Conflict Operations Editor

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for. 

The International Desk is seeking a Conflict Operations Editor. This is a dedicated newsroom role for a veteran journalist who has demonstrated sharp judgment and leadership working in security-sensitive assignments.  You will help guide our most ambitious and complicated newsgathering efforts, in close partnership with our security team.

You will work closely with the International Editor and the desk’s top leaders to navigate the challenges of reporting in conflict zones and other difficult environments and ensure that the safety and security of our staff is a top priority. You will direct correspondents in the field, serve as a partner to their editors and coordinate with our security advisers and newsroom leadership. You will assess risk and make tough calls while building systems to support our journalists around the world in an era of prolonged and changing war.

This is an in-office position preferably based in London, and includes regular attendance in the office four days each week. There may be some flexibility to work remotely per departmental guidance. You will also be expected to deploy internationally as news events dictate.

Responsibilities:

• Build and guide newsgathering operations: The primary goal of this position is to inform and ensure we’re making the right calls on assignments in security-sensitive locations.  With guidance and close partnership from our security experts, you will collaborate with senior editors to make the tough decisions on editorial necessity and safety to ensure the safety of our teams in the field. 
• Leadership Briefings: Provide daily situation and staffing updates for newsroom editors and leadership. Investigate and analyze security incidents and issues to find vulnerabilities and enact corrective measures as needed so we are continuously improving our systems.
• Establishing Conflict Bureaus: Deploy quickly to rapidly create or scale wartime bureaus. Work with security and the bureau chief to secure and vet critical local infrastructure and ensure our on-the-ground presence and operation supports safety and exceptional journalism.
• Business continuity: Lead disaster recovery, evacuation planning and crisis management in partnership with our business continuity team.
• Operational Security : Work in close partnership with the security operation to ensure teams have the specific gear and training required for their assignments, and that we’re following proper protocols to enable our journalists to stay safe while doing their jobs. 
• Freelancer & Evacuee Support: In collaboration with Legal and Global Operations, coordinate support for our freelancers in conflict zones, and for Times journalists who have had to relocate or evacuate due to conflicts. 
• Digital Security: Work with our information security team to ensure that journalists in sensitive environments have their data, devices and sources properly protected.
• Journalistic values: Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

This role reports to the International Editor, based in New York.

Basic Qualifications:

• Experience working with journalists in conflict zones
• Experience in a role requiring high-level operational skills and crisis management.
• Excellent news judgment and understanding of journalistic imperatives.
• Strong communication skills, able to brief and advise leadership with clarity 
• Strong collaboration skills, with experience working across a broad range of stakeholders and partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in journalism, including significant time as a correspondent or editor in security-sensitive places.
• Demonstrated experience managing local teams (fixers, drivers, interpreters) in volatile or hostile environments.
• Demonstrated organizational and process-management skills
• Willingness to travel internationally, including to security-sensitive locations on short notice.
• Experience developing safety protocols for complex newsgathering operations

REQ-020324

Additional Compensation and Benefits

For roles in the U.S., dependent on your role, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits may include medical, dental and vision benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s), a company-matching 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase plan, paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs.

For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process.

Candidate Use of GenAI Tools:

We’re excited to learn more about you and your experience. To keep our hiring process as fair and authentic as possible, we ask that you submit your own work and not use GenAI tools to generate substantive content during the application and interview process.

If you’re an engineering candidate, we’ll let you know what specific GenAI tools you are permitted to use for your technical assessment.

The New York Times Company is committed to being the world’s best source of independent, reliable and quality journalism. To do so, we embrace a diverse workforce that has a broad range of backgrounds and experiences across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

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