WSJ seeks bureau chief for Middle East and North Africa

The Wall Street Journal is looking for an experienced and enterprising journalist to spearhead ambitious coverage of the Middle East — its economy, politics and people.

For the role of Bureau Chief for the Middle East and North Africa, we are looking for a skilled writer, reporter and editor who will lead from the front, covering major stories while also guiding and managing a team of talented reporters.

It is a job with a broad remit and one of the most demanding at the Journal, requiring an ability to dominate coverage of breaking news, while also delving into the trends animating this large and diverse region with deeply reported narratives and investigative work.

The new chief needs to drive world-beating coverage of everything from terrorism and conflict to the role of oil in geopolitics and the course that the region’s overwhelmingly young population is charting for the future.

Middle East stories are always in the headlines. Over the past 12 months, we have seen rapprochement between some Arab states and Israel, rising tensions with Iran, widening economic fallout from falling energy prices and other momentous shifts that will reverberate for years to come.

The chief’s challenge is to prioritize our biggest stories and mobilize a far-flung group of reporters to cover them, all while making sure we keep our people safe. It is a tall order.

The job is based in Dubai, the desert city that has become a world-class business hub. Among its endearing oddities is the chance for frequent sightings of both the white Arabian oryx and red Lamborghinis.

The current bureau chief will be wrapping up a six-year stint in the region this summer, and we’re looking for someone to ideally start in June.

The deadline to apply for this role is March 15. Please submit a resume, cover letter outlining your vision for the role and clips you have written or edited. You will report to Gordon Fairclough, the coverage chief, world.

To apply, go here.