Journalist Wellbeing and Safety Editor

Fearless, independent reporting requires a steadfast commitment to the wellbeing and safety of those who deliver it. At the Guardian, safeguarding our journalists is fundamental to our editorial mission.

We’re looking for a journalist wellbeing and safety editor to develop and implement deliverable and effective strategies to protect Guardian journalists from physical and online harm and provide wellbeing support, for work-related matters.

Working closely with the managing editors’ team, you will act as the Guardian’s central lead on duty of care for journalists. You will design, embed and oversee practical strategies that protect our editorial staff, in an evolving and increasingly hostile climate.

This role primarily supports our UK editorial operations including our network of international correspondents, while collaborating closely with colleagues across Guardian US and Guardian Australia to maintain and elevate global best practices.

This is a permanent NUJ contract, on a 5-day-week working pattern.

About the role

• Work with managing editors to review and formalise newsroom-wide risk assessment protocols, ensuring rigorous health and safety standards are applied to all reporting assignments, particularly in high-risk environments.
• Build a picture of the wellbeing and psychological challenges faced by journalists as a result of their work, consider how we can best support staff, and make costed and practical recommendations, leading on delivery following adoption.
• Be a central point for reporting online abuse and physical safety concerns, managing and triaging cases, ensuring affected journalists receive timely support, and coordinating with security, information security and legal teams and managing editors as needed.
• Design and implement comprehensive training programmes for journalists and managers (eg, hostile environment training), working in conjunction with the editorial training and development editor.
• Develop and deliver training for journalists and managers on digital safety, such as securing social media accounts and preparing for potential responses to our published journalism.
• Work with our commercial partners and with social media companies and tech platforms to address specific incidents and push for action on abusive accounts or content as well as systemic improvements to platform safety.
• Gain a real-time understanding of the frequency and type of abuse our staff are facing (online and offline) to understand patterns of behaviour and implement relevant safety precautions and training in an informed way.

About you

• The ability to develop and deliver mental health and wellbeing frameworks and strategies for journalists, ideally within a newsroom environment
• Familiarity with digital threats such as doxing, hacking, and platform-specific privacy settings
• The ability to develop and deliver safety strategies and training for both journalists and managers
• Good knowledge of, or demonstrable interest in, online threats, digital security and relevant policies
• Strong knowledge of physical safety protocols, including risk assessments and health and safety regulations relevant to reporting
• Understanding of the UK and global political landscape and how this might impact staff safety or lead to targeted abuse
• Ideally, experience of dealing with social media platforms and lobbying them to take action when online abuse is posted and shared
• Ability to respond calmly and systematically to high-severity threats or coordinated attacks, with experience in crisis management a benefit
• Extensive experience of working in a fast-paced digital environment with a deep understanding of a newsroom and the environments where journalists work
• Experience of working collaboratively with the media  industry, platforms, government, academics and training providers
• Ideally, you’ll have a demonstrable ability to bring a diverse perspective to this role.

We actively encourage applications from groups traditionally underrepresented in the UK media.

We operate in a hybrid environment with both working from our offices in King's Cross in London at least three days a week, and from home.

The salary for this NUJ position starts from £76,728, with the final offer determined by the successful candidate's skills, experience, and responsibilities.

How to apply

To apply, please upload your latest CV and a cover letter which outlines why you’d love to take on this role, and why you’re a great match for what we’re looking for.

We appreciate the time taken to prepare each application we receive. We do not use AI-assisted technology to review applications; every application is reviewed by a member of our recruitment team. Thank you for bearing with us during the screening process.

The closing date for applications is Monday 16 November 2026.

All roles at the Guardian are open for everybody to apply. It is important to us that you feel supported and comfortable throughout your recruitment process, in order to perform your best. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to help your application, this includes providing documents in accessible formats or personalising the process to better support your needs. Please contact Sean on sean.brinkley@theguardian.com to discuss further so we can work with you to support you through your application.

Benefits at the Guardian

You'll have six weeks of annual leave per year (plus bank holidays) with the option to purchase additional days. Our pension scheme is generous; if you contribute 5% then we will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age). We believe in giving back, which is why employees are given 2 volunteering days annually and the option of payroll giving. Season ticket loans are also available.

You are entitled to life cover, income protection, and eye tests. You can also opt in to dental insurance.

We have enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave policies in place. We also support our employees by offering an IVF, menopause, baby loss, and trans equality policy.

Culture and wellbeing

We want everyone to feel like they belong at the Guardian and we champion diversity of thought. Our various employee forums provide a platform to use their voice to foster an inclusive workplace. We became the first major media organisation to achieve B Corp status.

We offer tools to help you prioritise your wellbeing including access to our employee benefits platform which provides tailored support for health and wellbeing. In addition, we also offer free yoga and pilates classes. These run alongside our corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.

Our staff restaurant has views overlooking the Regents Canal and caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Learning and development

We encourage personal and professional growth. Employees have access to a broad range of tools and solutions, and we are happy to support the pursuit of professional qualifications through vocational courses and apprenticeships.