At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic social media strategy focused on video content and audience engagement.
- Company: Join The Times, a trusted name in news with a rich cultural heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, training opportunities, health insurance, and discounts on books and fitness.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for career growth and collaboration with top industry professionals.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping the future of social media storytelling.
- Qualifications: Experience in social media roles with strong editorial judgement and team management skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Times and The Sunday Times represent a combined 400 years of covering news and providing comment and analysis on the UK and the world. We are authoritative, credible, responsible, trusted and a part of the nation’s cultural heritage.
Your role supports the delivery of a video‑first social media strategy designed to grow reach, engagement, and revenue, while upholding our editorial values. Working closely with the Head of Social Strategy, our social production coordinator and the wider newsroom, this role ensures our social content is executed to the highest standards — day in, day out.
The deputy will play a key role in leading the daily operation of the social and video team, overseeing content production and distribution across platforms, and ensuring our output is audience‑focused, data‑informed, and brand‑consistent. This position requires flexibility to work on a shift pattern, including weekends, to provide consistent leadership and support to the team.
Day to day you will:
- Support the Head of Social Strategy in executing a video‑first social media strategy that aligns with editorial priorities and business goals.
- Oversee the daily publishing schedule and editorial output across social platforms, ensuring timely, high‑quality, and audience‑relevant content.
- Lead on shift and weekend coverage, providing real‑time editorial judgement, escalation support, and decision‑making in collaboration with newsroom editors.
- Manage and mentor social editors and video specialists, ensuring strong performance, creativity, and adherence to best practices.
- Work closely with the Head of Social Strategy and data analysts to monitor performance, interpret insights, and adjust tactics in response to trends.
- Collaborate with marketing, video, and commercial teams to maximise reach and revenue opportunities on key social platforms.
- Maintain consistency in tone, visuals, and editorial standards across all channels.
- Encourage experimentation with formats, tools, and storytelling techniques to drive growth and innovation.
- Act as deputy in the Head of Social Strategy’s absence, providing continuity of leadership and maintaining high editorial and operational standards.
What we’re looking for from you:
- Proven experience in a senior social media, audience, or newsroom role, ideally with a focus on video and visual storytelling.
- Strong editorial judgement and understanding of what drives engagement and conversation across platforms.
- Experience managing or supervising teams in a fast‑paced publishing environment, including shift‑based operations.
- Proficiency in using analytics and audience insights to inform editorial decisions and optimise performance.
- Collaborative, adaptable, and confident working with senior editors, marketers, and commercial stakeholders.
- Excellent understanding of emerging social trends, tools, and video formats.
- Strong communication and organisational skills, with the ability to balance strategic priorities with hands‑on daily delivery.
Benefits:
- 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.
- Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books.
- Access to exclusive events 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%.
- 30 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year.
We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments due to a disability or health condition at any stage of your application or interview, please let us know. You can contact us to discuss how we can support you to perform at your best.
Deputy Head of Social Strategy in London employer: The Times
The Times and The Sunday Times offer a dynamic and inclusive work environment that champions creativity and innovation in social media strategy. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the company provides extensive training opportunities, including access to LinkedIn Learning, and promotes a healthy work-life balance through generous leave policies and wellbeing benefits. Located at the heart of the UK's media landscape, employees enjoy unique access to exclusive events and collaborations with leading brands, making it an exciting place for those passionate about journalism and digital storytelling.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Head of Social Strategy in London
✨Get Involved in PR Events
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We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Head of Social Strategy in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of The Times. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at The Times.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Times
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
