Editor in Charge, Lao Desk

Overview

Job Title: Editor in Charge, Lao Desk

Department: Editorial, Lao Desk

Reports To: Managing Editor, DC

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Washington, DC | Hybrid

Schedule: Full-Time

Who We Are

Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private, nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with editorial and operational bureaus in Taipei, Bangkok, and Seoul. A congressionally funded grantee of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), RFA operates with full editorial independence.

Our mission is to provide accurate, uncensored news and information to people living in countries where a free press does not exist. RFA produces journalism in multiple Asian languages and delivers news through web, radio, video, podcasts, social media, and other digital platforms.

Job Summary

The Editor in Charge provides the editorial leadership, strategic direction, and operational management of the Lao Desk. The position is responsible for ensuring the Desk delivers accurate, timely, and impactful journalism across all platforms while upholding RFA's editorial standards and mission.

Working closely with the Managing Editor, newsroom leadership, and other language Desks, the Editor in Charge establishes editorial priorities, oversees daily news operations, develops original reporting, and manages the Desk's editorial staff. The position is responsible for building a high-performing newsroom that delivers compelling journalism to Lao-speaking audiences while adapting to the changing media landscape and audience needs.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Editorial Leadership

• Lead the editorial vision, priorities, and long-term strategy of the Lao Desk.
• Ensure the Desk produces accurate, timely, and impactful journalism across web, radio, video, podcasts, and social media platforms.
• Approve major enterprise stories, investigations, special projects, and other sensitive editorial content before publication.
• Foster original reporting, exclusive journalism, investigative reporting, and innovative storytelling.
• Maintain the highest standards of editorial integrity, fairness, accuracy, verification, and ethical journalism.
• Build and maintain a strong network of sources in Lao -speaking communities in both Laos and overseas.

Operations Workflow

• Supervise Senior Editors, Multiplatform Journalists, producers, and other editorial staff assigned to the Desk.
• Establish newsroom priorities, workflow, publication schedules, and editorial deadlines.
• Promote continuous improvement in newsroom processes, editorial quality, and multiplatform journalism.

Coverage & Editorial Development

• Lead coverage of political, economic, social, legal, and human rights developments affecting the Lao-speaking communities.
• Encourage enterprise reporting, investigative journalism, explanatory reporting, interviews, and multimedia storytelling.
• Coordinate with other RFA language desks on stories of regional significance and opportunities for cross-language collaboration.
• Work with the investigative team — directing the desk's data journalists, investigative reporters, and OSINT journalists —to develop and publish in-depth, high-impact investigative journalism.

Staff Leadership & Professional Development

• Partner with HR on recruitment, retention, and workforce planning for the desk
• Provide ongoing editorial mentorship and feedback to Senior Editors, reporters, and producers; foster a culture of editorial excellence and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development.
• Promote journalist safety and responsible reporting practices for staff covering sensitive issues, and flag potential journalist safety concerns to the Safety Director and relevant Managing Editor, ensuring staff and source protection is built into editorial decisions from the assignment stage.

Audience Growth & Multiplatform Strategy

• Expand the Lao Desk's digital audience through innovative storytelling and audience engagement.
• Work closely with audience engagement expert and production teams to maximize the reach and impact of RFA journalism, encourage the effective use of multimedia storytelling, analytics, SEO, and emerging digital platforms.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Political Science, International Affairs, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible journalism experience in Cambodia- focused news coverage, including at least four years in a senior editorial leadership role.
• Experience managing journalists across multiple locations and time zones.
• Strong knowledge of Laos and its surrounding countries’' political and media environment, and issues affecting Lao-speaking communities.
• Proven record of leading original reporting, enterprise journalism, investigative reporting, and major editorial initiatives.
• Demonstrated record of producing high-quality journalism — including breaking news, investigations, and long-form reporting — to publication standards.
• Strong editorial judgment and experience making difficult calls on accuracy, sourcing, safety, and standards under deadline pressure.
• Fluency in multi-platform publishing: web, social media, video, shortwave, and audio formats.
• Demonstrated ability to build and develop an editorial team: hiring, mentoring, performance management, and professional development.
• Near-native fluency in Lao, with excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Professional working proficiency in English.
• Experience operating in politically sensitive or restrictive media environments and maintaining strong source networks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a language Desk or international newsroom.
• Experience working for an international broadcaster or public media organization.
• Experience overseeing investigative journalism, multimedia storytelling, podcasts, newsletters, and video journalism.
• Familiarity with audience development, analytics, SEO, content management systems, and digital publishing strategies.
• Experience working with diaspora communities, exiled journalists, or at-risk sources.
• Awards, recognitions, or notable editorial achievements demonstrating journalistic excellence.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Washington, DC. Some flexibility in work hours required to accommodate international time zones. The role follows a hybrid schedule, with 3 days in office and 2 days in remote.

Salary Range: $126,000-$155,800/Year. Final salary is commensurate with experiences and skills that are compatible with the requirements of the role.

This position is ineligible for sponsorship by the company for any work authorization, applicant must possess existing work authorization to be considered for the position.

To be considered for this position, please include a cover letter with your application.