Senior Journalist Social Media Lead

BBC; Leeds; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media organization in the UK seeks a creative data-driven communicator to lead social journalists at BBC Yorkshire. This role requires extensive experience in social media, video editing skills, and a strong understanding of data-driven content. Candidates will manage teams, influence story selections, and innovate across social platforms, ensuring compliance and strategic output. Competitive salary and flexible working options offered.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading or working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience setting social media news agendas collaboratively.
• Demonstrated skills in short-form video making using BBC platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of social journalists across the region.
• Influence story choice and treatment across outputs.
• Ensure compliance of social content from various teams.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Video editing

Data interpretation

Social media agenda setting

Tools

Optimo Castaway

Emplifi Newswhip

Job description

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D

CONTRACT TYPE: Attachment / Fixed-term Contract Full-time until 11 / 12 / 2026

DEPARTMENT: BBC England - Yorkshire

LOCATION: Leeds

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: 44000-52467 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. If you’d like to, please indicate your preference in the application, though there is no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

We are looking for a creative data-driven communicator who can fill this central role in BBC Yorkshire’s newsrooms. You will lead a team of social journalists across the region, influence story choice and treatment across outputs, and ensure compliance of social content from audio, TV and online teams. You will know how to reach some of the lightest users of the BBC on social platforms through a developed understanding of how to make short‑form video, social listening, story treatment and wider strategy.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

You will be able to inform strategy and commissioning across the region at all levels with your knowledge and experience of social media. You will join a high‑performing team that works flexibly and is keen to try new techniques to build on one of the BBC’s most successful social brands at BBC Yorkshire. You will also receive development and support from existing social practitioners at senior level as well as a welcoming wider Yorkshire team.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• A flexible team player with strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead groups or projects.
• Substantial professional experience in creating successful social content informed by social listening.
• Accomplished video editing skills for short‑form content.
• Ability to understand and interpret data in a strategic fashion.
• Confidence and knowledge to be able to comply and sub‑edit content for the BBC.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• A proven track record in successfully leading or working in a multi‑disciplinary team with excellent people‑management skills.
• Experience of understanding and setting the social media news agenda and working collaboratively to deliver this.
• Proven professional record of successful social media story choice and treatment for different demographics and platforms plus confident compliance for outputted material.
• Demonstrable short‑form video making skills on BBC editing platforms.
• Track record of using data to inform when to create, sharpen or stop social media projects.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Ability to use Optimo Castaway and other BBC online production tools or similar.
• Familiarity with Emplifi Newswhip and other social tools.
• Detailed understanding of wider social landscape specifically Meta platforms.
• Understanding or appreciation of wider BBC at regional and national level.

Required Experience: Senior IC

Employment Type: Full‑Time