Digital Development Director (Maternity cover)

Reach plc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Bonus scheme

Healthcare cash plan

Flexible policies and support

Car lease scheme

Wellbeing support

Interest-free loans

Job summary

Reach plc in Greater London is seeking a Digital Development Director to shape the digital commercial strategy and drive revenue growth. The successful candidate will hold senior relationships across UK digital agencies and possess a strong track record in large-scale digital revenue targets. They need a strategic mindset, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to influence at the C-suite level. This role offers a range of benefits including 25 days of holiday, a bonus scheme, and a healthcare cash plan.

Qualifications

• Proven senior commercial leader with relationships across UK digital agencies.
• Demonstrable track record of owning digital revenue targets.
• Deep technical understanding of the UK media landscape.

Responsibilities

• Drive digital revenue growth and maintain accountability for targets.
• Build relationships with senior agency decision-makers.
• Lead the digital commercial strategy for Reach Solutions.

Skills

Strategic mindset

Exceptional communication skills

Influence at C-suite level

Understanding of programmatic ecosystems

Job description

Hello, we’re Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live – whether that’s on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day.

We're home to more than 120 brands – from household names like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star.

It’s our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us Britain and Ireland’s largest commercial news publisher. We reach around 70% of the UK’s online population, 10% of the US online population, and over 100 million social followers around the world, connecting with them on who they are, where they live and what they love.

Your story, with Reach

As a modern media organisation, we’re much more than just news. It takes a wide range of people and skills to serve diverse audiences, customers and communities like we do.

We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we’ve built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore.

We’ll help you build a career that works with your life, while giving you the space to create and grow.

About the Role

As our Digital Development Director, you will hold overall strategic and commercial accountability for driving sustained digital revenue growth across a defined portfolio of agencies and advertisers. This high‑impact position is both externally influential and internally transformational. You will lead senior agency relationships, shape our digital commercial strategy, and serve as a key voice in the evolution of Reach Solutions’ digital, data, and programmatic propositions.

Commercial & Strategic Leadership

You will own and deliver the digital revenue strategy for your team, maintaining ultimate accountability for new and incremental digital revenue. This involves setting clear commercial priorities across direct, programmatic, PG, and PMP channels including display and video while leading quarterly and annual business planning alongside senior stakeholders.

Senior Agency & Market Leadership

A core part of this role is building and deepening relationships with senior decision‑makers, including Heads of Digital, Investment, Trading, and Planning. You will act as a trusted strategic partner, providing market intelligence and proactive solutions while representing Reach Solutions at senior industry forums and leadership meetings.

Product, Data & Innovation

You will champion our data and product ecosystems to drive market adoption. By translating market feedback into clear commercial requirements, you will influence the product roadmap and utilise performance data to forecast opportunities and inform future strategy.

Leadership & Operational Excellence

We look to you to provide inspirational leadership that fosters a high‑performance, inclusive culture. You will coach senior commercial talent and partner across sales and trading teams to ensure best practice. Operationally, you will maintain rigorous oversight of forecasting and work with finance teams to design deals that maximise long‑term value.

What you'll need to succeed

The ideal candidate is a proven senior commercial leader with deep, influential relationships across UK digital agency planning, buying, and investment teams. You should have a demonstrable track record of owning large‑scale digital revenue targets and the strategic mindset to turn complex data into action.

We require a candidate with the executive presence to influence at the C‑suite level and a deep technical understanding of programmatic ecosystems and the UK media landscape. Exceptional communication skills and the ability to articulate complex propositions persuasively are essential for success in this role.

How we’ll look after you

We take good care of our people – and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you’ll get a range of benefits, including:

• 25 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays), plus an extra day after you’ve been with us for three, five, and ten years. We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want.

• One day’s paid leave each year to volunteer for a cause close to your community or your heart.

• A big‑moment day – an extra day’s paid leave for a moment that matters to you – like getting married, moving house or welcoming a new addition to the family (human or furry).

• Bonus scheme – you’ll get a stake in our success and a chance to add to your annual earnings.

• Help saving for your retirement – we’ll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice.

• Supportive and progressive people policies – a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression.

• A healthcare cash plan – giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor’s appointments.

• Car lease scheme – you can buy a brand‑new electric or hybrid car through our leasing partner, and pay for it through salary sacrifice.

• Wellbeing support – including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.

• Access to lots of discounts – including 15% off with Reach’s very own online marketplace, Yimbly.

• Interest‑free loans – including for season tickets and technology.

Additional Information

If you’re excited about this role but don’t tick every single box, please don’t let that stop you from applying.

We know that everyone has their own story to tell, and we value potential, passion and the perspectives that different backgrounds bring to our work.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and help us better serve our audiences. We’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and supported. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We are committed to a recruitment process that is fair and welcoming to all, without discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.