Audience Development Specialists (Echo)

This role analyses audience behaviour across website, newsletters, social and apps, turning it into daily, weekly and long‑term insights that guide editors on story selection, timing and distribution. You’ll lead newsroom training on audience engagement and digital growth; spot trends and emerging topics early; and advise on formats and channels to maximise reach. Partnering with editorial, you’ll optimise headlines, visuals and publishing strategies through data‑driven recommendations, set and track KPIs for growth and retention, and report progress against targets.

You’ll develop strategies to acquire new audiences and deepen engagement with existing ones, act as the go‑to expert translating complex central‑team data into clear actions, and provide guidance to Audience Editors and Engagement Producers alongside the Audience Strategy & Engagement team. You’ll also commission Content Insights reports and dashboards, sense‑check visualisations, and provide feedback to refine new and existing data.

This role is home & hub linked to our Liverpool hub, so you must be located in or around Liverpool.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

Analyse audience behaviour across all content platforms

Provide daily, weekly, and long-term insights to editors to inform story selection, timing, and distribution

Lead newsroom training on best practices for audience engagement and digital growth

Identify trends in audience preferences and emerging topics; advise on content formats and channels to maximise reach

Collaborate with editorial teams to optimise headlines, visuals, and publishing strategies based on data-driven recommendations.

Set and track KPIs for audience growth and retention; report on progress against targets on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis

Work with newsrooms on tailored brand strategies and report progress to Audience leaders

Develop and execute strategies to acquire new audiences and deepen engagement with existing ones

Act as the go-to expert for audience questions—translating complex data from specialists within the central team into clear actions

Providing guidance and support for Audience Editors and Engagement Producers in tandem with the wider Audience Strategy and Engagement team

Commission and help create reports and dashboards with Content Insights. Sense check and provide feedback on new and existing data visualisation

Play your part in building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities and people we serve

• Ability to translate complex data sets into clear, actionable insights for non-technical colleagues, as well as using key influencing skills to drive forward and actions

Experience developing and implementing strategies to grow, engage, and retain audiences across multiple platforms

Up-to-date knowledge of digital publishing trends, SEO, social media algorithms, and newsletter best practices

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to present findings persuasively to editorial teams

Organised and able to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders at once

Ability to deliver workshops or one-on-one support for reporters and editors on audience engagement tactics

Confident in bringing people on board with new ideas, ways of working, and implementation

Excellent communication and time management skills

Ability to work in a team

Willingness and ability to adapt to changing needs of digital audiences as well as business priorities

Qualifications & Experience required

Proven experience in audience development or digital analytics within a news/media environment

Expertise with analytics tools such as Chartbeat and Google Analytics.

Strong communication skills—you can turn numbers into stories everyone understands

Collaborative mindset; comfortable working closely with journalists and editors

A passion for media innovation and staying ahead of digital trends.

Degree in journalism/communications/data science or equivalent experience

Additional Information

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.