Features Director, British GQ

Condé Nast; Greater London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A global media company is seeking a Features Director for GQ to lead editorial output across print and digital. The ideal candidate should possess exceptional communication skills, strong editing experience, and the ability to mentor a diverse team. Responsibilities include overseeing story commissioning/editing, managing editorial workflows, and collaborating with various teams. This role requires a calm, process-driven approach and creativity in story development while addressing legal risks. Join us in a vibrant London-based editorial team.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Competitive pension scheme

Bupa Private Healthcare

Employee Assistance Programme

Corporate gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Confident, supportive leader mentoring junior staff.
• Strong ideas-led approach identifying original stories.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning, editing, and proofreading of stories.
• Provide editorial leadership and mentoring to editorial team.
• Deputise for Deputy Global Editorial Director when necessary.

Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Proven management and people leadership experience

Ability to make sound decisions under pressure

Strong storytelling skills

Experience working across digital platforms

Highly organized

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Google Analytics

Google Workspace

Job description

Since 1957, GQ has inspired its readers with unparalleled coverage of style, fashion, culture, news, politics, and more. From award-winning journalism and feature writing to unforgettable photography, videos and live events, GQ creates cultural conversations around the world.

Condé Nast is a global media company, home to iconic brands including Vogue, GQ, Glamour, CN Traveller, Vanity Fair, Wired, The World of Interiors, House & Garden and Tatler, among many others.

We are headquartered in New York and London and operate in 32 markets worldwide, with a footprint of more than 1 billion consumers across print, digital, video and social platforms.

Condé Nast thrives on collaboration, and our teams come together in the office four days a week (Monday - Thursday).

We value diversity of background, views and cultures. We celebrate people for their personal qualities, skills and contributions, recognising the power our brands have to influence and shape culture.

Location

London, GB

The Role

We’re looking for a Features Director to join GQ.

The Features Director role is a key editorial leadership position at British GQ, with both local and global responsibilities. The role combines senior editorial judgement with people management and operational oversight, and plays a central part in shaping GQ’s output across print, digital, social and video.

The Features Director will balance commissioning, editing and proofreading stories across all verticals with managing and guiding editorial staff, overseeing production and workflows, fulfilling commercial obligations, and generating ideas for editorial projects and events. The role works closely with local and global departments, advises on flat-planning, and is trusted to approve pages and make editorial decisions in the absence of the Deputy Global Editorial Director.

The successful candidate will be an all-round senior editor with a strong legal and editorial eye, fluency in British GQ’s tone, and the confidence to make sound decisions under pressure. They will support the day-to-day management of the editorial team, help execute GQ’s content strategy, and guide the overall editorial output of the brand with a calm, assured approach.

This role requires someone who is both a brilliant writer and editor and highly process-driven, with a strong understanding of workflows, deadlines and production requirements. The Features Director will be expected to work collaboratively to maximise the team’s potential, with responsibilities that may range from proofreading print layouts and approving pages, to pitching talent ideas for events or interviewing a high-profile figure for a cover feature.

The position reports directly to the Deputy Global Editorial Director and is based in London.

What will you be doing?

• Lead the commissioning, editing and proofreading of print and digital stories across British GQ, from deep-dive investigative reporting to celebrity cover profiles.

• Work closely with the full British GQ editorial team across print, digital, video and social to shape pitches, commission and edit features, opinion and data-driven stories across GQ’s core verticals.

• Provide editorial leadership, mentoring, support and line management to members of the editorial team.

• Edit and proofread print layouts, overseeing workflows and production processes across print.

• Editorially lead and programme the GQ Heroes and GQ MOTY events line‑ups and content, working closely with events, talent and commercial teams to deliver commercially led editorial activations.

• Collaborate with CNCC on sponsored editorial and branded content for British GQ.

• Build and maintain a diverse network of contributors across the UK and Europe.

• Deputise for the Deputy Global Editorial Director in their absence, acting as a senior editorial decision-maker.

• Edit stories from writers around the world, ensuring accuracy, clarity and alignment with GQ’s voice and point of view, and adapting global content for local editions.

• Line‑edit and proofread British GQ supplements, including Watches and Grooming.

• Contribute ideas and leadership for new editorial franchises and events.

• Attend senior editorial meetings and help ensure British GQ’s editorial voice is represented consistently across all products.

• Identify and address potential legal or libel risks in line with company policy and best practice.

• Represent British GQ at external speaking engagements and across the brand’s own events programme.

About you

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with outstanding attention to detail.

• Proven management and people leadership experience.

• A confident, supportive leader who can mentor and develop junior members of the editorial team.

• The ability to make sound decisions and develop effective solutions quickly under pressure.

• A strong ideas‑led approach, with the ability to identify and develop original stories, angles and formats.

• Strong storytelling skills and a genuine passion for British GQ’s areas of expertise.
  Creativity paired with a sharp editorial and aesthetic eye.

• Significant experience working across digital platforms and formats.

• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

• A strong work ethic, with a calm, positive and solutions‑focused approach.

• Experience working with digital content management systems; proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Airtable, Google Analytics, Google Workspace and InCopy is a plus.

Does this sound like you?

Please upload your CV and cover letter/portfolio , which highlights why you'd love to take on this role and why you're a great match for what we're looking for.

We value the time and effort behind every application. All submissions are reviewed by a member of our talent team - we don’t use AI-assisted technology to review applications.

What benefits do we offer?

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays) and extra days of annual leave if you move house or want to volunteer.

• You’ll have access to a competitive pension scheme, Bupa Private Healthcare, Season ticket loans and eye tests.

• We offer a range of tools to support your wellbeing, including core hours, 10 remote days (from home or a country with a Condé Nast office location), access to our Employee Assistance Programme, corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.

• We’re a dog friendly office, plus you’ll enjoy discounts and magazine subscriptions, keeping you up to date with all things Condé Nast.

• We encourage personal and professional growth through the Condé Nast Learning Hub where you’ll find an extensive portfolio of learning courses and training, available in local languages.

• Our Employee Resource Groups provide a platform for employees to identify shared objectives, exchange ideas, and work on community priorities for our global workforce.

What happens next?

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply below, and we will review your application as soon as possible. You can update your resume or upload a cover letter at any time by accessing your candidate profile.

Condé Nast is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.