Cairo Bureau Chief

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 New York Times is looking for a talented, experienced and versatile journalist to join our International team as the next Cairo Bureau chief. The bureau chief will cover the region as well as broader issues that impact North Africa and Middle East, including geopolitics, economics, culture and climate change. 

This is a chance to join a committed team of reporters and editors who have a history of award-winning work, an eagerness to experiment with new story forms, and a passion for bringing Times journalism to a truly global audience across digital, print and visual media. We are also looking for someone who has a proven track record of unearthing major scoops on their beat.

As bureau chief, you will also oversee the management of the bureau. This includes directing the news-gathering activities of the bureau, including working with a reporter-researcher, and supervising the logistics of an international bureau. The role requires energy, passion and talent for what is a critical assignment for The New York Times.

The bureau chief will be an anchor for coverage and explore some of the most globally important issues including politics, culture, climate change, identity, gender, religion, business, and socio-economic shifts. We are looking for an entrepreneurial correspondent. In this role, you must be as comfortable covering immediate breaking news as you are writing thoughtfully and deeply about events and issues. 

Though the job is based in Cairo, the bureau chief will be expected to report and write the top stories from North African countries, including Morocco and Libya The bureau chief will also be a key part of the team reporting on the Middle East and the broader issues in the region.

The successful candidate will bring keen analytical skills to their coverage as they think about regional and topical storylines. Above all, you must be collaborative and eager to work with, and learn from, Times colleagues in bureaus around the world. 

Main responsibilities:

• Cover live and breaking news, enterprise and investigations in the region;

  
  

• Generate ideas on coverage including specific targets or broad themes;

  
  

• Write articles on deadline; receive feedback and edits;

  
  

• Create and assign stories, or play a role in shaping and editing them;

  
  

• Familiarity with audience tactics to reach new readers across platforms;

  
  

• Build a network of reporters and translators for sourcing and reporting;

  
  

• Hire and manage staff in the bureau; including proactively ensuring that the team are engaged, motivated; assess their performance and support their development;

  
  

• Collaborate with other reporters in the region during major news moments;

  
  

• Work with colleagues across Photo, Video, Audio and other departments to bring stories to life in a variety of formats across all of NYT products;

  
  

• Oversee the bureau logistics and operations including but not limited to: leases, reporting equipment, cars, budget reports and any monthly funding requests, legal responsibilities, scheduling / leave of absence requests and general maintenance.

  
  

• Demonstrate support and understanding of ourvalue of journalistic independenceand a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

  
  

Our ideal candidate:

• Proven strong international reporting and writing experience, preferably for a global news organization

  
  

• Ability to juggle breaking news, smart analysis and ambitious enterprise

  
  

• Leadership and management skills and willingness to grow

  
  

• Detailed and expert understanding of the region history and clarity about the intricacies of regional politics  

  
  

• Fluency in Arabic would be preferable

  
  

• Proactive problem solver

  
  

• Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment

  
  

• Ability to work on several assignments at once; produce insightful enterprise and news coverage; cultivate and manage sources/stringers; apply relevant experience to pursue ideas in consultation 

  
  

• Interest in directly engaging with readers to deepen their relationships with The Times

  
  

• Familiar with the local media with up to date knowledge of appropriate sources

  
  

• Collegial and collaborative behavior, integrity with assignments

  
  

• Familiarity and deep understanding of The New York Times’s  D.E.I report and initiatives both in terms of journalism and as a leader

  
  

• Commitment to The New York Times’s strategy, ethics, standards and mission for both themselves, their team, stringers and colleagues.
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In order to be considered for this role, please submit a PDF of your top 5-10 clips alongside your resume and cover letter.

The New York Times is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce, one that reflects the varied global community we serve. Our journalism and the products we build in the service of that journalism greatly benefit from a range of perspectives, which can only come from diversity of all types, across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. Achieving true diversity and inclusion is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing for our business. So we strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color and gender nonconforming candidates to apply.

The New York Times Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email reasonable.accommodations@nytimes.com.Emails sent for unrelated issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

The Company will further consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable "Fair Chance" laws.

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