Chief Digital Editor, Farda

RFE/RL’s Iranian service, Radio Farda is looking for an experienced Chief Digital Editor. This is a senior new role which will manage and oversee the teams producing Farda’s popular and successful social media content as well as its respected and highly rated website.

Like many newsrooms, Farda is going through a process of digital transition – exploring new and innovative ways to bring independent and trustworthy news to our loyal audiences inside Iran as well as preserving and developing the best of our existing audio output.

As a senior member of the management team, you will be expected to support the Managing Editor in every respect; leading editorial teams day-to-day, handling major breaking news, developing our digital strategy and launching new platforms and ways of working.  Editorial standards are of the highest priority, and you will be expected to ensure journalistic rigor in our storytelling across all platforms.

We are a team that places high value on collaboration.  You will often take the lead in communicating with colleagues within your own language service as well as stakeholders in other departments throughout the organization. 

You will be joining an innovative, mission-driven organization at a time of rapid change. This is an opportunity to explore the role RFE/RL’s journalism can play in society and experiment with different ways of engaging audiences and communities. You should be keenly interested in the best practices and latest developments in digital journalism – and be keen to pursue innovative forms of storytelling and audience development across platforms.

A commitment to our mission, journalistic impartiality and integrity is a must. Adherence to our professional standards and best practices is required.

This position reports to the Managing Editor.

In this capacity you will be responsible for following areas:

1. Editorial Standards & Workflow

• You manage content and copy flow in coordination with other editors.
• You conduct quality tests on content pre- and post-publish, fix errors in published content, and test new site changes and features.
• You make sure that editorial standards are met on all our storytelling across platforms and that all content is thoroughly fact-checked and edited before publication.
• You take a proactive role in editorial meetings, leading them where necessary, keeping up with the news and pitching your own compelling story ideas as appropriate.

2. Content Publishing & Production

• You prepare content to be published. 
• You share responsibility for posting clean and compelling content on social media platforms and to the website, especially with an eye to use on mobile devices.
• Where appropriate, you take on writing, editing, and production assignments of your own.

3. Team Leadership & People Management

• You manage and assign tasks to members of the digital team and put together schedules for content and shifts.
• You will support the growth, goal setting, professional development, and performance of staff.

4. Strategy, Collaboration & Organizational Alignment

• You will work with RFE/RL’s Digital Strategy team to actively share experiences of your team’s work with the entire organization and adapt accounts, processes and output to align with central guidelines and common standards.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, or related field or the equivalent in experience is preferred.

Work Experience

• 10+ years of experience in digital journalism in a news organization
• 5+ years of experience managing complex teams
• 3+years of experience as digital editor 
• Extensive experience in publishing projects across platforms
• Extensive experience in project management
• Experience in positions of increasing responsibility
• Strong reporting and editing background

Competencies: 

1. Editorial & Content Expertise

• Strong news judgment
• Ability to deliver fast, accurate, and compelling copy and visual production
• Broad knowledge of political, economic, and social situations and international affairs acquired through studies, research, writing, travel, or other relevant experience or exposure

2. Digital & Technical Skills

• Understanding of digital success metrics
• Familiarity with social media storytelling and search engine optimization
• Familiarity with HTML and video editing (a plus)

3. Team Management & Work Style

• Team-based work ethic and leadership
• Ability to set goals, review performance, provide feedback, mentor & develop staff.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize with little supervision under tight deadlines
• Adapts to and works effectively within a variety of situations and with various individuals or groups; demonstrates flexibility and openness to change and differing perspectives

4. Availability & Operational Flexibility

• Ability to work various shifts, as assigned and on short notice
• Expected to work weekends and work from home, as and when required

Languages:

• Farsi – native level, 
• English – written and spoken working knowledge.