At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the social team to create engaging content and build community relationships.
- Company: The i Paper, a dynamic and inclusive national newspaper with a commitment to impartial news.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowances, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a vibrant newsroom that values creativity and diversity.
- Why this job: Inspire a talented team and make an impact on millions of readers through innovative storytelling.
- Qualifications: 5-6 years of newsroom experience and strong social media expertise.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: HSK, London
Position: 10-month FTC
About Us
The i Paper is the only UK national newspaper that has never supported a political party and it reaches more than 9.2 million readers each month in print and online. It is committed to delivering accurate, impartial news and intelligent debate, trusting readers to make up their own minds. It was the winner of 2024 UK Newspaper of the Year and was named News Website of the Year in 2025. It is rapidly growing its digital subscriptions base, recently hitting 80k total subscriptions.
The i Paper is a dynamic and inclusive work environment that fosters creativity and innovation in journalism. With a commitment to employee growth, our benefits package increases with tenure, providing generous holiday allowances, health support, and opportunities for professional development. Join us in a vibrant newsroom where your leadership will inspire a talented team to deliver impactful stories that resonate with millions of readers.
About the Role
The i Paper’s looking for a Head of Social to oversee the distribution of high-quality social content and develop our off-platform community engagement. The successful candidate will have excellent news judgement, the ability to understand different audiences and their needs and will lead the social team across all our channels. You will be responsible for developing and engaging new audiences and supporting the growing impact of our paid social campaigns. You will also lead on the launch of community engagement projects, focusing on building our audiences’ relationships with our journalists – bringing them front and centre of distribution. Day to day, you’ll be expected to ensure the team responds swiftly and creatively to the news agenda, adapting our work based on insights from detailed data analysis.
Key projects
- Community engagement - Launch high value community engagement projects on existing and new social platforms
- Improve our social voice - improve our tone of voice social style guide to sell our content with more creativity and impact
- Implement new SEO/social cross-team strategies to stay ahead of the curve on audience developments and widen the reach of our journalism.
Main Responsibilities
- Lead our social team’s output across platforms – overseeing their work on a daily basis and ensuring our content is fully optimised.
- Inspire the team to creatively showcase the best of The i Paper, and lead on reactive approaches based on the news agenda
- Develop paid social strategies to reach new audiences and convert high value subscribers via social campaigns
- Launch community engagement projects on new and existing platforms to deepen the relationship with our audiences
- Oversee and innovate the production of our bespoke social media graphics and visuals to showcase our best content
- Line-manage junior staff to develop their skills and ensure objectives are aligned with business goals
- Lead regular in-depth analysis of our social platforms, to constantly adapt our output and spot new opportunities to reach a wider audience
Person Specification
- 5-6 years of newsroom experience with proven ability to deliver to pressing deadlines and ideate quickly in the face of breaking news
- Excellent understanding of existing and emerging social media and the differing requirements for each platform
- Experience running paid social media campaigns across a variety of platforms – with a focus on converting audiences to paid subscribers
- Line management experience – running a team within a newsroom to deliver growth on social channels for both reach and engagement
- Proficient in data analysis tools such as Google Analytics and ability to present insights to senior leaders
- Proven experience of adapting to the changing social media landscape and iterating work dependent on in-depth insights and analysis
- Strong communication skills, including ability to pitch ideas well
- An experimental, creative approach to problem solving
- Strong news sense and a creative approach to storytelling
Our Commitment
We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in other formats or if you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process. Please be assured that any such information will be held separately to your recruitment application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.
Head of Social in London employer: dmg media
dmg media is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture, where innovation and strategic thinking are highly valued. Located in a vibrant area, employees benefit from a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and development, alongside competitive benefits that enhance work-life balance. Joining dmg media means being part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to shaping the future of talent acquisition.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Social in London
✨Get Your Foot in the Door
Temporary roles often pop up when companies need extra hands for specific projects, so keep an eye on local job boards and news websites. Don’t hesitate to check out industry-specific platforms like Journalism.co.uk or local community groups for short-term gigs.
✨Network Like a Pro
Attend journalism and media events in your area, such as press launches or panel discussions. These are golden opportunities to meet industry insiders who might have the scoop on temporary openings. Plus, connecting with your peers can lead to unexpected recommendations.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a portfolio that showcases your best work, even if it’s just student projects or freelance articles. For journalism, a strong online presence is key, so make sure to share your pieces on platforms like Medium or your own blog to attract potential employers.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Site
We often have temporary positions available at dmg media. Keep an eye on our careers page and apply directly – you're one step closer to landing that opportunity. Tailor your application to highlight relevant skills and experiences that make you a standout candidate!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Social in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Writing Style:When applying for a temporary role in journalism-media, it's crucial to exhibit your unique writing voice. Attach samples of your work that showcase not just your ability to report, but also to engage readers. A link to your online portfolio can really help us see your style and versatility!
Tailor Your CV to Highlight Relevant Experience:In the world of journalism-media, it’s all about storytelling and your CV should reflect that! Focus on any journalism-related internships, freelance articles, or relevant coursework. Make sure to include specific achievements, like publications or recognitions, that make you stand out.
Craft a Motivating Cover Letter:For a temporary position, we want to know what excites you about journalism and why this role at dmg media matters to you. Share your motivation for applying and what you hope to learn during your time with us. Let your passion for the media shine through!
Stay Current with Industry Trends:Show us that you’ve got your finger on the pulse of journalism-media trends. Reference recent developments or challenges in the industry in your application to demonstrate your enthusiasm and awareness. This can set you apart from other candidates who may not be as in-the-know!
How to prepare for a job interview at dmg media
✨Showcase Your Versatility
In the world of journalism, adaptability is key. Be prepared to discuss various topics you've covered, whether it's breaking news, features, or investigative pieces. Bring along a portfolio that shows your range—think articles, videos, or even social media content you've created. This will demonstrate your ability to tackle different formats and subjects under pressure!
✨Nail That Story Pitch
As a temporary journalist, you'll need to hit the ground running. Before your interview with dmg media, think about a compelling story idea you could pitch them. Tailor it to their audience and showcase your unique angle—this will show you're proactive and understand their publication's style, which is gold in fast-paced media environments.
✨Know Your Tools
Familiarise yourself with the tools journalists use—whether that’s content management systems, Adobe Suite, or video editing software. During the interview, highlight your proficiency with these tools. A temporary role at dmg media might require you to jump into production quickly, and showing you're tech-savvy can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Quick Adaptation
In temporary roles, your ability to adapt and learn quickly is crucial. Be ready to discuss a time when you had to adjust your writing or reporting style to fit a new audience or medium. This will show dmg media that you can thrive in dynamic situations and won't just be another warm body—but a valuable team member right from day one.
