Editor-in-Chief – Out of Office

About the Role
We are looking for an entrepreneurial, commercially minded, and well-connected Editor-in-Chief to lead the editorial direction and brand development of Out of Office across the GCC, focusing on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping the brand's regional identity, driving editorial excellence, and strengthening its presence within the luxury travel and lifestyle industry. As the key representative of Out of Office, the Editor-in-Chief will build relationships with leading luxury brands, hospitality groups, tourism boards, and influential industry figures. This is a senior, outward-facing role that combines editorial leadership, brand representation, commercial collaboration, and audience development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the editorial direction and regional content strategy for Out of Office across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, ensuring content reflects local audiences while maintaining global brand standards.
• Oversee the GCC editorial calendar, including cover concepts, features, interviews, shoots, and key editorial initiatives.
• Commission, edit, and contribute high-quality editorial content across print, digital, and social platforms.
• Identify emerging trends, destinations, influential personalities, and cultural developments that strengthen the brand's editorial authority across the region.
• Act as a key ambassador and public-facing representative of Out of Office, building the brand's profile through industry networking, events, media opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with luxury brands, hotels, tourism boards, airlines, PR agencies, cultural institutions, and key industry stakeholders.
• Represent Out of Office at relevant industry events, press trips, launches, conferences, and networking opportunities across the GCC.
• Identify opportunities for brand collaborations, media partnerships, speaking engagements, and editorial activations that enhance the brand's visibility and influence.
• Work closely with regional sales teams to develop creative commercial propositions, support client pitches, and identify new business opportunities.
• Oversee the editorial development and delivery of branded content, advertorials, sponsorships, and integrated campaigns, ensuring quality and alignment with client commitments.
• Develop commercially viable editorial opportunities, including special issues, branded series, exclusive interviews, and cross-platform partnerships.
• Collaborate with the Global Publisher to identify opportunities for multi-market campaigns and international commercial partnerships.
• Work with the Global Publisher and wider teams to develop original IP, editorial franchises, events, and experiential concepts with strong audience appeal and commercial potential.
• Identify regional content and event concepts that can be developed into scalable initiatives across other Out of Office markets.
• Provide strategic direction to the Head of Social & Digital, setting objectives for digital growth, audience engagement, content output, and platform performance.
• Oversee the GCC digital and social strategy, ensuring a consistent flow of high-quality editorial, video, trending, and commercial content across platforms.
• Monitor audience and platform performance, using insights to identify opportunities for growth, stronger engagement, and digital monetization.
• Work closely with the Managing Editor to ensure regional editorial and commercial content is delivered to agreed publishing schedules and deadlines.
• Coordinate with centralized Art Directors on covers, editorial shoots, print layouts, photography, video, and other creative assets.
• Maintain oversight of regional publishing priorities and commercial commitments, ensuring all required content, approvals, and production materials are delivered on schedule.

Requirements

• Significant experience in editorial leadership, ideally within luxury, travel, lifestyle, fashion, or consumer media.
• Strong understanding of the GCC luxury travel, hospitality, and lifestyle landscape, with established industry contacts across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
• Proven ability to lead editorial strategy, commission compelling content, and maintain high editorial standards across multiple platforms.
• Demonstrable experience building brand visibility, developing industry relationships, and representing a media brand externally.
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience developing branded content, partnerships, sponsorships, and revenue-generating editorial opportunities.
• Experience developing new editorial concepts, franchises, special projects, or events with audience and commercial potential.
• Strong understanding of digital publishing, social media, audience development, and content monetization.
• Excellent communication, networking, and presentation skills, with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders and commercial partners.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across editorial, creative, and commercial teams.
• Highly organized, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced international media environment.
• A genuine passion for luxury travel, hospitality, culture, and storytelling.