Senior Editor, Output, Tibetan Desk (Washington D.C)

Radio Free Asia•Washington DC, WA

1d•$87,000 - $118,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Editor, Output is the Tibetan Desk’s final editorial gatekeeper and publishing manager during the Washington, DC shift. The role oversees fact-checking, copy editing, SEO headline optimization, multiplatform packaging across text and audio, and final publication execution. It manages the publishing queue and coordinates publication timing while ensuring accuracy, sourcing integrity, editorial standards, and appropriate formats across web, social, shortwave, and video. The position also works with producers on audiovisual output, monitors real-time audience analytics, and uses performance data to inform story sequencing, placement, headlines, titles, and thumbnails. The Senior Editor supports training and standards development and prepares handoff notes for the desk’s counterpart in Dharamshala. This is a full-time, exempt position based in Washington, DC, with a hybrid schedule of three days in-office and two days remote weekly. Some flexibility in work hours is required to accommodate international time zones. The role is not eligible for company-sponsored work authorization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or above in journalism, political science, economics, or a related field, or at least 7 years of professional journalism experience.
Significant experience in a news editing, assignment editing, or senior reporting role in a digital, broadcast, or multimedia newsroom, using the language of the served desk.
Experience serving as an editorial lead, guiding reporters and producers through production, making real-time editorial decisions, and maintaining output quality under deadline pressure.
Deep substantive knowledge of Tibet and its diaspora communities, including the political landscape, geopolitical dynamics, and key actors.
Ability to assess story framing, source credibility, and contextual accuracy.
Ability to manage a high-volume publishing workflow under deadline pressure.
Sound editorial judgment and ability to quickly identify accuracy problems, sourcing gaps, standards violations, and format errors.
Familiarity with CMS platforms and multiplatform publishing workflows.
Professional experience with real-time analytics platforms such as Chartbeat, Google Analytics, or YouTube Studio, and ability to translate audience data into immediate editorial decisions.
Experience publishing across web, social media, video, shortwave, and audio formats, with particular emphasis on digital video journalism.
Written and spoken Tibetan proficiency sufficient to write, edit, review, and approve Tibetan-language news stories, assess interview materials and quoted speech, and ensure consistency with newsroom and RFA editorial standards.
Strong written communication skills for editorial guidance, reporter briefings, and shift handoffs.
Ability to work with some flexibility in hours to accommodate international time zones.
Existing work authorization; the company does not sponsor work authorization for this position.
Include a cover letter with the application.

Nice To Haves

Established professional networks within the region or diaspora community.
Experience in a follow-the-sun or distributed newsroom with cross-time-zone coordination.
Familiarity with safety and security protocols for journalists working on sensitive stories or in restrictive environments.
Comfort and experience working with video production and editing, ideally including hands-on ability to edit and produce publication-ready Tibetan-language news videos from raw footage.

Responsibilities

Review and edit stories before publication to ensure accuracy, sourcing integrity, compliance with editorial standards, and proper formatting across web, social, shortwave, and video platforms.
Manage the desk’s publishing queue during the DC shift, sequence stories, coordinate publication timing, and maintain steady output.
Apply and uphold RFA’s editorial style guide, language standards, and visual guidelines.
Escalate standards concerns to the Standards Editor, safety concerns to the Safety Director, and legal concerns to General Counsel before publication.
Maintain CMS discipline by ensuring published content has accurate metadata, captions, tags, and cross-links.
Prepare end-of-shift handoff notes for the Dharamshala counterpart, including story status, outstanding edits, follow-up needs, and audience highlights.
Work with the Senior Producer and Producer to ensure broadcast and video content meets technical and editorial standards before airing or publication.
Flag recurring issues to the Editor in Charge and help desk journalists improve adherence to editorial and format standards.
Cover senior editorial responsibilities as directed by the Editor in Charge during absences or surge periods.
Monitor real-time audience analytics during the shift and use performance data to adjust story sequencing and placement across platforms.
Rewrite or test alternative headlines for underperforming stories during the publishing window to improve click-through and readership.
Optimize short-form video titles and thumbnails using live engagement data, including views, retention, and click-through rate.
Flag high-performing stories to the Editor in Charge for possible amplification through social media, newsletters, or cross-desk sharing.