Retail Week, Features Editor (Fixed Term - Mat Cover)

Features Editor, Retail Week
 

This is an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and ambitious journalist to join Retail Week as features editor, initially on a 12-month maternity cover contract. As part of a fast-paced content team, you will take ownership of Retail Week’s feature and deep dive content - output that our subscribers are increasingly craving as they navigate a turbulent trading landscape and adapt to an increasing pace of change. The features editor is a core part of the team that is driving Retail Week’s online output, ensuring we produce content that chimes with what our subscribers are thinking about, answers the questions that are keeping them awake at night, and delivers actionable insight that will help them make better decisions for their businesses.

Key accountabilities

• You will work in a content team of journalists, analysts, data experts, product editors, videographers and event producers.
• Your role will be to own and develop our long form content, commissioning and writing feature and deep dive articles; report on businesses within the retail sector; build, nurture and maintain contacts across the industry; and interview board level directors.
• You will be expected to regularly pitch and contribute to content tailored to our audience - c-suite retail leaders - that helps them make better strategic decisions. You will play an active role in coming up with new ideas and formats for our content that better meets the needs of our time-pressed but information-hungry subscribers.
• You will be responsible for giving concise, constructive feedback to our team of journalists to ensure that our feature output delivers tangible insight for our customers.
• You will also represent Retail Week in the market, attending industry functions and events that often include evening commitments. The features editor will also be a commentator in the media, representing Retail Week through TV and radio appearances.
• You are an advocate and ally for diversity, equity and inclusion.
• This list is not exhaustive and there may be other activities you are required to deliver.

Skills, experience & qualifications required

• You are a hungry and ambitious reporter, full of creativity and new ideas, with a demonstrable interest and experience in business or retail journalism. .
• You are accustomed to writing news and features to tight deadlines, and have already gained some experience of editing and commissioning content.
• You will have the ability to pitch strong ideas and write and edit in a distinctive and engaging way that maintains Retail Week’s authority as the industry’s leading trade publication. You will also have the ability to use social media platforms to engage our subscribers and spark discussion and debate on key topics.
• You are a team player and people person, with the ability to build and nurture strong working relationships with c-suite retailers and our team of reporters.
• You are comfortable handling the pressures that come with working as part of a fast-paced content team that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our subscribers.
• You will be enthusiastic, organised and be able to multitask, since you will be expected to juggle multiple pieces of content and commissions at any given time.
• Most importantly, you are inquisitive, always seeking to tell the full story, and be passionate about delivering engaging and insightful content.
• Digital broadcast skills, such as presenting, producing and editing video or podcasts, would be beneficial, as would experience of Google Drive, content management systems and SEO.

Ascential’s supporting beliefs

• Focus: we ruthlessly prioritise and always keep things simple
• All in: once we commit we deliver, with a clear focus on outcome
• Trustworthiness, transparency & openness: transparency inspires trust & empowers
• Be creative: we are smart, pro-active innovators
• Facts: we always use data & insight to inform our work
• Empathy: we can be relied upon for fairness and consideration
• No silos: one team, one face, one reputation

At Ascential, diversity, equity and inclusion is core to us. We’re a company built around our people - and we’re committed to supporting each and every one of them to be the best they can be. We love having a diverse team of people who bring new ideas and different strengths and perspectives to Ascential. Our employee-led networks, Ascential Pride, Black in Business and EmPower: An Ascential Women's Initiative, help us to create a place where communities and allies can connect and share experiences. In addition, our Early Talent programmes help grow and foster diverse new talent for our sectors.

We are committed to supporting the environment and sustainability, including ensuring our pension plan defaults to sustainable options and striving to be net zero by 2030.

Recognising great performance is a key part of our culture. Our Awards schemes recognise and reward the brilliant achievements of our people.

We have a truly flexible working environment with a wide range of flexible, hybrid and agile-working arrangements. Conversations about flexible working have always been - and will continue to be - actively encouraged here. 

We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable during the process, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.

For more information on our culture, visit Ascential.com.