenda-setting journalism that engages and inspires the next generation on digital, social and linear platforms. It will hold full responsibility for critical editorial and business decisions, with greater autonomy, strategic influence, and accountability.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
You will be directly responsible and accountable for driving the editorial direction and operational strategy for Focus on Africa TV and podcast, as well as all BBC Africa social media platforms. You will also work closely with colleagues responsible for English language content on website, TV, radio and other platforms across BBC News, to ensure our editorial offer for audiences on the continent is aligned and optimised for impact and to grow audience reach.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:
- Line manage the Focus on Africa editor, as well as the BBC Africa social media teams, and be responsible for high quality editorial content on a variety of platforms.
- Handle editorial decisions in moderate and highly complex environments, including some geopolitical sensitivity or operational risk.
- With other senior staff managing editorial operations across Africa – you will set and deliver a clear editorial strategy for commissioning, gathering and reporting the news and current affairs
- Be highly skilled at managing numerous and diverse senior and executive level stakeholders, often operating under tight timescales and managing competing priorities
- Have expert knowledge of our audience’s needs, current market trends and challenges, and deep knowledge of editorial output processes across the whole of the BBC, as well as that of competitors.
- Experience of solving complex editorial and legal challenges, managing significant budgets and understanding key financial drivers.
- Have experience of managing staff across locations, having nurtured talent and be internally and/or externally recognized as a promoter of diversity and inclusion
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
- Substantial experience of journalism and production, as well as proven editorial judgement and substantial experience of managing editorial and operational staff and facilities in a daily news environment.
- Demonstrates balanced and impartial judgement. Makes the right editorial decisions with guidance.
- Demonstrates proficiency in the use of broadcast and digital technology and stays current with developments in this field.
- Ability to foster creativity and experimentation, shows openness to new ways of doing things, and demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC
- Ability to think strategically and describe the concept in a way which motivates others towards that goal – able to convert long term aims into short and medium-term goals.
DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:
- In addition to full proficiency in English, have a working knowledge of one or more of the relevant languages that the BBC operates in across Africa.
If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.
