Senior News Editor, BBC Swahili at BBC World Service

The Editor will lead a team of language journalists in Kenya and Tanzania, overseeing content production and ensuring editorial compliance on digital, TV and radio platforms. The role will provide strong and clear editorial leadership and ensure the team produces more high impact original journalism and reaches younger and more female audiences.

Role Responsibility

• The role will provide editorial leadership to teams in different locations and ensure compliance across multiple platforms.
• Develop digital opportunities for TV and Radio as part of a long term strategic transformation of the service.
• Work with WS Leadership team in the delivery of the new operating model, and maximise best editorial practice and collaboration between different areas within International Services.
• Responsible for managing effective relationships with partners and external stakeholders ie. government, regulators, publishers syndicating BBC content
• To be a point of contact and represent BBC News Swahili where required at meetings, forums and editorial reviews
• Responsible for the recruitment, training and development of staff in BBC News Swahili

Are you the right candidate?

• A full command and up to date knowledge of written and spoken Swahili as first (or equivalent) language as well as complete comprehension of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate effectively.
• Candidate should also have an appreciation and understanding of different language dialects in order to provide clear editorial guidance
• Experience in a senior editor role with proven track record of successfully leading Swahili-speaking teams producing content for digital and linear platforms in agile and remote working environments
• Proven experience in breaking news stories as well as producing features, investigations and original journalism about East, Central and Horn of Africa, and global news and current affairs
• A strong commissioner of news content, with a strong editorial sense for originality and distinctiveness, and substantial knowledge of data analytics tools to drive decision making on story choice, publication time and recirculation
• Proven experience in leading complex teams and uniting them around clear goals
• Experience of developing a strategic approach to improving impact, reach and reaching under-served audiences
• Experience of nurturing talent and creating environments for them to develop and refine their skills including feedback strategies 
• Ability to work flexibly including early/late shifts, weekends and public holidays as well as the ability to travel internationally, sometimes on short notice