Lead Social Video Producer (6-month FTC)

News UK; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A major media organization is seeking a Lead Social Video Producer to enhance their digital strategy. This role involves driving engagement through innovative video content and managing a team of creators. Candidates should have substantial experience in video production and a strong understanding of social media trends to maximize audience reach. A proven ability to develop impactful strategies and collaborate effectively is essential for success in this fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Bike and electric car scheme

Generous pension scheme

Access to well-being benefits

Wide range of training and LinkedIn Learning

Qualifications

• Minimum 2+ years as a Video Producer or Video Journalist.
• Experience in digital publishing strategies.
• Ability to source content that attracts audiences.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and scale social video publishing strategy.
• Collaborate on content requirements and strategies.
• Lead and expand the social video content team.

Skills

Video production experience

Social media optimisation

SEO knowledge

Leadership

Content commissioning

Job description

Job Description

The Sun is the biggest news brand in the UK, publishing hundreds of stories a day and reaching over 170m unique users digitally every month. Its exclusives set the news agenda and its campaigns have changed the lives of many. Delivering news, entertainment, and sports coverage to millions of readers every day. With a rich history spanning decades, we are dedicated to providing accurate, insightful, and engaging content across print and digital platforms.

The Sun has a mass‑market audience and aims to appeal to a diverse audience in the UK and beyond.

Your Role:

The Lead Social Video Producer will be essential for scaling the nascent but fast‑growing strategic social video capability to amplify our talent at The Sun. The successful candidate will act as a specialist content architect, driving maximum engagement across critical off‑platform channels and translating The Sun’s core journalism and ‘mini‑brand’ strategies into high‑impact, engaging and ultimately monetisable video assets. A deep understanding of social video trends and how to drive digital traffic and revenue is crucial, coupled with a proven ability to collaborate effectively on strategic objectives.

• Delivering and scaling the agreed‑upon social video publishing strategy across all relevant off‑platform channels.
• Informing the overarching social video strategy for The Sun to ensure the publishing model maximises engagement and revenue generation. This includes translating core editorial priorities into effective off‑platform tactics.
• Lead the strategic expansion of the social video unit by hiring, mentoring, and managing a team of social video content creators and publishers across the newsroom floor over time.
• Collaborate closely with Audience strategists to define technical and editorial requirements for content, ensuring the execution strategy exploits platform algorithms and is informed by real‑time social media trends.
• Utilise advanced social media analytics to rigorously inform the collaborative content strategy, ensuring publishing models are optimised to meet KPI targets, including Video Views and Off‑Platform engagement.
• Develop and execute strategies for ‘moating’ existing talent around 'mini brands' (e.g., 'Sun Showbiz'). Oversee the sourcing, commissioning, and collaboration with on‑screen talent to produce unique and engaging video content.
• Define and standardise the workflow for content management systems, ensuring best practice is adopted by the publishing team regarding the placement, order, timing, and meta‑tagging of video clips.
• Maintain ultimate responsibility for editorial and legal oversight, ensuring the output of the team strictly adheres to the IPSO Code of Conduct, media law, and ethical considerations, thereby protecting the Company’s brand.

What we’re looking for from you:

• Proven, extensive experience (minimum 2+ years) working as a Video Producer or Video Journalist within a fast‑paced digital news or entertainment environment. (Demonstrating a deep understanding of production while moving into a strategic role.)
• A proven track record of creating and leading digital publishing strategies that drive digital traffic and revenue.
• Expert knowledge of social media optimisation, SEO, and online publishing frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to source and commission content that attracts digital audiences.
• Experience in management or leadership capacity, including team building and strategy implementation.
• Exceptional capacity to work independently as a self‑starter, thriving under the pressure of a busy newsroom environment.
• Enthusiasm, imagination, and a proven track record of generating innovative strategic ideas are essential.

Life at News

Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose. We represent, reflect, and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter. We inform our audiences so that they can make decisions based on trusted information.

We represent, reflect, and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter most. To ensure these stories resonate with as broad an audience as possible, it is essential that our organisation reflects the diversity of the people we reach. Whether through age, gender, ethnicity, disability, social class or sexuality, we are committed to representing the rich variety of voices that make up our society. And we champion a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive as we continue to innovate and drive long term sustainable growth. This is done through our Diversity Strategy.

At News UK, we take pride in our exceptional employee‑led networks that bring together individuals with shared interests and create a vibrant sense of community. We believe our networks play a vital role in fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture at News UK. Groups that we support include the African & Caribbean Network, Parents and Carers, and LGBTQ+ group News Is Out, and the Apprentice Society.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre‑existing conditions
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly in-person/virtual exercise classes
• ‘Bikes for Work’ and ‘Electric Car’ scheme
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning

We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to perform to their best when applying for a role. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or for us to do anything differently to support you apply for any of our roles please contact us on [email protected].