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.
Bureau Manager (Temporary)
The New York Times is looking for a bureau manager to join the Nairobi bureau on a 6-month fixed-term contract, who will be the point person for administrative matters in the bureau.
You will be responsible for overseeing office operations, maintaining the budget, and ensuring proper payment of bureau services. Our ideal candidate has excellent organizational and communication skills and enjoys solving difficult logistical problems in high-speed environments. This is a job for someone who thrives in a varied and challenging environment, and can stay thoughtful and organized under pressure.
This is an in-office position, based in Nairobi and includes regular attendance in the office four days each week. There may be some flexibility to work remotely per your departmental guidance. You will report to the Chief Africa Correspondent, who is based in Nairobi.
The interim bureau manager will have a broad range of responsibilities, including:
Overseeing daily office operations, ensuring efficient workflow and adherence to company policies and procedures.
Managing office budget, tracking expenses and ensuring cost-effectiveness.
Maintaining office equipment and supplies, coordinating repairs and replacements as needed.
Maintaining employee records and confidential information.
Filing expenses and paying freelancers.
Obtaining and managing newsroom equipment and tools, including office supplies, safety equipment and communication tools like internet, cell phones, SIM cards and satellite phones.
Arranging safe travel for correspondents, obtaining flights, drivers, lodging and local currency, often at the last minute, and to difficult to reach places.
Assisting correspondents in obtaining visas and travel permits, often at the last minute, often in challenging circumstances.
Requesting and obtaining access in difficult-to-reach locations.
Keeping the bureau operating safely and effectively.
Providing translation to correspondents and editors as needed.
Performing other journalistic duties as determined by supervisors.
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.
Our ideal candidate:
Fluent in English and Swahili, written and spoken.
Experience with accounting and maintaining budgets
Meticulous organizational skills; ability to prioritize with strong attention to detail.
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
A strong, demonstrable passion for journalism.
Shows initiative and independence; identifies and tackles tasks that need completion, without instruction.
A good collaborator and receptive to feedback.
Ability to deal with all levels of management, staff and sources in a highly professional manner.
Professional judgment with respect to confidentiality is a must.
An appreciation of The Times culture, writing style and commitment to journalistic standards and ethics.
Good general computer and tech skills are a must, including experience with Google Docs and spreadsheet, Excel, email and video chat programs.
Excellent troubleshooting skills.
Must be able to work on a scheduled basis, including Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Must be able to start from mid-February.
The Bureau Manager will work closely with the News Administration office in New York on all of the above matters.
Skills Required:
Meticulous organizational skills; ability to prioritize with strong attention to detail.
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
Numerate, comfortable and confident working with spreadsheets and budgets.
Ability to deal with all levels of management and staff in a highly professional manner.
Professional judgment with respect to detail and confidentiality is a must.
An appreciation of The Times culture and work ethics.
Preferred experience in the media industry.
Good general computer skills are a must, experience with MS Word, Excel, email. Beneficial to have experience with Workday, and payment systems.
REQ-019479
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, 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.
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