Digital Editor

dmg media; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media firm in the United Kingdom seeks a dynamic Digital Editor responsible for driving the editorial direction of digital content. This role entails spearheading innovation, optimizing content for diverse audiences, and integrating digital strategies across teams. The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in audience engagement and a passion for storytelling, science, and technology. The position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the brand’s future in a digitally focused environment.

Qualifications

• Strong track record of digital audience growth and engagement.
• Experience in building habits and growing subscriber behavior.
• Familiarity with newsroom operations and data analytics tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of digital content success and audience growth objectives.
• Develop strategies to reach younger and more diverse audiences.
• Lead on innovations and experiments in new formats and platforms.
• Identify and implement new content verticals and distribution strategies.

Skills

Digital audience growth

Creative risk-taking

Analytical skills

Leadership

Digital platform knowledge

Strategic vision

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial Digital Editor to take editorial ownership of our digital products and lead our editorial teams through a period of bold innovation and digital change. New Scientist is a legacy brand with a reputation built on expert and authoritative journalism. We are entering a new chapter of digital-first innovation to reach a larger, younger, and digital native audience, while staying true to our values of expert, quality journalism. This role will drive that evolution, helping us to deliver on our digital vision, spearhead a culture of innovation and experimentation, and lead the team in digital best practice. The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with hands-on execution, working closely with editorial, product, technology, marketing, and audience teams to reimagine what our brand means for the next generation of audiences.

Responsibilities

• Digital ownership and innovation: Take ownership of success of our digital content and audience and subscriber growth objectives.
• Ensure content is optimised for different audiences during commissioning, and work closely with the whole editorial team to develop strategies to reach younger, more diverse and digital savvy audiences through innovative formats and platforms.
• Work closely with the Editor to ensure our digital products represent our brand and values.
• Lead on exciting new formats and user experiences through experimentation, data-driven decision-making, and creative risk-taking, and instill a culture of experimentation throughout the wider team.
• Audience & Platform Innovation: Identify new content verticals, formats (video, social, podcasts, immersive experiences), and distribution strategies that resonate with younger demographics.
• Forge partnerships with creators and digital platforms to expand brand reach and engagement.
• Understand our audience needs and industry trends to understand and react to emerging content consumption habits.
• Organisational Change & Leadership: Lead on innovation, helping legacy teams integrate digital thinking into every part of the business.
• Work cross-functionally to help modernize workflows, and imbue the wider team with a digital mindset.
• Initiate or lead training, capability-building, and change management initiatives to empower staff to embrace new technologies and storytelling methods.
• Product, Technology & Revenue Growth: Drive product and tech teams to enhance the user experience across owned digital platforms.
• Set and own KPIs to measure progress, ROI, and impact of digital initiatives. Prove value with evidence of successful delivery of content and growth across multiple media types (text, audio, video).
• Strong track record of digital audience growth and engagement.
• Experience of how to build habits and grow subscriber behaviour.
• Deep understanding of content ecosystems, social platforms, and emerging digital technologies.
• Understanding of, and interest in, the use of AI in new product development.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to move seamlessly between strategy and execution.
• Familiarity with newsroom operations, digital production workflows, and data analytics tools is a plus.
• Digital native with a wide-ranging interest and knowledge of digital platforms.
• Prepared to roll up sleeves and take a hands-on approach.
• Personal Attributes: Visionary and innovative – thrives on imagining what's next.
• Collaborative, empathetic leader who inspires creative teams.
• Analytical and commercially savvy, with a bias for action.
• Passionate about storytelling, science, and technology.

About New Scientist

New Scientist is the world's global science media brand, reaching more than [1.2 million] readers every month. The website, app and print editions cover international news from a scientific standpoint, and ask the big-picture questions about life, the universe, technological progress and what it means to be human. The magazine was founded in 1956 for "all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences". It now includes newsletters, videos, podcasts, courses, holidays and live events in the UK, US and Australia, including New Scientist Live, the world's greatest festival of science and technology.