Salary range: UK – £78,800 to £83,600 US – $100,600 to $106,700

I. Position Summary

The Editor-in-Chief of Assembly leads on all aspects of Assembly, Malala Fund’s Webby Award-winning digital publication and newsletter. As Malala Fund works to build a global movement for girls’ education, the Editor-in-Chief of Assembly will play a pivotal role in delivering on this goal, creating a girl-centred strategy to help girls tell their stories, speak out on issues facing their communities and increase girls’ engagement across our advocacy and programmatic work around the world.

II. Responsibilities

Programme Development

• Over two years, lead development of Assembly’s programmatic expansion including conceptualising a grantmaking portfolio for Assembly and piloting an Assembly training and workshop series for young activists.
• Collaborate with country programmes staff to expand Assembly’s online and offline reach, finding creative ways to reach new audiences and increase Assembly’s impact in programme countries.
• Lead strategic development of Assembly’s growth, girl-focused editorial products and content campaigns to increase the inclusion of girls’ solutions and voices into Malala Fund’s influencing and advocacy work.
• Build and maintain relationships with Assembly’s external partners and cultivate new partnerships to drive its impact and reach.
• Hold regular focus groups with Assembly readers and contributors to obtain feedback and ensure Assembly develops in ways that meet their needs.
• Manage Assembly budget, including freelancers/consultants and vendors for content production.
• Work with Gender and Inclusion Manager to ensure Assembly and its partners uphold Malala Fund’s safeguarding policies and duty of care.
• Maintain quality control and all approvals for Assembly; regularly audit Assembly content to identify gaps in its coverage ensuring inclusive representation of girls’ voices and issues that matter to young people.

Leadership and Representation

• Working with the Communications and Creative Officer, provides leadership in developing and delivering Malala Fund’s girl-centred storytelling and content production through Assembly, in line with the organisation’s five-year strategy.
• Cultivates and manages high-level relationships with global and technical stakeholders able to contribute resources, expertise and/or political capital to Malala Fund’s Communications work.
• Plays a thought leadership role within and outside the organisation on evidence-based interventions that increase girls’ access to 12 years of free, safe, quality education.
• Develops and presents materials on Malala Fund activity to the CEO and Malala Fund’s Board as necessary.
• Represents the Communications and Creative team in strategic collaborations with other departments.

People Management

• Manage a small team of editorial staff, including interns and contractors.
• Actively contributes to making Malala Fund a diverse and equitable workplace through inclusive practices and openness to different perspectives, cultures and ideas.
• Actively builds and maintains systems that allow for the growth and development of all direct reports.
• Welcomes and inducts new team members into Malala Fund, and facilitate collaboration across and within your team.
• Co-creates clear objectives and development plans for direct reports, and engages in regular and constructive performance conversations.
• Shares key messages and relevant information with direct reports, and seeks out, addresses and/or escalates feedback as appropriate.
• Ensures all team members understand and comply with Malala Fund policies, procedures and resources.

Organisational Culture

• Upholds the values of Malala Fund.
• Actively contributes to making Malala Fund a diverse and equitable workplace through inclusive practice and openness to different perspectives, cultures and ideas.
• Maintains behaviour and conduct that uphold the highest standards for safeguarding, professionally and personally.
• Acts as a role model for a ‘learning organisation’ culture by seeking insight and using problems as opportunities to learn.

III. Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours

Essential

• Established knowledge in building editorial products that serve niche audiences.
• Excellent writer and editor with a strong attention to detail, with deep understanding of digital media.
• Strong editorial judgement, with demonstrated knowledge of inclusive editorial practices with a pulse on language changes.
• Proven track record developing strategic partnerships to expand brand knowledge and impact.
• Ability to learn quickly and understand nuances of an organisation, and critical values of its mission.
• High degree of expertise in writing, editing, proofreading and copyediting.
• Experience expanding youth platforms or programmes around the world.
• Previously work with students in a writing or storytelling capacity.
• Managerial experience leading an editorial team(s).
• Experience storytelling for an international audience.
• Detail-oriented, creative, hard-working and sensitive.
• Strong commitment to Malala Fund’s mission, purpose and values.
• Strong commitment to gender equality, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, decolonisation and social justice.
• Strong commitment to professional development and continued learning.
• Excellent team player with ability to work independently and in collaboration with colleagues at all levels across departments and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience working with a major brand with high visibility.
• Knowledge of social justice or international development organisations.
• Knowledge of safeguarding best practices.
• Networking skills — ability to develop, build on and manage an existing network of journalists, media companies and related contacts.
• Experience leading a digital publication or newsletter.

Malala Fund is committed to racial equity and social justice. We actively seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences and identities, to provide a wide range of perspectives, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund. We would particularly welcome applications from candidates who have lived in countries in which Malala Fund is operating.

IV. About Malala Fund

Registered as a public charity in the U.K. and U.S., Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. With more than 130 million girls out of school today, we're breaking down barriers that hold girls back.

Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organisations — the people who best understand girls in their communities — in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.

V. How to Apply

Please submit your CV/resume and cover letter through the application link by 26 March 2023.

Applicant must have right to work in the location they are applying and will be expected to work from that location.

Please be aware we are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the vacancy should a suitable candidate be identified before the closing date.

Please note that due to the very high number of applications we receive when positions are posted, we are only able to respond directly to candidates with whom we wish to move forward in the interview process.

Malala Fund is an inclusive organisation and welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people from different backgrounds, cultures, age, experience and identities, to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund.

Malala Fund is committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in our work. Our first priority is protecting everyone who comes in direct or indirect contact with our organisation. Malala Fund has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and exploitation by any of our staff, representatives or partners. We commit to ensuring that those who work with Malala Fund or on our behalf are able to work in an environment that is free from harm. To this end, Malala Fund reserves the right to conduct background checks on prospective and current employees.