Southeast Asia Editor

Dialogue Earth is looking for an experienced commissioning editor to join our London staff.

You will lead the development of our Southeast Asia editorial coverage – the major focus of this role – with oversight also of content from South Asia.

The ideal candidate will have significant journalism and editing experience, a keen interest in climate change and the environment, and expertise on Southeast Asia.

We are looking for a proactive, well-organised, and self-motivated individual with a strong track record in managing complex projects and remote teams within journalism, research, or campaigns.

You should have experience leading editorial projects, excellent writing, editing, and communication skills, an aptitude for digital technologies, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to motivate and lead a team.

About us

Founded in 2006 as China Dialogue Trust, Dialogue Earth is a fully independent charity headquartered in the United Kingdom, with partners in China, and regional team members in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Dialogue Earth offers independent and rigorously fact-checked reporting and analysis, alongside constructive dialogues on global environmental and climate issues, all in eight languages.

Dialogue Earth is a dynamic, exciting place to work. We are a Four-Day Work Week employer, and offer other benefits, including a cycle-to-work scheme, Climate Perks, and investment in an ethical pension scheme.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to work for Dialogue Earth as a key part of its London-based editorial team.

Main responsibilities

• Lead and deliver editorial series, prioritising Southeast Asia coverage while supporting South Asia;
• Copy edit content from regional contributors, many of whom are non-native English speakers and developing journalists;
• Manage our Southeast Asia and South Asia teams;
• Develop and fundraise for new editorial projects;
• Strategically initiate, develop, and implement original editorial projects for the Southeast Asia region;
• Oversee the planning, research, commissioning, writing, and editing of content;
• Liaise with regional editorial teams on editorial projects and themes of mutual interest;
• Collaborate with our senior editors and other regional teams to develop and deliver projects on cross-cutting editorial themes;
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and report on projects.

Essential skills

• An understanding of, and commitment to, the work of Dialogue Earth;
• An understanding of the geopolitical context of Southeast Asia and China’s role within the region;
• The capacity to manage and lead editorial projects, and to foster innovative approaches to knowledge sharing on global environmental problems and climate change;
• Strategic vision of the role of information and how to deliver for maximum impact;
• Flexibility and the ability to multitask;
• Verbal and cross-cultural communication skills;
• Interest in or knowledge of China and international affairs;
• Proven interest and literacy in environment and climate change, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia;
• Experience commissioning and editing editorial content;
• The ability to work independently.

Desirable skills

• Experience managing complex projects and remote teams, ideally in a journalistic or equivalent context;
• Familiarity with the geopolitical context of South Asia, including its transboundary water management;
• Demonstrated skills in investigative, long-form, or feature journalism;
• Experience conducting research on environmental or climate-related topics;
• Proficiency in multimedia and digital journalism tools and platforms;
• Southeast Asian language skills. 

How to apply

Please send the following to apply@dialogue.earth:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• Cover letter. Please note that cover letters will be assessed as part of the application. Applications without a cover letter, or with a cover letter entirely generated by AI tools, will be rejected;
• Two to three examples of recent, relevant work samples or clippings;
• Contact details for two to three professional referees;
• A brief written proposal (two to three paragraphs) outlining an editorial series idea suitable for our Southeast Asia content.

Please submit your application in English. The deadline is 9am BST on Wednesday, 21 May 2025. Interviews will be held on Friday, 30 May 2025.

For detailed information, see job pack here.