Regional Editor, Pacific Islands

Location: Applicant to be based in the Pacific Islands (including Aotearoa New Zealand) or Australia. Application Deadline: 10 May, 2026 About OCCRP OCCRP is one of the largest investigative journalism organizations in the world, headquartered in Amsterdam and with staff across six continents . We are a mission-driven nonprofit newsroom that partners with other media outlets to publish stories that lead to real-world action. At the same time, our media development arm helps investigative outlets around the world succeed and serve the public. Our mission is to spread and strengthen investigative journalism around the world and expose crime and corruption so the public can hold power to account. Our work has four main pillars: Investigations - we lead collaborative cross-border projects and publish hard hitting stories; Infrastructure - we provide training, tools, and resources so investigative outlets can thrive; Innovation - we develop new technology and solutions that serve the field of journalism; and Impact - we accelerate the fight against global crime and corruption with groundbreaking partnerships. Role Overview OCCRP is seeking a Regional Editor to help us tackle challenging, high impact stories in the Pacific Islands region. As a key editorial leader, you will be responsible for shaping investigations that uncover systemic corruption and organized crime to foster transparency and accountability. Working alongside our existing Pacific Islands Editor, you will develop cross-border investigative projects in partnership with regional media, bridging the gap between local journalistic traditions and OCCRP’s global standards. We are seeking a dynamic leader with a keen instinct for Pacific Islands stories who can manage diverse teams and “follow the money” in a complex geopolitical landscape. Pacific Island nation citizens or people with backgrounds from the region are encouraged to apply. Core Responsibilities Network Building & Story Development: Proactively build and nurture a robust network of member centers, partners, and freelance journalists in the Pacific region. Provide guidance and support to member centers, fellows and partners to develop story ideas and reporting plans that meet OCCRP standards and lead to high-impact investigations. Provide dedicated mentorship and training to regional journalists and less experienced editors, supporting local newsrooms in their growth. Guide reporters to move beyond surface-level news to develop “follow the money” reporting plans that lead to high-impact investigations. Lead the charge in sourcing new data and original datasets relevant to the Pacific region. Build and manage reporting teams that span multiple jurisdictions, cultures, and language proficiencies. Collaborative Editorial Leadership: Work in close partnership with the existing Pacific Islands Editor to ensure a unified regional strategy and seamless project coordination. Work closely with investigative and core teams on all aspects of a story’s lifecycle, from initial pitch to final publication. Mentor and guide reporters to identify promising stories and ensure all work is rigorous, accurate, and editorially sound, ensuring they implement all reporting guidelines provided by the investigative team. Serve as the crucial "voice of the region," advising on reporting feasibility, cultural context, and security considerations. Drive the reporting process to ensure stories are completed efficiently, maintaining momentum without sacrificing quality. Oversee the timely addition of footnotes and ensure that all fact-checking meets OCCRP’s rigorous standards. Oversee the Right of Reply (ROR) process, ensuring they are sent and handled according to OCCRP's standards. Strategy and Production: Develop and execute a regional coverage strategy that aligns with OCCRP’s global mission. Collaborate with partners and member centers to maximize the impact of published stories. Work closely with the audience, social media, and core teams to ensure the most effective production and promotion of all content. Leadership and Integrity: Manage reporting teams with the highest level of professional judgment and discretion. Take responsibility for ensuring all reporting adheres to legal, ethical ,and journalistic best practices as well as OCCRP policies, upholding the safety and integrity of the team and its sources. Security and Risk Management: Identify risks to regional journalists and alert the security team on dangers related to specific stories or journalists. Provide regional context for safety issues and work closely with the security team to make sure proper protocols are in place for at risk journalists and for those working on risky stories. Measures of Success This role is accountable for driving regional impact and contributing to the overall health of the OCCRP network. Success will be evaluated annually based on the following quantitative and qualitative measures: Major investigations: Successfully lead and deliver a minimum of four in-depth, high impact investigations into crime and corruption per year that meet OCCRP’s standards for quality and significance. Consistent Output: Produce or oversee at least 10 exclusive news stories, scoops, features, or other original formats that contribute to OCCRP’s regional and global coverage of key topic areas. Global Contributions: Actively and effectively contribute to OCCRP's global projects as reporter, editor, or in other assigned capacities. New Partners : Onboard at least one new media organization or two new journalists to the OCCRP network annually. Editorial & Team Leadership (Qualitative): Story Quality: Stories originating from the region are consistently well-reported, factually irrefutable, ethically sound, and compellingly told. Network Health: The network of partners and freelancers in the region is active, engaged, and consistently pitching and producing strong story ideas. The editor is seen as a trusted and supportive leader. Team Growth: Reporters under editor’s mentorship show measurable growth in their investigative skills, reporting techniques, and editorial judgment. Strategic Execution: The editor’s regional coverage strategy shows a clear vision, is effectively implemented, and results in stories that align with OCCRP’s core mission. Security: The safety of reporters and partners is consistently prioritized through proactive risk assessment and appropriate safeguarding measures. Collaboration & Accountability (Qualitative): Cross-Team Collaboration: The editor is an effective and reliable partner to the central investigative, core, and audience teams, contributing positively to a culture of collaboration and shared ownership. Process Adherence: Editorial processes, from fact-checking to legal review, are managed efficiently and meticulously for all stories in your portfolio. The editor’s projects consistently meet deadlines, budget expectations, and OCCRP’s standards. Qualifications & Skills Experience: Minimum of 5 years in journalism, with a significant portion dedicated to investigative reporting and editing. Leadership: Proven experience leading and mentoring teams of reporters, including freelancers and partners from diverse backgrounds. Regional Expertise: Deep knowledge of the political, economic, and media landscape of the specified region, and strong contacts in the region are preferred. Professional fluency in English. Knowledge of other languages spoken in the region is preferred. Investigative Acumen: A demonstrated track record of producing or overseeing high-impact investigative stories that expose crime and corruption. Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to work effectively and respectfully in a remote, cross-cultural, and highly collaborative environment. Resilience: Ability to work under pressure, manage tight deadlines, and navigate complex and potentially high-risk reporting situations with sound judgment. To Apply: To apply, please upload: A detailed resume A cover letter explaining why you want to work with OCCRP and what you will bring to the role and the organization. Samples of, or links, to five or more investigative stories you have worked on. All applications must be submitted in English. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Whilst we have internal goals to reply to unsuccessful candidates, we regret that the high number of applicants greatly exceeds our capacity to respond to each person. We apologise that we will not be able to reply to any unsuccessful applicants. As an equal opportunity employer, OCCRP values having a diverse workforce and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace. We offer competitive compensation and benefits and encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate against any person based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, medical conditions, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics. If you are a qualified applicant requiring assistance or an accommodation to complete any step of the application process, please contact [email protected].