The Gecko Project is a nonprofit newsroom that exposes the corruption, crime and impunity driving threats to the environment and marginalised communities. We harness the power of investigative journalism and storytelling to catalyse change that will protect the environment and human rights.

To date, our reporting has focused principally on Indonesia but we cover issues of international concern and our stories are frequently transnational in nature. We operate on a partnership model, collaborating with major news organisations to maximise our reach and impact. We have worked with organisations including Al Jazeera, the BBC, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Tempo, the Korean Centre for Investigative Journalism, Süddeutsche Zeitung and El País. The Gecko Project is headquartered in London, with team members based across the UK and Indonesia.

Our team is growing, and we are looking for an experienced investigations editor to join us as we expand our investigations in Indonesia and globally.

The Role

The Gecko Project is seeking an experienced editor to oversee a series of our ambitious investigations on one of the world’s most exciting beats. The successful candidate will help manage a small team of reporters as they expose how officials and corporations exploit the environment for private gain.

Working under The Gecko Project’s editor, the investigations editor will play a central role at every stage of our editorial process: helping to decide which topics we pursue, assessing the strength and viability of investigations, guiding reporters as they find sources and delve into documents, deciding how best to tell stories, crafting copy, and helping to coordinate collaborations with partner publications.

The role requires someone with considerable experience as an editor and a strong track record of delivering impactful investigations. You may have gained that experience in print or broadcast. The role would suit someone who is able to turn their hand to a varied set of challenges. One day you may be helping a reporter digest a vast leak of data; the next overseeing another reporter as they visit an indigenous community on a remote tropical island.

You will not only be working with The Gecko Project’s reporters. Our partnership model means we routinely work with reporters and editors from other publications we are collaborating with. This means you may be editing their work, or editing our work with a view to publishing it in another publication. Depending on the other demands of the job, you may have the opportunity to pursue and produce your own investigations.

Our investigations can be complex, covering subjects that don’t routinely hit the top of the news agenda. For this reason, you will be adept at finding innovative and compelling ways to tell stories, whether in print, video or audio.

You don’t need a background in reporting on the environment, land rights, climate change or corruption. But you will be able to demonstrate an interest in covering these issues and a desire for your work to be a catalyst for positive change.

You’ll be excited about working collaboratively with a small international team – and our partners – and will be happy to work remotely and travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Assess proposed investigations/story pitches, considering potential challenges, resource implications and impact.
• Work with reporters to produce investigation plans.
• Guide and mentor reporters as they carry out investigations.
• Review documents, interview transcripts and other data to assist reporters in decision-making.
• Commission and manage freelance reporters and other consultants.
• Work with reporters to identify the best medium and format to tell the story.
• Edit short articles, news features, analysis and explainers.
• If in line with experience, produce video and/or audio.
• If resources allow, pitch and carry out your own investigations.
• Travel internationally to attend meetings.
• Oversee fact checking.
• Pitch investigations to partner organisations and manage collaborations.

Essential Experience And Skills

• A minimum of three years’ experience overseeing investigations for a media organisation. That experience may be in print or broadcast.
• Exceptional writing skills in English.
• Ability to edit concise, accurate and appealing copy.
• A passion for journalism that holds power to account.
• A desire to help build the organisation.

Desirable Experience And Skills

• Experience in collaborative journalism projects and/or cross-border investigations.
• Experience working internationally (i.e. in a country other than your home country).
• Language skills, particularly Bahasa Indonesia.
• Experience with researching/reporting on climate policy and/or business.
• Experience in video production.

What We Can Offer You

• Work with a team of experts committed to high-quality reporting on issues of global importance.
• A commitment to helping grow your experiences and skill set, and to advance your career.
• We are open to discussing flexible working hours/arrangements.
• Fixed-term one-year contract, to be renewed subject to funding.
• Salary of up to £60,000 per annum, to be adjusted depending on location.

This is a remote position, although we aim to meet in person on a regular basis where possible. The position is likely to require international travel.

We will consider candidates based in timezones between UTC and UTC+8, with a preference for candidates based in the UK or Indonesia. The salary listed (£60,000) is for a candidate based in the UK. The salary offered may vary based on your location. The Gecko Project calculates salaries using cost of living indices for a given location and benchmarking of salaries for comparable roles in that location. We will provide more information if your application proceeds to interview.

As an equal opportunity employer, The Gecko Project values diversity and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace.

How To Apply

Please send a CV, cover letter, and links to (or copies of) two articles/films/podcasts you have worked on to hr@thegeckoproject.org with the subject line “Investigations Editor”.

In your cover letter, for each article/film/podcast: a) explain your role in the production of the article/film/podcast; b) highlight any editorial decisions you made regarding the format and/or structure of the story; c) describe any challenges you overcame. Please also indicate in your cover letter how soon you would be able to start if your application was successful.

Interviews will be conducted between 2nd and 12th April. We will be unable to respond to every application: if you do not hear from us by the second week of April, please assume that your application has not been successful.

Salary: Up to £60,000 per annum, depending on your location.
Location: Remote, between UTC and UTC+8 time zones.
Responsible to: Editor
Employment status: One-year fixed-term contract. Full-time/flexible.
Deadline for applications: 29th March 2024.
Start date: 1st May 2024/negotiable.