Job Description

We are the UK’s leading premium publisher, home to iconic and influential media brands including Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Country Living At Hearst UK, we don’t just create content — we shape culture.

Our workplace is built on collaboration, creativity, and trust. We champion bold ideas, embrace innovation, and continually evolve to meet the moment — all while celebrating the legacy that’s brought us here. We believe in each other’s potential and push boundaries together to make a meaningful impact, both in the media landscape and in people’s lives.

We’re proud of our heritage - but even more excited about making history.

Hearst UK operate a hybrid working model of four days per week in the office and one day working from home. Our office is based at House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, St James’s, London, SW1Y 4AJ, where teams collaborate in person and connect across brands and functions.

The Role…

This is an exceptional opportunity to steer the direction of Digital Spy into a bold new era. Reporting into the Portfolio Director for Entertainment, this is a chance for a new Editor to grow the brand, change the editorial strategy, and come up with a plan to reinvigorate its social and video channels. The new Editor will also be expected to report on the editorial strategy and traffic to the Head of Audience.

You will need a love of all things TV and movies, have excellent communication skills, be an instinctive story writer, bea great headline writer, and have a strong understanding of Google Discover and Search.

You will steer daily news meetings, monthly section meetings, and liaise with the Night News Editors and Weekend Editor to ensure best practice across the site’s output. While this is a 9-5 job as the head of a digital website, you will be expected to work some weekends and nights when there is an event that could substantially affect traffic.

Main Duties…

• Coming up with a new and exciting concept for DS in conjunction with the Head of Audience and the Entertainment Portfolio Director.

• Manage the shift rota, the onboarding and payment of reporters, and recruit and train new staff as and when necessary. You will oversee the budget and account for all spending.

• Steer the daily news meeting and monthly section meetings, as well as liaising with the Night News Editors, Weekend Editor, Chief Sub Editor, Video Editor, Social Media Executive, and Picture Director to ensure best practice across the site’s output.

• Analyse in-depth analytics on a regular basis, and report daily on-site performance with guidance from our Head of Digital.

• Understand and refine editorial strategy to grow audience.

• Take responsibility for all editorial content on the site, social channels, video content, and push notifications, as well as help the Newsletter Editor to find the right tone and pitch for DS newsletters.

• Devise, implement, and revise strategy for each section head, based on performance and traffic patterns.

• Offer constructive feedback to staff, freelance reporters, and freelance sub-editors.

• Grow and pivot Digital Spy’s brand values where needed.

• Manage freelance editorial shift scheduling alongside the Chief Sub Editor.

• Work closely with section heads to ensure the news planner has the latest stories for reporters to cover, and ensure entries are optimised for Google Discover and/or Search based on a focused understanding of Digital Spy’s place in the digital ecosphere.

• Oversee hiring and training of any new staff.

• Manage the Digital Spy creative and contractor budgets and account for all spending.

• Assist the commercial teams in identifying and attracting new sources of revenue.

What We Are Looking For…

• A clear and strong understanding of optimisation for Google Discover and Search.

• A love of TV and movies, and a will to pivot and change when testing ideas doesn’t work.

• Two years’ experience working as a digital editor or deputy editor (or section head of a large site), and at least five years’ experience in the entertainment-news arena.

• Experience managing people.

• Experience of in-depth analytics and a proven track record of working with data.

• Experience working with e-commerce and other affiliate content.

• Experience managing budgets.

• Familiarity with Microsoft business software (Planner, Excel, Teams, etc.) is highly desirable, and experience with Hearst’s CMS and Google Analytics/Google Search Console are a plus.

• A clear and up-to-date understanding of UK media law, especially as it relates to privacy, defamation and copyright online.

Benefits…

(Your benefits at Hearst UK are more than just extras—they are tools to help you thrive in every part of life.)

Hearst Exclusives - Only for You!

• Get adventurous with Good Housekeeping Taste and Beauty Testing Panels - yes, you could be trying the next big thing in beauty, food & drink.
• Snag luxe beauty steals at our legendary office sample sales - score big on top brands without breaking the bank!

Inclusion, Health & Wellbeing: Feel Your Best

• Stay healthy with Specsavers eye care, a company-funded Health Cash Plan, and access to mental health support.
• Get active and stress-free with discounted gym memberships and the Cycle to Work scheme.
• Embrace flexibility with a Location Flex and Holiday Exchange to take time when you need it.
• Take time to give back with a Charity Day and access wellbeing resources whenever you need them.
• Join one of our Hearst ERG Groups.

Financial Wellness - Boost Your Budget

• Plan ahead with a generous Workplace Pension, Income Protection, Life Assurance and Season Ticket Loan for easier commuting.
• Make smarter money moves using Salary Finance tools, Financial Wellbeing sessions, and Home Tech benefits to spread costs.
• Treat yourself with major discounts across London plus everyday savings via the HAPI at Hearst app

Hearst UK is deeply committed to using our influential brands to reflect the world we want to live in – one that respects, protects, represents and uplifts the voices and opinions of all people. As a business, we recognise the significant benefits of creativity, collaboration and innovation that comes with diverse teams. Not only is diversifying the voices in our organization the right thing to do, but it also helps us to make powerful and exciting content that can be enjoyed by many more people. This is why we’re working to build a sense of true belonging within our business and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard.