Africa News Editor, Digital News

AFRICA NEWS EDITOR, DIGITAL NEWS POSITION DETAILS Job Band: E Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time Department: BBC News Location: Nairobi, Kenya Employment eligibility: Any offer of employment with the BBC is conditional upon you having the right to work in Kenya. ABOUT THE ROLE As the Africa News Editor for BBC Digital News, you will lead our English-language coverage of one of the world's most important and vibrant news regions. Based in Nairobi, you will shape how millions of readers across Africa and globally understand the continent's most significant stories. This role combines hands-on editorial decision-making with strategic leadership, managing breaking news coverage, commissioning original journalism, overseeing live pages and reported features, and ensuring all content meets the BBC's standards for sharpness, authority and distinctiveness across all platforms. WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY MATTERS BBC News is among the world's largest and most trusted news destinations, serving both UK and international audiences across mobile and desktop platforms. The BBC News app is the largest news app in the UK and ranks among the world's leading international news applications. Africa remains a vital source of compelling stories, and this newly created position places you at the centre of how the BBC tells them. You will lead a talented team of digital journalists across Africa, making crucial editorial decisions on breaking stories and overseeing coverage planning for the continent's major news events. This is a unique chance to direct high-impact journalism, champion original reporting, and influence how the BBC evolves its digital strategy as platforms and audience preferences shift. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the BBC's English-language digital news coverage from Africa on the News website, managing breaking news, original journalism, analysis, backgrounders and feature content. Develop and oversee the long-term editorial strategy for Africa across digital platforms in partnership with other senior editorial staff, ensuring output adapts to changing audience needs and emerging content formats. Coordinate with the Africa desk in London and journalists working across the continent to identify, plan and commission significant stories. Direct editorial operations during major breaking news events, making real-time decisions about coverage focus, resource deployment and story planning. Manage and mentor a geographically dispersed team of experienced journalists, providing clear editorial guidance and ensuring consistent quality across all output. Partner with senior leadership across BBC News, World Service and other departments to advance organisational priorities and strategic objectives. Uphold the highest editorial standards in all content produced. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR You bring proven senior-level experience in digital news journalism with a demonstrated ability to respond quickly and effectively to breaking news on digital platforms. You have a strong track record of sound editorial judgment in complex and evolving news situations, with the composure to make decisive calls under pressure. Your knowledge of African news, politics and current affairs is comprehensive and current. You have established contacts and credibility in the region, enabling you to identify and develop untold stories that matter. You understand African audiences deeply and can translate BBC editorial strategy into journalism that resonates with readers across the continent and globally. You have a strong grasp of the international news landscape and understand how different text and video formats serve distinct storytelling purposes. You are skilled at leveraging search and social platforms to inform editorial priorities and amplify journalism. You work effectively both independently and as part of a team, managing deadlines confidently while remaining adaptable during periods of change. You have experience managing culturally diverse teams across multiple locations and are comfortable coaching staff through new editorial challenges. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience tailoring content for emerging platforms and innovative digital formats. Understanding of commercial dynamics within digital news operations. Proficiency in one or more African languages in addition to English. Familiarity with digital content management and production systems. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This job description outlines the primary responsibilities and essential attributes required for satisfactory performance. It is not exhaustive and may not cover all duties involved. Employment with the BBC is subject to satisfactory completion of screening checks, including reference verification, eligibility to work confirmation, and where applicable, safeguarding checks and media/social media screening. Before your start date, you will be required to disclose any unspent criminal convictions or outstanding police charges in accordance with BBC Recruitment policy. This information helps us identify any necessary support and assess potential risks. Failure to disclose may result in withdrawal of your offer. Applications must be submitted through the online application system only. CVs submitted separately will not be considered. For questions about this position, contact bbchr@bbc.co.uk