Deputy / Assistant Opinion Editor, The Straits Times

SPH Media; Singapore; On-site; SGD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Straits Times, part of SPH Media, seeks an experienced Deputy/Assistant Opinion Editor to shape the national conversation, directing high-impact commentary and overseeing the Forum page’s daily operations. This pivotal role combines commissioning editorial content with rigorous standards and cross-platform publishing.

You will lead the Editorial desk in sourcing, editing, and curating opinion content, while managing relationships with contributors, agencies, and readers, upholding neutrality

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of journalism, policy analysis, or related work with a track record in commentary or leadership at a major news org.
• Broad knowledge of Singaporean affairs, Asian geopolitics, or global macroeconomics with ability to dissect complex policies.
• Excellent diplomacy and communication skills for engaging with high-profile contributors and agencies.
• Outstanding English writing and editing skills with clarity, tone, and factual accuracy.
• Strong digital literacy with CMS and analytics tools for content performance.

Responsibilities

• Commission, edit, and source high-quality op-eds and commentary from external contributors.
• Refine complex policy, geopolitical, and socio-economic arguments into clear, persuasive prose while staying neutral and accurate.
• Build and nurture a diverse network of thought leaders and subject-matter experts across Asia and beyond.
• Use analytics to guide editorial strategy and optimize content discovery across platforms.
• Package Opinion and Forum content for digital formats with optimized headlines and visuals.
• Review daily Forum letters, selecting timely, compelling arguments for publication.
• Verify claims, ensuring publications comply with Singapore’s legal standards.
• Coordinate with organisations and agencies to publish timely responses and right-of-reply content.

Skills

Analysis

Editing

CMS & Analytics

Stakeholder Management

Digital Literacy

Tools

Chartbeat

Google Analytics

CMS platforms

Job description

SPH Media’s mission is to be the trusted source of news and lifestyle content in Singapore and Asia. One of our core purposes is to produce credible, balanced, and objective news and analysis, always with a view to uphold the public good and fostering an informed, engaged citizenry.

We welcome talented individuals to join us and grow a career in a vibrant and collaborative environment built around a culture of respect and inclusivity. As an employer, we are committed to rewarding our people fairly and developing them in their careers.

The Straits Times, the English flagship daily published by SPH Media, is the most widely read newspaper in Singapore. We have been serving readers since 1845, and aim to provide them with comprehensive coverage of news not just in Singapore but also the region and world.

We are seeking an experienced, analytical, and sharp-minded Deputy / Assistant Opinion Editor to join The Straits Times Opinion desk. This role is pivotal in shaping the national conversation, offering insightful commentary on Singapore’s political, social, and economic affairs, as well as critical global developments.

The successful candidate will split duties between driving high-impact commentary for the Opinion section and overseeing the daily operations of the flagship Forum page — Singapore’s primary platform for public discourse, civic feedback, and institutional responses.

Key Responsibilities

• Commissioning & Editing: Source, commission, and edit high-quality op-eds and commentary from external contributors, including academics, policymakers, industry experts, and regional correspondents.
• Editorial Standards: Refine complex policy, geopolitical, and socio-economic arguments into clear, engaging, and persuasive prose while maintaining editorial neutrality and accuracy.
• Pipeline Management: Build and nurture a diverse network of thought leaders and subject-matter experts across Asia and globally.
• SEO & Analytics: Utilise digital publishing analytics to evaluate story performance, inform editorial strategy, and optimize content discovery.
• Multi-Platform Publishing: Package Opinion and Forum content effectively for digital platforms, optimising headlines, and visual assets for audience engagement.
• Letter Selection & Curating: Review high-volume daily letter submissions from the public, selecting original, compelling and timely arguments for print and digital publication.
• Fact-Checking & Legal Review: Verify claims made by letter writers, ensuring all published material strictly complies with Singapore’s legal standards.
• Stakeholder & Agency Liaison: Coordinate with organisations, public agencies, and corporate communications teams to publish timely, accurate right-of-reply responses to published Forum letters.

Qualifications & Experience

• Power of Analysis: At least 10 years of experience in journalism, policy analysis, or a related field, with a proven track record of writing high-quality commentary, long-form analysis, or leading coverage at a major news organisation.
• Helicopter View of Issues: Deep knowledge across a range of issues from Singaporean affairs, Asian geopolitics, or global macroeconomics. Breath of coverage will be a huge strength. You should be as comfortable dissecting a complex free-trade agreement or fiscal policy shift as you are exploring cultural and societal transformations.
• Strong Interpersonal & Stakeholder Management Skills: Excellent diplomacy and communication skills to engage with high-profile contributors, government agencies, and the general public.
• Strong Editing & Writing Skills: Outstanding command of the English language, with a sharp eye for structural logic, tone, clarity, and grammatical precision.
• Digital Literacy: Hands‑on experience with modern Content Management Systems (CMS), digital analytics platforms (e.g., Chartbeat, Google Analytics), and social media publishing tools.

Attributes

• News Judgment & Public Sensitivity: Strong sense of discernment and judgment to evaluate controversial topics constructively to avoid fanning sensationalism or polarisation.
• Editorial Rigour: The rare ability to switch seamlessly between polishing high-level intellectual commentary from experts (Opinion) and aggressively editing raw, emotional public submissions into concise, fact‑checked, and logical arguments (Forum).
• Key Opinion Shaper: A self-starter who works with the Opinion editor to conceptualise and pitch fresh viewpoints around a breaking news or key development under time pressure.