Content Director, Good Housekeeping

Hearst Magazines; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing benefits

Pension & Life Cover

London office perks & discounts

Job summary

Hearst UK is seeking a seasoned Content Director to lead Good Housekeeping’s news and features. You will shape editorial strategy across print, digital, newsletters, audio/video, and live events, ensuring a cohesive vision and premium, engaging journalism.

Reporting to the Editor‑in‑Chief, you’ll oversee health coverage, long-form investigations, and expert-led features, built on audience insights and data-driven decision making. A strong track record in senior brand journalism is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading news & features journalism for a major consumer brand at a senior level.
• Strong news judgment and a proven eye for the stories that deserve deeper treatment.
• Proven ability to deliver distinctive, agenda-setting premium storytelling.
• Confident on camera and presenting / interviewing in front of a live audience is essential.
• Experience of managing an editorial budget is essential.
• Experience of writing or commissioning consumer health and wellbeing features (or a strong personal interest) is preferred.
• Demonstrable track record of building audiences through web, apps, social media and Apple News+.
• Proven experience of data-informed content output and ROI measures.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the news & features department.
• Set objectives, priorities and standards for the department and liaise with senior editorial teams across Hearst.
• Oversee daily news and premium output, commissioning and editing as required.
• Identify opportunities to deepen breaking news into features and evergreen content.
• Champion trusted, service-led editorial voice.
• Shape integrated cross-platform content strategy and workflow.

Skills

Leadership

News judgment

Premium storytelling

On-camera presenting

Budget management

Audience growth

Data-driven decisions

Job description

We are the UK's leading premium publisher, home to iconic and influential media brands including Esquire, Men's & Women's Health, ELLE, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, Digital Spy, Cosmopolitan, Red and more. At Hearst UK, we don't just create content – we shape culture.

Our workplace is driven by passion, shaped by authenticity and powered by creativity. We back bold ideas, act with an entrepreneurial mindset and continually evolve to meet the moment - while respecting the legacy that's brought us here. We believe in each other's potential and push boundaries together to create meaningful impact, both across the media landscape and in people's lives.

We're proud of our heritage - but even more excited about making history.

Hearst UK operates an in office policy with flexible Friday's. Our office is based at House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, St James's, London, SW1Y 4AJ, where teams collaborate in person and connect across brands and functions.

Salary-£55,000 - £65,000 -Salaryisdependentonexperienceandwillbeassessedinlinewiththecandidate'sskills,knowledge,andrelevantexpertise.

The Role…

Good Housekeeping is looking for an experienced, creative and strategic Content Director to lead the development of its award-winning news & features across print and digital. This is a brand leadership role with strategic 360-degree responsibility for content across all Good Housekeeping verticals and platforms, ensuring a clear, cohesive editorial vision wherever and however audiences engage with the brand.

Responsible for the overall news &features agenda, you will oversee Good Housekeeping's premium journalism: long-form journalism, investigations, interviews, real-life features and news. You'll ensure Good Housekeeping delivers trusted, relevant and engaging journalism that leads the conversation, builds talkability, hits daily traffic targets, encourages people to sign up and ultimately become members, and supports commercial growth.

Working closely with the Editor-in-Chief (to whom you report directly) and senior editorial team, you will shape an integrated content strategy that reflects the needs of Good Housekeeping's audience across web, newsletters, social, app, audio / video, live events, emerging platforms and print.

You will lead the news & features department (including health), with the News & Features Director/s, News & Features Editor and Writer.

Main Duties…

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the news & features department.
• Set objectives, priorities and standards for the department, delegating day-to-day operational ownership to the appropriate member of the team and liaising with the GH senior editorial team and teams across Hearst as appropriate (e.g. comms, marketing, video & events teams)

News & Short-form Content

• Provide strategic direction to the Features Director/s, who own and runs Good Housekeeping's daily news and reactive editorial output, ensuring the daily and premium operations complement one another and that premium content is digital first. The Executive/Associate Editor stays close to the desk and its output, setting priorities and standards, commissioning and editing as required.
• Identify opportunities to develop breaking news into deeper features, expert analysis and evergreen content.
• Champion Good Housekeeping's trusted, service-led editorial voice.
• Draw on audience insight supplied by the digital, SEO, Audience Development, Social and Video teams to inform commissioning decisions and content priorities.

Features & Long-form Content

• Lead planning and commissioning of news & features across all platforms - balancing long-term planning for print editions against daily digital output, reactive social media, audio/video and newsletters.
• Develop original investigations, exclusive interviews, first-person stories and expert-led journalism that build GH's reputation and grows its audience.
• Oversee delivery of features through the team and freelance contributors.
• Be accountable for the commissioning budget and ensuring timely, accurate paperwork for the engagement of freelancers and contributors.
• Ensure all content reflects Good Housekeeping's editorial standards and brand values.

Cross-platform Content Strategy

• Shape an integrated editorial workflow in which the strongest stories evolve from the news cycle into explainers, newsletters and premium magazine features, with clear ownership at each stage.
• Direct long-lead editorial planning to ensure consistent audience engagement across all platforms.
• Drive content packages around key editorial moments, campaigns and seasonal opportunities.

Knowledge and skills – what we are looking for….

• Significant experience leading news & features journalism for a major consumer brand at a senior level.
• Strong news judgment and a proven eye for the stories that deserve deeper treatment.
• Proven ability to deliver distinctive, agenda-setting premium storytelling.
• Confident on camera and presenting / interviewing in front of a live audience is essential.
• Experience of managing an editorial budget is essential.
• Experience of writing or commissioning consumer health and wellbeing features (or a very strong personal interest in this area) is preferred.
• Demonstrable track record of building known audiences through both paid and free content on web, apps, social media and Apple News+
• Provenexperience of and confidence in day to day content performance measurement and management and how data informs content output, commissioning and return-on-investment.

Benefits…

(Your benefits at Hearst UK are more than just extras—they are tools to help you thrive in every part of life.)

Hearst Exclusives - Only for You!

• Get adventurous with Good Housekeeping Taste and Beauty Testing Panels - yes, you could be trying the next big thing in beauty, food & drink.
• Snag luxe beauty steals at our legendary office sample sales - score big on top brands without breaking the bank!

Inclusion, Health & Wellbeing: Feel Your Best

• Stay healthy with Specsavers eye care, a company-funded Health Cash Plan, and access to mental health support.
• Get active and stress-free with discounted gym memberships and the Cycle to Work scheme.
• Embrace flexibility with a Location Flex and Holiday Exchange to take time when you need it.
• Take time to give back with a Charity Day and access wellbeing resources whenever you need them.
• Join one of our Hearst ERG Groups.

Financial Wellness - Boost Your Budget

• Plan ahead with a generous Workplace Pension, Income Protection, Life Assurance and Season Ticket Loan for easier commuting.
• Make smarter money moves using Salary Finance tools, Financial Wellbeing sessions, and Home Tech benefits to spread costs.
• Treat yourself with major discounts across London plus everyday savings via the HAPI at Hearst app

Hearst UK is deeply committed to using our influential brands to reflect the world we want to live in – one that respects, protects, represents and uplifts the voices and opinions of all people. As a business, we recognise the significant benefits of creativity, collaboration and innovation that comes with diverse teams. Not only is diversifying the voices in our organization the right thing to do, but it also helps us to make powerful and exciting content that can be enjoyed by many more people. This is why we're working to build a sense of true belonging within our business and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard.