Editor, Communities @ Reach plc

What you will do

• Launch and operate: Lead the rollout of our initial test markets (Southport, Ayrshire, Journal), taking them from concept to live beta, and establishing the daily publishing rhythm.
• Define the playbook: Develop and document best practices for this new model. This includes defining content cadence, formatting ("Smart Brevity" style), platform workflows (Launchpad to Substack), and community engagement tactics.
• Talent management and coaching: Hire, manage, and mentor a new breed of entrepreneurial journalists. You will help them hone their distinct "voice," coach them on building their local networks, and support them in acting as both reporters and community managers.
• Optimise for growth and conversion: While you won't hold the ultimate PandL, you will be responsible for the metrics that drive the business. You will obsess over the funnel: free sign-ups, open rates, click-throughs, and free-to-paid conversion rates, adjusting content strategy to improve these numbers.
• Product and platform iteration: Continuously experiment with the platform's capabilities (e.g., commenting, podcasts, local events, tiered subscriptions) to see what drives reader retention and loyalty.

Key stakeholders

To make this work, the Head of Communities will need to operate seamlessly across multiple departments:

• The writers/local talent: Your direct reports. You are their editor, mentor, and biggest internal advocate.
• Reach editorial and commercial leadership: You will report up to leadership to share insights, report on growth metrics, and ensure these new brands maintain Reach’s legal and ethical standards while supporting the broader subscription strategy.
• Product, tech and legal: To refine the publishing workflow between Reach's internal CMS (Launchpad) and the external delivery platform, ensuring seamless integration and compliance.
• Marketing and audience development: To build the "top of funnel." You will collaborate to leverage Reach's existing regional footprints, social channels, and print titles to drive initial free sign-ups for the local writers.

The ideal candidate: skills and DNA

• Exceptional editorial judgement: A background as a senior journalist, news editor, or digital editor. You know what makes a compelling local story and how to frame it for maximum impact and engagement.
• Audience and subscription literacy: You understand the mechanics of the creator economy and paid newsletters. You know the difference between a story that drives a quick click and a story that builds habit and loyalty.
• Community-first mindset: You believe journalism should be a two-way conversation. You know how to cultivate a healthy comments section, organise reader meetups, and make subscribers feel like "members" rather than just consumers.
• Data-informed agility: You are comfortable working in a launch environment. You are agile and willing to pivot content strategies quickly based on what the engagement and conversion data tells you.
• Talent management: You have a track record of managing distinct personalities and coaching writers. You know how to give writers the freedom to develop their own voice while keeping them aligned with the overarching strategic goals.

How we'll look after you

We take good care of our people - and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you'll get a range of benefits, including:

• 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays), as well as an extra day after you've been with us for three, five and 10 years. We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want to.
• An extra day's paid leave each year to volunteer for a cause close to your community or your heart.
• Big moment day - an extra day’s paid leave for a moment that matters to you - like getting married, moving house or welcoming a new addition to the family (human or furry!)
• Help saving for your retirement - we'll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice.
• Supportive and progressive people policies - we’re proud to have a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression. We believe you shouldn’t have to wait to join us to know what to expect from us, which is why we share this overview of the policies we have in place to support families and carers. If there's something you want to understand more about, just ask - it won’t make a difference to your application.
• A healthcare cash plan - giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor's appointments.
• Car lease scheme - you can buy a brand new electric or hybrid car through our leasing partner, and pay for it through salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.
• Access to lots of discounts - including 15% off with Reach's very own online marketplace, Yimbly, where you can buy everything from homewares to beauty products.
• Interest-free loans - including for season tickets and technology.

If you’re excited about this role but don’t tick every single box, please don’t let that stop you from applying.

We know that everyone has their own story to tell, and we value potential, passion and the perspectives that different backgrounds bring to our work.

Diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and help us better serve our audiences, which is why we’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and supported. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We are committed to a recruitment process that is fair and welcoming to all, without discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.