About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Managing Editor to join GAYA, a new global fine dining guide launching in Q4 2026. This is a senior editorial role for an accomplished writer and editor who combines fluency in digital and social publishing with a genuine and sophisticated understanding of food, restaurants, and global dining culture. The ideal candidate will be as comfortable discussing the nuances of a tasting menu, service style, or wine program as they are shaping a headline, authoring a feature, or determining how a story should be told across different platforms. The role is based in the company’s Media City office in Dubai.
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Key Responsibilities
- In conjunction with the Editor in Chief, responsible for the overall production, execution, and management of the GAYA guide across digital, social, print, and events.
- Write, edit, fact-check, proof, and publish content for digital and social daily, ensuring stories are on brand, on time, and contribute to editorial mission and goals.
- Drive GAYA’s annual portfolio of events through content and in-person support pre-, post-, and during the events.
- Analyze the performance of digital content and identify opportunities for growth.
- With the Editor in Chief, build and maintain an annual content calendar across digital, social, video, and print.
- Foster and maintain strong working relationships with chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and industry professionals in your territory and further afield.
- Act as a senior public representative and ambassador for GAYA and the company.
- Occasionally attend events outside of office hours.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
- Fluent in web analytics software, with the ability to interpret and act on data insights.
- Strong command of British English syntax, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling.
- Proficiency in writing and editing texts in a variety of styles, from search-optimised features to marketing materials to business correspondence.
- Proficiency in MS Office, Canva, and WordPress.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise accordingly.
- Ability to meet deadlines and multitask effectively.
- Strong understanding of food and wine in general, and the restaurant scene in the UAE in particular.
- Eight-to-ten years’ experience in digital/food media.
What We Look for in Candidates
- Creative: from developing content strategy to how they respond to challenges.
- Competitive: keeps a keen eye on the competition and wider industry for insights into trends.
- Energetic: driven to achieve, hard-working, and a natural optimist.
- Persuasive: internally and externally – ability to present ideas with credibility, reasoning, and emotion.
- Accountable: ready to take on responsibility for managing projects from concept to fruition, and can self-supervise in order to meet deadlines.
- Flexible: understands the fast-paced nature of the media landscape and is comfortable pivoting when priorities change.
- Understanding: of the Middle East’s dynamic cultural identity, and a passion for new experiences.
