Acting Frankfurt Correspondent

Job Description

The Financial Times is seeking an Acting Frankfurt Correspondent to cover a parental leave period. This role will focus on German industry, a critical area of the FT’s European corporate coverage. The correspondent will report on major European manufacturers, from Volkswagen to Siemens, and analyze broader trends in European industry, including chipmakers and conglomerates.Key responsibilities include breaking news on car companies like VW, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as providing analysis on the sector's challenges, such as the shift away from internal combustion engines, competition from China, and global trade tensions. The role involves frequent travel across Germany to engage with both large industrial firms and specialized Mittelstand companies.Based in Frankfurt, the correspondent will interact with corporate boardrooms and unions to explain how Europe’s largest economy is handling the trade war and geopolitical issues. While primarily writing for the companies desk, there are opportunities to contribute to the world desk, FT Weekend, and to produce business features and interviews.

• Generate scoops and exclusive interviews.
• Write breaking news and original features.
• Cover VW, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and auto supply chains.
• Report on other big industrial groups including Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, BASF, and Lufthansa.
• Report on interesting Mittelstand companies.
• Contribute to other parts of the FT, such as world.
• Cooperate effectively with colleagues in Frankfurt, Berlin and across Europe.

The ideal candidate should speak at least some German and have experience in breaking important scoops and writing agenda-setting analysis pieces. Collaboration with editors and fellow correspondents is essential.

• Reporter with some experience.
• Ability to break important scoops.
• Ability to write agenda-setting analysis pieces.
• Ability to collaborate with editors and fellow correspondents.
• Speaks at least some German.

The Financial Times offers generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. The role follows a hybrid working model, requiring three days per week onsite, with flexibility for specific working pattern requests where feasible.

• Generous annual leave.
• Medical cover.
• Inclusive parental leave packages.
• Subsidised gym memberships.
• Opportunities to give back to the community.