At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead SEO strategies and manage a talented team to boost The Sun's digital presence.
- Company: Join News UK, a leading media powerhouse with iconic brands like The Times and The Sun.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, training access, and wellness perks like gym discounts.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic newsroom that values creativity, collaboration, and impactful storytelling.
- Qualifications: Experience in SEO and newsroom environments is essential; strong problem-solving skills are a must.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; we celebrate unique perspectives and backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Sun Online is the biggest digital newsbrand in the UK and now the fastest-growing news site in the US. The Sun's multi-award-winning Audience department sits at the heart of our newsroom, with our talented journalists publishing the best coverage of news, sport, TV and showbiz, lifestyle and family value. Our hugely successful SEO team sits at the core of our publishing operation and is constantly evolving, driving search traffic, growing new audiences, and building engagement and loyalty with our readers.
Your Role: The Sun is looking for a talented individual with a background in search engine optimisation, significant newsroom experience and a track record of delivering results. As Deputy Head of SEO you will be responsible for supporting the Head of SEO in developing and implementing the editorial SEO strategy, as well as helping lead our large, talented team of SEO editors and writers in London.
You will support the development of The Sun's digital growth strategy through technical and content SEO, application of SEO tools, data-led projects, and strategies for organic search, Discover and Google News.
Day to day you will:
- Help grow organic search, Discover and Google News
- Be confident in identifying search trends and communicating them to the newsroom
- Help lead and manage a large team of SEO editors and reporters
- Lead The Sun's SEO breaking news and live blog strategy
- Help oversee The Sun's evergreen strategy
- Be confident with a range of SEO tools (for example SEMRush and News Dashboard)
- Analyse and report back to the newsroom on SEO successes and failures
- Liaise with different departments to ensure strategic SEO needs and objectives are met
- Ensure, through training and monitoring, that SEO best-practice is adhered to
- Monitor algorithmic changes and developments and help recommend actions to relevant teams
- Perform competitor analysis and identify opportunities to improve and overtake in key markets
- Communicating content plans around key events such as Love Island to the wider newsroom
- Support content migrations and post-migration analysis & recovery
- Keep up to date on the latest SEO developments and news
What we are looking for from you:
- Organised and a good problem-solver, able to eliminate obstacles through creative and adaptive approaches
- Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams
- Can demonstrate an understanding of The Sun brands
- Newsroom experience essential
- Sound technical SEO experience
At News UK, we know the value of working together, which is why we operate a hybrid working policy with a minimum of three days a week in the office. Being in the office allows us to collaborate, innovate, and thrive as a team in our vibrant and dynamic workspace.
News UK is one of the leading media businesses in the UK and Ireland. Our newsbrands include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Sun on Sunday and The TLS. Our national broadcast brands include talkSPORT, Times Radio and Virgin Radio UK, and we have market-leading local stations across Ireland. Our world-famous brands provide news, analysis, opinion and entertainment to almost 40 million people each month.
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.
To do this, we believe our employees must represent different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. We strive to maximise and encourage every individual's potential and ensure everyone feels valued. We support this through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy, which focuses on three main priorities - attracting talent from a wider, more representative pool, developing equity programmes to drive better representation in our leadership, and ensuring diversity and inclusivity in our workforce as well as the journalism and content we produce.
Benefits: Some of our benefits include:
- Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
- Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access
- Private medical insurance including coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly virtual yoga classes
- 'Bikes for Work' and 'Electric Car' scheme
- Access to exclusive events
- Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books 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%
- 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year
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.
Contact Detail:
News Corp UK & Ireland Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Head of SEO
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with The Sun's brand and its audience. Understanding the tone, style, and topics that resonate with their readers will help you align your approach and demonstrate your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Stay updated on the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes. Being knowledgeable about current developments in SEO will not only enhance your discussions during interviews but also show your commitment to the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with professionals in the SEO and journalism fields. Engaging with others in the industry can provide insights into best practices and may even lead to referrals or recommendations for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in SEO. Highlighting your leadership experience and results-driven mindset will be crucial in showcasing your suitability for the Deputy Head of SEO role.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Head of SEO
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in search engine optimisation and newsroom roles. Use specific examples of how you've delivered results in previous positions, particularly in SEO.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for SEO and the media industry. Mention your understanding of The Sun's brand and how your skills align with their goals, especially in driving organic search growth.
Showcase Technical Skills: Clearly outline your technical SEO skills and familiarity with tools like SEMRush and News Dashboard. Provide examples of how you've used these tools to analyse data and improve SEO strategies.
Demonstrate Team Leadership: Highlight any experience you have in leading teams or projects. Discuss how you've collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to achieve SEO objectives and how you can bring that experience to The Sun.
How to prepare for a job interview at News Corp UK & Ireland Limited
✨Showcase Your SEO Knowledge
Make sure to brush up on the latest SEO trends and tools, especially those mentioned in the job description like SEMRush and Google News. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully implemented SEO strategies in your previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Team Leadership Skills
As a Deputy Head of SEO, you'll be leading a team. Share examples of how you've managed teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and achieving results. Highlight any experience you have in training or mentoring others.
✨Understand The Sun's Brand
Familiarise yourself with The Sun's content style and audience. Be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their brand and how you can contribute to their digital growth strategy.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and adaptability. Think of specific scenarios where you've overcome challenges in SEO or newsroom environments, and be ready to explain your thought process.