The Guardian Work For Us

Guardian Australia is part of Guardian News & Media (GNM), publisher of theguardian.com. As a leading global media organisation, we are renowned for our pioneering independent journalism and our award-winning digital products.

We are seeking a deputy production editor, evenings, to oversee our afternoon and evening output, in liaison with our production editor and newsdesk team. The successful applicant will act as a key point of contact on upcoming stories for production, prioritising and producing them as the news cycle demands. This role will also support the production editor to manage the workflow of the production team and assist in managing the news production department.

This is a full-time permanent role, working a seven-day roster with all late starts (between 12pm and 1pm).

In this role you will

• Work with the production editor and deputy production editor, mornings, to oversee the management of the news production department.
• Prioritise and direct the news production of stories in liaison with the national and deputy national newsdesk editors, and other newsdesk and department editors, as necessary.
• Manage the workload and workflow of stories being subbed by evening news producers.
• Liaise with fronts editors on the publication of stories, and edit the homepage as necessary.
• Liaise with other department editors, as agreed with the production editor, to ensure a good understanding of the timing and priority of upcoming stories.
• Write or direct late news producers to complete evening handovers to London or to the national newsdesk.
• Attend the daily afternoon news conference.
• Ensure that Guardian Australia style and quality are maintained in the work done by news producers.
• Stay up to date on changing style requirements and brief news production team as necessary, in liaison with the production editor.
• Work with the production editor to coordinate use of story tags, including for philanthropically funded projects.
• Liaise with the central production team on technical matters that cannot be handled by the production desk.
• Liaise with the deputy production editor, mornings, on rostering, as necessary.
• Coordinate and/or carry out training for new staff in consultation with the production editor, central production and other senior staff.
• Maintain, edit and disseminate training guides as directed by the production editor.
• Carry out general news production duties as required, including writing page furniture, SEO checks, assigning keywords, adding pictures and multimedia elements as needed.
• Ensure accuracy of what we publish, including that any legal queries are resolved before publication.

You'll bring

Knowledge and experience

• Advanced news production skills.
• Experience managing staff and casual staff is an advantage.
• Understanding of the editorial aims and values of the Guardian and excellent knowledge of Guardian Australia's output.
• Excellent awareness of the needs and interests of the Guardian's readers/audiences.

Skills and behaviours

• A passion for independent journalism and an understanding of our editorial code and values.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Excellent production skills with a meticulous eye for detail, grammar and spelling.
• Ability to handle writers' copy sensitively.
• Willingness to take responsibility for editing decisions, in collaboration with the news desk.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to edit copy quickly and accurately under pressure.
• Flair for writing headlines and other page furniture.
• Team player, enthusiastic with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to accept constructive criticism and take feedback.

About working at Guardian Australia…

• Hybrid working.
• Employee assistance program (EAP) to support employee wellbeing.
• Paid volunteer leave.
• Dedicated diversity and inclusion employee groups, action plans (including our Reconciliation Action Plan) and cultural competency training.
• Guardian digital subscription.

For more information please view the full job description here.

This role is being offered on a full-time permanent basis, working a seven-day roster with all late starts (between 12pm and 1pm).

To apply for this position, please apply online and upload your résumé (maximum three pages) plus covering letter as one document. In your covering letter please outline your motivation for applying for the role and why you think you are suitable.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 8 December 2024

If you have application questions or if you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process, please email [email protected]

We believe that our role in the Australian media is to give a voice to the most marginalised people in society and value and respect all differences in all people — including people of colour, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from different social classes, people with diverse gender and sexual identities, and people with disabilities (seen and unseen). We believe that these communities must be centred in the work we do, bringing a new perspective and a diversity of thought. We also encourage flexible working and aim to create a work environment where all employees feel respected.