Managing Editor

dentsu; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Dentsu Creative in Cape Town is seeking a Managing Editor to oversee editorial operations, ensuring timely production across all assets. The role may be permanent but openness to freelance or fixed-term engagement is noted.

Responsibilities include coordinating cross-department production, leading status meetings, managing workflows, and coordinating shoots while ensuring editorial quality and timely delivery.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years in print production or traffic management.
• Experience leading editorial teams and coordinating cross-functional staff.
• Strong business sense and ability to manage budgets and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate production between editorial, art, production, repro and advertising to meet deadlines.
• Set and coordinate internal timelines with Content Director, Head of Production and editors.
• Lead status meetings and manage workflow and approvals.
• Report status to Head of Production and ensure deadlines are met.
• Organise photography shoots and arrange external suppliers when needed.
• Monitor budgets and process invoices; coordinate with freelance teams.

Skills

Print production

Traffic management

Team management

Business acumen

Microsoft 365

Adobe Creative Suite

Magazine publishing

Tools

Acrobat

Photoshop

InDesign

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Job description

The Managing Editor is responsible for the overall effective functioning of the publication editorial teams, with a focus on the operational elements to ensure all assets are produced on time.

Please note: Although this role might be posted as permanent, we are looking for someone who is open to freelance or fixed-term employment. Nature of employment subject to change based on business needs.

Job Description

• Co-ordinate the production process between the editorial, art, production, repro and advertising departments, in order to meet delivery deadlines
• Set and co-coordinate internal timelines, liaise with Content Director, Head of Production, Editors and the rest of the editorial team regarding planning and production of each issue
• Set up and lead status meetings
• Manage, track and facilitate all jobs in the system
• Manage the workflow and timing of internal approval processes
• Report status of all jobs to Head of Production and ensure that all critical deadlines are met
• Organise and participate in photography shoot planning meetings and, when needed, book external suppliers for shoots
• Liaise with the Digital Traffic Manager to manage staff resources effectively to meet all delivery deadlines
• Obtain and traffic assets between client and suppliers, and oversee and ensure that assets meet requirements by ensuring quality and editorial consistency
• Ensure administration related to people and operations is correctly and timeously completed
• Coordinate the production process with freelance teams
• Other administrative tasks, including monitoring budgets and processing invoices
• Manage any ad hoc editorial projects as per assignment of Head of Production or Account Director
• Stay abreast of, evaluate and implement appropriate modern world-class publishing production thinking and include tools to ensure efficient and effective operations

Minimum Requirements

• At least 5 years' experience in print production or traffic management
• Previous experience managing a team
• Understanding of business and commercial principles
• Proficiency in Microsoft365 (Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Sharepoint) and Basic Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Thorough understanding of magazine publication processes and operations, as well as experience within an agency

Competencies

• Analytical thinking
• Decisive insight
• Initiating action
• Influencing skills
• Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships
• Planning and organising skills
• The ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines
• Attention to detail
• Magnetic experience advantageous

Location

Cape Town

Brand

Dentsu Creative

Time Type

Full time

Contract Type

Permanent