Deputy Editor (Digital Content & Strategy)

twentysix; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Are you a dynamic and ambitious editorial leader passionate about driving digital content innovation? Prolific North, the leading news and events platform spotlighting the vibrant creative, marketing, and tech sectors across the North of England, is seeking a talented Deputy Editor to join our team.

This is a pivotal role, offering the opportunity to directly impact our growth and shape the narrative of the Northern business landscape.

Prolific North is an independent news and events company based in Manchester established in 2013. Across our team of fourteen, we’re committed to shining a spotlight on the work, people, companies and stories that make the North a powerhouse. We cover the North West, Yorkshire and Humber, the North East and, more recently, Scotland.

Our news coverage, research, and editorial features bring almost 1.5 million visitors to our website every year and a combined social following of 60k across all our platforms including our loyal email subscribers. Every year we bring together thousands of the very best Northern talent at our live events and highly anticipated annual awards galas including the Northern Marketing Festival, Digital City Festival, Prolific North Live or the Tech Awards to name a few.

The Role

As Deputy Editor (Digital Content & Strategy), you will play a critical role in supporting the Editor to drive Prolific North's next phase of growth. You will be responsible for executing our editorial vision, leading content creation, and developing innovative digital strategies to expand our reach and engagement.

What does the role look like on a daily basis?

1. Strategic Content Development: Create high-quality, engaging content (breaking news, investigative reports, industry profiles, thought leadership pieces, events) ensuring the content resonates with our core audience whilst also attracting new readers by developing and growing existing content and new channels.
2. Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of content creators, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
3. Diversify Content Channels: Assist the Editor to innovate new content formats and delivery channels, including newsletters, podcasts, video content and social media, to reach and engage a broader audience.
4. Audience Growth & Engagement: Assist the Editor to build on Prolific North’s core readership and attract new audiences through relevant content.
5. Partnership & Collaboration: Work with external contributors, partners and other departments (sales and marketing) to create compelling editorial content and maximise opportunities for cross-platform promotion.
6. Editorial Calendar & Workflow Management: Oversee editorial planning, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, content scheduling and timely delivery.
7. Stay Industry Informed: Keep up with trends in digital media, marketing, technology and journalism, ensuring Prolific North remains ahead of industry developments.

Key Requirements

1. Exceptional Writing and Editing Skills: Excellent command of the English language with a strong eye for detail.
2. Content Strategy Expertise: Strong understanding of content strategy, SEO and data-driven decision-making to increase audience engagement and website traffic.
3. Proven Editorial Experience: Ideally 3 years of experience in an editorial leadership role within a digital media organisation or newsroom.
4. Collaboration and Communication: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with different internal teams (sales and marketing) to deliver integrated content initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience with content management systems, in particular Wordpress, and other editorial tools.
2. Knowledge of the media, marketing and creative sector.
3. Familiarity with audience growth tools (e.g., Google Analytics) and social media management platforms.
4. Comfortable with public speaking as chairing and presenting conferences and/or roundtables is a bonus.

Benefits

1. 20 days holiday plus bank holidays.
2. Early end-of-year shutdown (approximately 2 weeks).
3. Flexible working arrangements: a mix of office-based (Mondays and Thursdays in Manchester) and remote working.
4. Professional development opportunities.

If you're ready to help lead a talented team and create compelling content that informs, inspires, and engages a rapidly expanding audience, we want to hear from you.

How to apply

If this role and our culture resonate with you, please get in touch with Karl Holbrook:[emailprotected] with your CV, a link to your LinkedIn profile and tell me what makes you the right person for this role.

Our hiring process

1. Informal chat with our Editor about your interest in the role. This is a chance for us to get to know you.
2. A second interview with a task where you'll present to our Editor & Managing Director.
3. Meet the team. A chance to get to know the wider team and see if Prolific North is the right fit for you.

We welcome applications from everyone and are keen to build a diverse and truly inclusive team.