Head of General Assignment Unit

Company Description

We’re looking for an experienced Editorial Lead to manage our General Assignment Unit and lead a team of writers and editors. In this brand new role, you’ll be responsible for managing and coordinating our activities of writers and content editors across various brands within the organisation. You'll drive editorial strategy, ensure high-quality content, and align team efforts with company goals. 

This role is home and hub, and therefore you will be required to work from one of our hubs up to 3 days per week. Our hub locations are: Canary Wharf, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Cardiff, and Glasgow.

Job Description

As the Head of our General Assignment Unit, you’ll manage a team of writers and content editors, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence. You’ll develop and execute strategic plans to align with company goals, monitor performance, and provide data-driven insights to drive improvements. Overseeing editorial resource allocation across various brands, you’ll work closely with brand managers to ensure high-quality, timely content delivery that meets audience needs and business objectives. Staying ahead of industry trends, you’ll drive innovation in content strategy, ensuring all content adheres to IPSO standards and is legally sound.

You’ll set clear performance targets for your team, offering ongoing coaching, feedback, and mentorship to support individual growth and foster a high-performance culture. By partnering with HR, you’ll help attract and retain top talent while using employee feedback to continuously enhance team engagement. You’ll also be adaptable, willing to assist other teams when needed, and ready to work flexible hours as required. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead change, promote a culture of trust, and ensure the ongoing success of both your team and the company’s content strategy.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or a related field, along with extensive experience in editorial management within media or publishing. You should have a proven ability to lead editorial teams, with strong leadership and team-building skills.

You will be highly organised, able to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines while maintaining quality. Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data in decision-making are essential, as is the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, both in writing and verbally.

Proficiency in digital content management and SEO best practices is required, as is experience in large media organisations or across multiple brands. Familiarity with local news dynamics and audience engagement strategies is a bonus.

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and expect you to share this commitment in all aspects of your work.

Additional Information

What can we offer you?

We are offering a competitive salary, and benefits including:

• Help saving for your retirement - join our pension scheme and we’ll match contributions up to 6%
• 25 days’ holiday per year when you join. After three, five and ten years’ service with Reach, you’ll accrue one additional day of annual leave. We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Giving back day - an additional day’s leave each year to support a cause close to your heart
• Enhanced family leave - including maternity, paternity and adoption - and you’ll be eligible after just six months’ employment
• Private Healthcare Cash Plan - free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
• As one of the UK’s top 50 Inclusive Employers everyone’s invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your nearest and dearest
• Awesome career opportunities - you’ll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes
• We are also a member of the 30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity at board and senior management levels

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.