PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
Join the BBC’s Digital News team as the Africa News Editor in Nairobi, where you will define how millions across the continent and beyond perceive one of the world’s most rapidly evolving new regions. Your role will involve leading and assigning high-impact journalism for the BBC News website in English, both in written and video formats. You will manage a team tasked with covering breaking news and developing major stories, overseeing live updates, video content, and in-depth reported features while maintaining the BBC’s signature standards of precision, authority, and originality across all digital platforms.
We invite you to consider becoming part of our dynamic organization and contributing to a team of professionals dedicated to excellence. Our commitment to innovation and growth creates an environment where collaboration and creativity thrive. Joining us offers the opportunity to work alongside industry leaders while advancing your skills in a supportive, forward-thinking atmosphere. We value individuals who are eager to tackle challenges, embrace new ideas, and deliver measurable results in a fast-paced setting. Our ideal candidate will possess the qualifications and drive to make a meaningful impact while aligning with our core values of integrity, accountability, and customer focus.
BBC News stands as one of the most expansive and widely accessed news platforms globally, offering tailored mobile and desktop editions designed for audiences in the UK and beyond. It commands the largest news app in the UK and ranks among the premier international news applications worldwide.
Africa serves as the backdrop for some of our most captivating narratives, and you will play a pivotal role in shaping how these stories are presented. In this newly created role, you will lead a team of skilled digital journalists across the continent, making critical editorial decisions on breaking news and guiding the strategic planning for Africa’s most significant stories. This exceptional opportunity allows you to spearhead a high-impact team, advocate for innovative journalism, and contribute to the evolution of the BBC’s digital strategy in response to shifting audience demands and emerging platforms.
As a key contributor to our organization, you will play a pivotal role in driving critical initiatives and delivering measurable outcomes. Your efforts will directly influence team performance, operational efficiency, and strategic growth objectives. This position demands a proactive approach, exceptional problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments to achieve shared goals. You will be responsible for executing high-impact projects, ensuring alignment with company priorities, and fostering innovation to maintain a competitive edge in the market. Your work will have a tangible impact on the organization’s success, shaping its future trajectory.
Drive the BBC’s English-language digital from Africa, managing real-time news coverage, exclusive journalism, in-depth backgrounders, insightful analysis, and compelling features for the News website.
Collaborating with senior editorial leadership, you will develop and implement a forward-looking editorial strategy for Africa across digital channels, continuously refining content to align with shifting audience preferences and innovative formats.
Collaborate effectively with our London-based Africa desk and teams throughout Africa to strategize and assign story coverage.
When significant news events occur, you will assume a leadership role, guiding the editorial direction, coordinating coverage strategies, and allocating team resources effectively.
Oversee a seasoned team spanning various sites, delivering precise guidance and meticulous editorial leadership.
Work closely with key BBC stakeholders across News, the World Service, and other relevant departments to align efforts and achieve our organizational objectives effectively.
Ensure all content consistently meets the highest editorial standards.
Seeking a highly motivated individual with a proven track record in [specific skills, e.g., project management, data analysis, etc.], demonstrated through [X years] of relevant experience in [industry/field]. A strong background in [specific tools, methodologies, or areas of expertise] is essential, along with the ability to [key responsibility, e.g., lead cross-functional teams, analyze complex datasets, etc.]. Familiarity with [industry standards, regulations, or software] is required, and prior experience in [relevant industry or role] is preferred. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are necessary to effectively collaborate with stakeholders and convey technical information clearly. Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess strong problem-solving abilities, adaptability to evolving priorities, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
With extensive senior-level and practical expertise in digital news journalism, the ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong grasp of managing breaking news situations on digital platforms.
Demonstrates a proven ability to exercise sound editorial judgment in intricate news and coverage contexts, coupled with the capacity to make prompt, decisive editorial decisions under pressure.
A strong grasp of African news and politics, coupled with a robust network and innovative thinking, enables the uncovering of untold stories.
Seasoned expertise in African markets is essential, with a strong capacity to implement BBC strategies through compelling digital journalism initiatives aimed at expanding both African and worldwide audiences.
Proficiency in comprehending and analyzing the global news landscape is essential.
A solid grasp of how diverse text and video formats enhance news coverage and storytelling is essential.
With a solid background and deep comprehension of leveraging search and social platforms, you will enhance and expand the reach of our journalism through strategic utilization of these channels.
Demonstrated capability to work independently while consistently meeting stringent deadlines, along with the aptitude to guide teams through transitional phases and advocate for innovative operational approaches.
Seasoned in leading culturally diverse teams spanning various geographic locations and adept at mentoring employees through emerging editorial challenges.
DESIRABLE:
Skilled in repurposing content to align with evolving platforms and innovative digital formats.
Understanding of commercial aspects within digital news settings is required.
Proficiency in one or more non-English African languages is required.
Proven proficiency in operating and leveraging digital content production systems is required. Candidates should demonstrate hands-on experience with platforms and tools designed for creating, editing, and managing digital content effectively.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
