Editorial Operations Manager

Middle East Broadcasting Networks•Arlington, VA, VA

About The Position

MBN’s newsroom connective tissue is the Editorial Operations Manager. This is not a traditional leadership role — it is the person who makes sure things actually move - assignments are advancing, workflows functioning, deadlines met, budgets tracked, and nothing lost between editorial vision and daily execution. Others may define the strategy; this person makes sure it runs. In a fast-moving bilingual newsroom across platforms and time zones, that role is critical. The ideal candidate combines editorial instinct, operational discipline, bilingual fluency, tech awareness, and a proactive mindset — someone who fixes problems before anyone notices them.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media, Journalism, Communications, Information Systems, Business Operations, Product Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
8+ years of experience in digital operations, newsroom technology, product operations, media management, or digital publishing leadership roles.
Demonstrated experience managing CMS platforms, digital publishing systems, and editorial workflow operations in a fast-paced media environment.
Strong understanding of digital newsroom operations, multi-platform publishing, audience distribution, and content production workflows.
Proven ability to manage complex cross-functional projects involving multiple teams.
Experience overseeing vendor relationships, developers, technical contractors, and third-party technology integrations.
Familiarity with AI tools, automation technologies, and responsible AI implementation within editorial or operational environments.
Strong knowledge of metadata standards, analytics platforms, digital publishing best practices, and strategies that have our journalism resonate with our audience.
Working knowledge of web technologies, APIs, CMS integrations, analytics systems, and digital product operations.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with experience guiding teams through operational and technological change.

Responsibilities

Tracks editorial and operational commitments across assignments, vendors, contributors, workflows, platform integrations, and project milestones to ensure deadlines are met and nothing falls through gaps.
Maintains real-time visibility on active projects, approvals, workflow status, budgets, and pending decisions, while proactively flagging delays, risks, and bottlenecks to leadership.
Coordinates across editorial, production, technology, finance, and distribution teams to ensure smooth execution and publishing across platforms and time zones.
Oversees daily operational follow-up on action items, approvals, contracts, deliverables, and editorial logistics in a fast-paced bilingual newsroom environment.
Supports workflow optimization, digital publishing operations, AI-assisted newsroom tools, platform integrations, and process documentation to improve efficiency and consistency across teams.
Maintains working knowledge of CMS platforms, newsletter systems, social publishing tools, project management systems, and basic video workflows to troubleshoot and support newsroom operations.
Provides first-pass editorial and operational quality control in both Arabic and English across written, video, newsletter, and social content, understanding that bilingual journalism requires editorial judgment and adaptation — not simple translation.
Assists in budget tracking, purchase requests, vendor coordination, and operational reconciliation processes while proactively identifying financial or operational risks.
Drafts and coordinates internal reports, operational updates, presentations, and project communications in both Arabic and English as needed.
Serves as a hands-on operational bridge between editorial vision and daily execution, combining editorial instincts, operational discipline, bilingual fluency, technological curiosity, and proactive problem-solving.
Perform additional job-related duties and take on new responsibilities as needed based on organizational requirements and circumstances.