Assistant Editor (Executive Producer) – BBC (Washington, DC)

BBC News in Washington, DC, is looking for an exceptionally talented and experienced journalist to be an Assistant Editor in 2024.  This employment is offered on an “at will” basis with an anticipated duration of 12 months.

They will executive produce several hours of weekday and weekend live and breaking news coverage at the highest level of editorial and production standards, and lead a team of Senior Journalists, Journalists and Presenters.

The Assistant Editor will help oversee a team looking to redefine and reimagine the relationship between digital and linear news, understand the power of visual storytelling both on air and online, and the importance of transparency in every aspect of our journalism as an integral part of news verification and authenticity. They must thrive under pressure and be able to deliver news as it happens without sacrificing the quality and journalistic integrity of the product.

The Assistant Editor will be creative, curious, efficient, a problem solver and a team leader.  They will create a competitive live news programme and provide comprehensive coverage of global events that define the editorial brand of the network by making full use of the breadth of the BBC newsroom and field resources around the world.

Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to live and work in the US (US citizenship, permanent residency or work authorisation)

• Develop and maintain high professional standards of journalism, ensuring delivery of high-quality news programmes.
• Responsible for executing overall vision, content, editorial planning process, and day to day operations of several hours of evening USA primetime and weekend live news programming including deciding stories, graphics and guests for live broadcasts, in constant coordination with the global news gathering team.
• Oversee research, scripting, guest booking, and planning of output of content meeting high journalistic standards and fully observing the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
• Continue the development of the output across social media and digital platforms, exploring the potential for expanding.
• Responsible for building team spirit and coaching within permanent or temporary teams; ensuring the best use of individual skills. Encouraging team members to think about potential improvements.
• Sets team and individual objectives, as well as clear expectations about required performance levels, rewards success, and addresses performance issues promptly and fairly, treats team members with respect.
• Increase diversity in our workforce and ensure that our output reflects the audiences we serve.
• Assist in the development, commissioning and management of relevant business plans and manage individual programme budgets, ensuring value for money in use of resources.
• Act as a facilitator of change, clearly communicating and distributing best practices between teams.
• Foster an environment of productive employee relations, responding to and anticipating challenges from staff and audiences.
• Responsible for ensuring safe working practices and the observance of BBC’s health and safety regulations, including completing hazard assessments.
• Collaborate with other newsroom managers, and all divisions of BBC News for special events planning as well as day-to-day coverage.
• Ability to work nighttime hours (up to midnight) everyday including weekends as scheduled

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Professional journalist with extensive editorial experience of broadcast news and the ability to develop and implement new and innovative approaches to programme structure and content.
• Proven editorial judgement, able to make sound decisions promptly.
• In-depth knowledge of global and U.S. domestic affairs, with a focus on politics and elections.
• A detailed understanding of current techniques and technology for newsgathering and production. An ability to use new technologies to create opportunities to enhance output and improve working practices.
• Ability to plan and execute high-profile news events such as elections, specials, and outside broadcasts.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of more than one team. Resolving conflicts as necessary.
• Can identify a concept along with the plans which need to be implemented to meet the end goal. Evaluates situations, decisions, issues etc. in the short, medium, and longer-term.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understands how individual differences can benefit the BBC.
• Able to prioritise and plan activities, considering all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing, programme budgets and resource requirements.
• Ability to write creatively in an engaging manner, adapt, produce and translate with accuracy, clarity and style appropriate to differing audiences and forms of media suitable for multimedia output.
• Maintains personal effectiveness in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with demanding situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation, and passion.
• The flexibility and adaptability to sustain performance, particularly under pressure to meet deadlines and changing priorities and circumstances.
• An understanding of health and safety procedures and how they apply to broadcasting.

Contract – At will contract, anticipated duration 12 months.

Location – Washington, USA.

Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to live and work in the US (US citizenship, permanent residency or work authorisation.