Planning, Assignments & Photography Editor, Africa

Role Overview

This is a senior newsroom operations role that decides how, when and where journalists and photographers are deployed across Africa — matching people and resources to the stories that matter most, and doing it faster than the news itself moves. Working alongside newsroom leadership, the Global Director of Photography and the Editorial Safety Team, the post-holder keeps large, complex and sometimes dangerous coverage running on time, within budget and to the organisation's editorial and visual standards. The work sits at the meeting point of editorial judgement, logistics and talent development: each deployment decision shapes what audiences see and how credibly the organisation competes on the biggest stories of the day.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct field deployments of reporters, photographers and support staff for breaking news and major set-piece events, adjusting plans in real time as news priorities change.
• Agree coverage staffing levels with newsroom leaders so that resources match the editorial ambition and scale of each story, and anticipate needs ahead of developing stories by moving people and equipment early.
• Work closely with staff and freelance photographers, and with the Global Director of Photography, to protect and strengthen editorial and visual standards across the region.
• Provide feedback, mentorship and talent development across multiple bureaux, fostering a photographic culture that attracts and retains strong visual journalists.
• Lead cross-format planning for major news events and editorial initiatives so text, pictures and video teams execute cohesively rather than in parallel.
• Maintain accurate, accessible and client-ready coverage calendars using newsroom planning tools, and collaborate with commercial and product teams to improve planning systems and workflows.
• Ensure coverage is delivered within agreed budgets, managing deployment costs efficiently and troubleshooting staffing gaps during fast-moving news cycles.
• Work closely with the Editorial Safety Team on risk assessment and hostile-environment protocols, and communicate with clients in real time about coverage where required.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Strong editorial judgement and the confidence to make clear operational decisions quickly, often under pressure and with incomplete information.
• A proven track record in planning, production or senior coordination within a fast-paced newsroom, including experience directing field teams and coordinating deployment across multiple bureaux and countries.
• Excellent photography and photo-editing skills, combined with a deep understanding of visual workflows, newsroom technologies and current developments in photojournalism tools.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop and retain journalists, photographers and producers in a high-pressure environment.
• Outstanding communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills, with the credibility to represent the organisation externally through client engagement, industry forums, training programmes or partnerships.
• Familiarity with newsroom safety protocols and planning workflows, plus strong knowledge of Africa and proven experience working in hostile and challenging environments.
• Experience leading cross-format coverage across text, video and pictures, including multi-country deployments during major breaking news, elections, conflicts or disasters.
• An appetite for newsroom innovation — new technologies, digital workflows, AI-enabled tools or content provenance initiatives — and familiarity with how AI tools can be applied to planning, research and production.
• A demonstrated commitment to the Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias.
• Relevant professional training in journalism, photojournalism or a related discipline, supported by a body of work that shows range, speed and editorial judgement.