Head of Audience Growth & Engagement (Maternity Cover)

Location: Headquarters, HSK, London, W8 5HY

Position: Maternity Cover (9-month FTC – Starting August 2026)

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Audience to lead our audience team, overseeing our newsletter, homepage, SEO and social strategies, as well as bringing audience expertise into a variety of projects across the newsroom. The role combines operational and strategic leadership. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of distributing The i Paper’s best journalism and helping to target it to effectively drive audience growth, convert anonymous readers and engage subscribers. You will work with editors throughout the newsroom to lead the distribution and curation of our journalism to readers, both those visiting The i Paper for the first time and our loyal subscribers. You will be expected to share regular, actionable data insights with the wider newsroom, while also promoting best practice across each audience development specialism. You will manage the platform leaders and support them in their work on distribution, curation and commissioning, as well as initiating and managing new projects to boost our audience and engagement through our homepage, social channels, SEO, third-party platforms and newsletters. The Head of Audience will also work across Editorial, Product, and Tech to launch high-profile newsroom projects, shaping ideas and execution while keeping audience needs central. This is a senior role in our newsroom, working closely with editorial executives.

Main Responsibilities

• Oversee implementation of new strategies across Social, Homepage, Search and Newsletters to build a broader, habitual digital audience.
• Increase the reach and impact of The i Paper’s journalism by delivering effective audience engagement strategies to drive growth and digital subscriptions.
• Own the newsletter growth strategy, working with the Head of Newsletters on execution.
• Manage the Audience team to generate and prioritise ideas around distribution, curation and commissioning, as well as new projects on their platforms.
• Co-ordinate the launching of stories and content; and develop best practices for social, search and owned platforms.
• Deliver data insights to journalists across the newsroom, while also coaching them to be proactive in examining audience data.
• Coordinate the Audience team’s longer-term planning to identify, attract and retain quality audiences through thought-out commissioning.
• Work with editorial teams on audience plans for journalism projects that will deliver high value to the brand.
• This will include generating, refining and executing ideas for coverage, and responding to digital trends and data.
• Stay across emerging platforms and trends in digital media, encouraging a culture of experimentation within the team.
• Managing relationships with third-party stakeholders to increase the reach of our brand across multiple platforms.

Person Specification

• Minimum 5 years’ proven experience in a leadership role within digital, audience, or editorial teams.
• You will have a proven understanding of the difference between content that builds reach and content that drives conversion and the ability to shape and position stories with both goals in mind from the outset.
• Strong track record of growing and engaging digital audiences across social, search, newsletters, and emerging platforms.
• Experienced leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering multiple projects at pace, often in parallel.
• Deep understanding of audience data and analytics tools, with the ability to turn insights into actionable strategy.
• Strong editorial judgement and experience working closely with editors and reporters on story launches and content distribution.
• Experience developing and implementing strategies to increase reader loyalty, retention, and digital subscriptions.
• Strong communication and coaching skills, with the ability to train colleagues in best practices and data-informed decision making.
• Strong understanding of how to commission content for both reach and conversion, ensuring stories are shaped from the outset to meet audience and growth goals.
• Knowledge of digital media trends and a track record of experimentation on new and emerging platforms.

Package Description

Our benefits package increases the longer you’ve been with us. Here’s what to expect:

• 25 days’ holiday (increasing by 1 per year up to a total of 30).
• Upon joining you will be automatically enrolled onto the Pension Plan at the minimum level of 5% employee contribution, 3% Company Life cover under the Pension Plan of up to 3x your basic salary.
• DMGT Discounts (for discounts on online shopping, vouchers and reloadable cards).
• Subsidised canteen.
• Onsite gym (Northcliffe House only).
• Onsite nurse and GP clinics (Northcliffe House only).
• Our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Discounted dining cards.
• Plus many other benefits...

Our Commitment

We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require 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.