Digital Editor - BBC Verify

JOB BAND: E
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent
DEPARTMENT: BBC News
LOCATION: London Broadcasting House
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £65,000 to £75,000 plus London Weighting, depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage. (delete if not applicable)

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

BBC Verify was established two years ago and brings together the BBC’s best open-source investigators, fact-checkers, data specialists and visual journalists. We verify breaking news, debunk disinformation, and provide evidence-based reporting on the stories that matter most.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

We are looking for an experienced and razor-sharp Digital Editor to take a leading role in shaping and driving BBC Verify’s digital journalism - from fast-turnaround news articles to in-depth investigations.

This is a leadership role at the heart of BBC Verify, responsible for commissioning, editing and publishing the team's journalism on the BBC News website. You’ll help define what BBC Verify looks and sounds like to our audiences – shaping the tone, pace and clarity of our output.

You’ll lead coverage during fast-moving news events, work closely with reporters and analysts to elevate their journalism, and collaborate across the newsroom to ensure the strongest stories reach the widest audience.

From first draft to publication, you’ll guide investigations and articles with editorial precision and ambition.

We are looking for a confident, highly experienced digital editor who thrives under pressure, has a sharp eye for detail and understands how to turn complex reporting into accessible and compelling storytelling.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• This is an assistant editor role and you will lead BBC Verify’s digital output. That means commissioning, editing and publishing journalism - from fast-turnaround news pieces to in-depth investigations, explainers, and open-source analysis.

• You will shape the tone, focus and ambition of our output, working closely with reporters, analysts and visual journalists to ensure our stories are sharp, accessible and authoritative.

• You’ll play a key role in driving daily and longer-term coverage, spotting opportunities for original journalism, and pushing for high editorial standards. This includes developing and elevating the work of reporters who may not be natural writers - helping them turn strong reporting into compelling, well-structured pieces with editorial clarity and impact.

• The role includes some involvement in producing and overseeing the BBC Verify live page. However the majority of your time will be spent shaping and editing digital articles, overseeing investigations, planning content, and leading BBC Verify’s contribution to the BBC News website and app.

• You’ll collaborate with other editors across BBC Verify and the newsroom, helping ensure BBC Verify’s journalism is surfaced prominently and reaches wide audiences.

• You will also be involved in developing new formats - including newsletters, visual explainers and digital interactives - that bring transparency and forensic reporting to the heart of our storytelling.

• As part of the Verify leadership team, you will help guide editorial priorities, support forward planning, and have line management responsibilities.

This is a high-tempo, hands-on role where you’ll be expected to lead by example and bring ambition, clarity and creativity to every story.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Strong editorial judgment and excellent sub-editing skills - confidence handling first and second edits, tightening copy, sharpening headlines and ledes, and shaping full-length news stories, explainers and investigations
• Proven experience commissioning and editing journalism for a broad, digital audience at a major news organisation
• A strong track record leading digital coverage, with at least five years’ experience in a fast-paced digital newsroom
• A confident, constructive editing style - especially when working with journalists who are still developing their writing
• A solid understanding of open-source techniques, verification and disinformation, and how to apply them to digital storytelling
• A track record of using audience data and search insights to improve reach and engagement

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

Disclaimer

This is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

For any general queries, please contact: [email protected]

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.