At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy for FT Weekend Magazine and optimise revenue performance.
- Company: Join the Financial Times, a globally recognised news organisation with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, medical cover, gym memberships, and a flexible hybrid working model.
- Other info: Diverse workplace committed to inclusion and personal growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact in journalism while developing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management or media sales, strong organisational and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide. At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world. In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing. Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.
The Role
We are looking for a commercially minded and highly organised individual to support the performance, product strategy and operational delivery of the FT Weekend portfolio, with a primary focus on FT Weekend Magazine. This role combines strategic oversight with hands‑on delivery. You will work closely with editorial, production and sales teams to optimise revenue, support efficient issue delivery and ensure the smooth running of weekly processes. You will play a key role in flat planning, ad allocation, inventory management, reporting and stakeholder coordination, while also seeing opportunities to strengthen the commercial performance of the wider Weekend portfolio.
The ideal candidate will be comfortable moving between detailed operational tasks and broader commercial analysis, bringing strong attention to detail, confidence with data and the ability to build trusted relationships across teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the primary commercial lead for FT Weekend Magazine, supporting weekly issue delivery and commercial performance.
- Own flat planning, ad allocations and issue closing in partnership with Editorial and Production.
- Manage Salesforce reporting and ad list creation, ensuring accurate alignment with flat plans.
- Supervise booking deadlines, availability tracking and inventory management to maintain weekly schedules.
- Monitor incoming creative, ensuring quality and suitability, and raising issues where required.
- Liaise with Production on pagination, copy requirements, special executions and press deadlines.
- Source and manage filler content where required.
- Track commercial targets and maintain up-to-date revenue reporting, sharing monthly updates with wider collaborators.
- Support other products within the Weekend portfolio, including HTSI, across areas such as filler content, booking deadlines and inventory management.
- Support revenue performance tracking, forecasting and yield optimisation across the portfolio.
- Identify commercial opportunities, including short-term packages and longer-term product enhancements.
- Deliver quarterly revenue analysis and ongoing performance insights across the FT Weekend portfolio.
- Build data-led arguments for new product development or product improvements.
- Ensure sales collateral, including media kits, rate cards, publishing schedules and toolkits, is accurate and up to date.
- Supervise the renewals process in collaboration with Sales teams.
- Provide guidance on product availability, logistics and pagination planning.
- Support sales presentations, client projects and commercial enquiries.
- Coordinate issue logistics, including subscriptions, voucher copies and distribution requirements.
- Maintain Salesforce data, reporting and lead management.
- Act as a key point of contact across editorial, production and sales teams.
- Coordinate internal communications to ensure teams are aligned on deadlines and priorities.
- Prepare monthly stakeholder reports with clear commercial insight and recommendations.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity and product performance.
- Conduct revenue audits and track portfolio-wide performance metrics.
- Collate insights across products for global updates.
Required Skills and Experience
- Strong commercial competence, with experience in product management, media sales, publishing or a related commercial environment.
- Ability to balance critical thinking with detailed operational execution.
- Excellent organisational skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to handle competing deadlines.
- Confidence working with data, reporting and performance analysis.
- Strong relationship and leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively across editorial, production, sales and commercial teams.
- Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Solid understanding of Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
- Ability to identify commercial opportunities and translate insight into practical recommendations.
- A proactive and collaborative approach, with confidence managing processes and solving problems independently.
- Experience using Salesforce.
- Experience within luxury, media or publishing sectors.
- Knowledge of print production, issue planning or advertising operations.
- Experience supporting sales teams with collateral, reporting or client-facing materials.
- Interest in the FT Weekend portfolio and the wider luxury, lifestyle and media landscape.
What’s in it for You?
Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best‑in‑class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.
We’ve embraced a 50% hybrid working model (averaging two to three days onsite) that fosters trust and remote adaptability while encouraging in‑person camaraderie and peer learning. Additionally, we are open to accommodating specific flexible working pattern requests for all roles where feasible.
Accessibility
We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.
Senior Commercial Product Executive employer: The Financial Times Ltd
The Financial Times is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that champions diversity and personal growth. With a commitment to employee wellbeing, the FT provides generous benefits, including flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development, ensuring that every team member can thrive while contributing to impactful journalism. Join us in a collaborative environment where your ideas matter and your career can flourish.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Product Executive
✨Dive Into the Publishing Community
Get involved with local or online publishing communities. Join forums, attend literary festivals, or participate in panel discussions. This can be a goldmine for meeting industry professionals and hearing about opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow leading publishing media channels on social media, like Twitter and Instagram. See what tactics and content formats are currently trending. This knowledge can help you tailor your discussions when you're networking or at interviews with companies like The Financial Times Ltd.
✨Make Your Passion Visible
If you have a blog or a social media presence focused on books or publishing, use it! Share your thoughts on recent publications, trends in the industry, or interviews with authors. This can showcase your passion and knowledge, making you stand out as a candidate.
✨Hunt for Opportunities on Company Websites
While job boards are useful, don’t forget to go directly to company websites, like The Financial Times Ltd. They often post openings there first. Plus, you might find job descriptions that give insight into what skills they really value, which can help you ace that interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Product Executive
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Writing Style:In the publishing-media world, your writing style is your signature. Make sure your CV highlights relevant writing experiences, whether that's published articles, blog posts, or even social media content. Give us a glimpse of your voice and flair for storytelling right from the start!
Include Relevant Projects:Don’t just list your roles; include specific projects you've worked on that demonstrate your skills in editing, research, or content creation. If you've contributed to a magazine or worked on a publication, make that front and centre! It shows you've got hands-on experience in the industry, which we absolutely love.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Let’s be honest: a generic cover letter is a missed opportunity. Take the time to craft a letter that speaks to why you’re passionate about this role at The Financial Times Ltd. Mention what excites you about the publishing-media industry and how your skills align with the job description. We want to see that enthusiasm!
Format Matters!:In the publishing-media sector, presentation is key. Ensure your CV and cover letter are well-organised and visually appealing. Use headings, bullet points, and a clean layout. This isn't just about aesthetics — it shows your attention to detail and professionalism, which we really appreciate at The Financial Times Ltd.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Financial Times Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff: Be Ready on Industry Trends
Get yourself clued up on the latest trends in the publishing-media world. Think about how digital transformation is impacting the industry, and be ready to chat about relevant examples. This shows you're not just passionate but also informed!
✨Showcase Your Creativity with a Portfolio
Bring along a portfolio that showcases your writing, editing, or design work. Since it’s a full-time role, they’ll want to see how your style fits their brand at The Financial Times Ltd. Tailor your presentation to their projects for maximum impact.
✨Brush Up on Editing Techniques
Expect some technical questions about editing styles, proofing techniques, and style guides. They might ask you to solve a practical problem or provide feedback on a piece—know the tools and software commonly used in the industry, and be prepared to discuss them!
✨Express Your Passion for Storytelling
In the publishing-media field, storytelling is key. Be ready to discuss what stories inspire you and why you want to join the team at The Financial Times Ltd. Let your enthusiasm shine through; they want to know you're genuinely interested in contributing to their narratives!