Rukhshana Media is looking for a Managing Editor to manage its operations, support the Editor-in-Chief and Board of Trustees in fundraising, and lead its editorial strategy in English. The role reports into the Editor-in-Chief with a dotted line to the Chair of Trustees. The ideal candidate will have an extensive and impressive background in leading editorial teams and newsrooms, as well as managing operations and a track record of people and compliance management. The candidate will be fluent in English, with a knowledge of Farsi and Pashto desirable but not essential. The role is based remotely within the UK. The role is based on three days per week, with the post holder having some flexibility in how these days are worked, bearing in mind the needs of the organisation.
About Rukhshana Media
Rukhshana Media, established in 2020, is an online news agency and UK charity focused on covering issues that affect women and girls in Afghanistan. Zahra Joya is the Editor-in-Chief of Rukhshana Media, leading a team of reporters within Afghanistan reporting on what life is like for women and girls living under Taliban rule. The platform publishes websites and social media in English, Farsi and Pashto and has a wide reach within Afghanistan and globally via its website and social media channels. It has recently started publishing a newsletter in English.
About the Role
We are looking for an inspirational Managing Editor to oversee all operations outside Afghanistan, support fundraising and lead Rukhshana Media’s English editorial strategy. The post holder will be an experienced and authoritative editorial leader, who can quickly understand the mission and vision of Rukhshana Media and translate that into a compelling editorial offer to grow audiences in English. They will ensure that the organisation is fully compliant with UK legislation and has the appropriate policies, working with the Chair of the Board and supporting the Board of Trustees. They will support the Editor-in-Chief and board in identifying fundraising opportunities, drawing up and writing pitches and collating supporting information including financial in coordination with the Finance Manager. The role will support the Editor-in-Chief, deputising as appropriate. The post holder will work collaboratively with the small team of staff and freelancers, ensuring an efficient use of resources through planning, good communication and attention to detail. They will ensure high standards and a supportive and inclusive culture.
Responsibilities
1. Leadership of the English editorial strategy
- Develop and implement an editorial strategy for English platforms, including social media, website and newsletter, which will grow audiences and increase impact
- Ensure that the full range of Rukhshana’s multilingual output is harnessed for English audiences
- Increase the number and quality of stories in English appropriate to the audience, across platforms
- Ensure high editorial standards of English content, introducing policies and processes aimed at supporting compelling and engaging multiplatform content appropriate to the platform
- Coach and support team members – including reporters in Afghanistan through senior leaders – to improve and develop in multiplatform content
- Ensure compliance of all content, for example rights clearance of images, safety considerations and risk
- Produce and write content for English platforms, or edit the content of others
- Use data to inform editorial decisions and future strategy
2. Operational leadership
- Ensure that the functions of HR, finance, risk and safety and governance are fit for purpose and compliant with legislation
- Maintain records to demonstrate compliance and ensure relevant policies are up to date or introduced
- Develop Rukhshana Media’s planning function and editorial rigour
- Develop journalistic skills of the team, including visual journalism
- Identify opportunities for publicity, marketing/fundraising campaigns, and events – contributing to the planning and organisation of them as appropriate
- Oversee workloads and editorial processes, introducing improvements as require
- Liaise with suppliers and external providers as needed
- Manage a project to improve/refresh the English website to create impact and build audience growth
- Oversee budgets, payments and expenditure
3. Organisational leadership
- Deputise for the Editor-in-Chief as appropriate
- Support the Chair of Trustees to ensure good governance, legal and other compliance
- Support the Board of Trustees through the preparation of appropriate reports and analysis
- Maintain relationships with funders and ensure the management of project deliverables
- Inspire the team in an inclusive and open style, seeking opportunities for growth and personal development
- Champion the interests of Rukshana Media in all aspects including potentially speaking on its behalf
- Identify skills gaps and training opportunities
- Ensure clear and transparent communication to staff and freelancers
4. Fundraising support
- Identify potential funding raising opportunities
- Deliver pitches to potential funders with support of finance and programme staff
- Coordinate financial data with the finance manager for potential pitches to donors
- Coordinate a system of tracking funding raising for the organisation and the Board
- Liaise and track with the Editor-in-Chief fundraising opportunities with a view to prioritise high value or potential donors
5. Skills and Requirements
- Excellent track record in editorial or newsroom leadership – ideally digital
- Strong journalistic background and a keen editorial eye across multiplatform content
- A thorough understanding of the legal requirements of a small UK charity and compliance in general
- A background dealing with risk, safety and reporting in a complex environment
- Fundraising experience in the not-for-profit sector and/or a willingness to learn
- Experience of managing teams, budgets, planning and operations
- Fluent English – both written and spoken
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong administrative skills
- Project management skills
- Desirable: an understanding of Dari or Pashto; a knowledge of the political realities of Afghanistan; experience of fundraising or bid writing
Terms and Benefits:
- A fixed-term contract ending June 27, 2027, working the equivalent of three days over a week
- One month probation period
- Salary: £46,000 FTE (pro-rata to three days per week) plus contributions to NEST workplace pension scheme
- 20 days annual leave plus UK public holidays (pro-rata)
- The position is remote within the UK. You must be able to legally work in the UK Travel to events may be required.
- please submit your resume via email address: jobs@rukhshana.com
PLEASE NOTE – THIS ROLE REQUIRES A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENTIALITY AND THE START DATE IS ASAP.
