Head of Service, BBC News Arabic

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: F
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time 
DEPARTMENT: BBC News 
LOCATION: London 

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £90,000 - £110,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Head of Journalism will provide editorial, operational and managerial leadership for BBC News Arabic, ensuring the highest standards of journalism across all platforms. The role oversees the strategic direction, commissioning, production, and delivery of impactful, audience focused content. The post holder will guide teams through complex editorial decisions, uphold BBC values, and drive innovation in digital and broadcast output. 

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Join BBC News Arabic at a pivotal moment and shape one of the world’s most influential international news services. As Head of Journalism, you’ll lead talented teams, drive editorial ambition, and steer multiplatform output that reaches millions. This is an opportunity to champion truth, impact global conversations, and innovate across digital and broadcast journalism. You’ll play a key strategic role within BBC News, reporting to the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Provide strong editorial and managerial leadership for BBC News Arabic, serving Arabic speaking audiences worldwide and contributing content across BBC News and the World Service. 


• Work closely with the Head of Regional Journalism on commissioning, planning and news deployments


• Lead strategies to deliver impactful, high quality journalism across all platforms, growing audiences and strengthening trust in line with BBC editorial standards. 


• Set a clear editorial vision, guide teams through change, and ensure content reflects the highest standards of accuracy, ambition and creativity. 


• Drive innovation by embedding new technologies, including AI, to enhance production workflows and audience experience. 


• Build a collaborative, high performing culture by championing teamwork, sharing expertise, and fostering productive relationships inside and outside the BBC. 


• Oversee day to day operations, including resource planning, cross BBC collaboration, efficient workflows, and continuous improvement of ways of working. 


• Develop people and teams through coaching, recruitment, performance management and inclusive leadership, ensuring robust rota, budget and staff support processes are in place.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Exceptional Arabic language skills, with the ability to communicate accurately, fluently and with cultural sensitivity. 


• Extensive experience leading journalists and production teams, with strong editorial judgement and proven capability in managing people, output and operational demands in a fast paced news environment. 


• Demonstrates impartial, balanced decision making and consistently makes sound editorial calls in line with BBC standards. 


• Proficient with broadcast and digital production technologies, staying up to date with new tools and innovations. 


• Encourages creativity, experimentation and new approaches, fostering an environment open to innovation and continuous improvement. 


• Strong strategic thinker who can articulate a clear vision, motivate teams, and translate long term goals into effective short  and medium term plans. 


• Committed to diversity, inclusion and exemplary workplace practices, with the ability to plan, prioritise and communicate effectively under pressure across all multimedia platforms.

If you can bring some of these skills and experiences, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.