Digital Editor (Hiring Immediately)

Location: DMGT HQ - High Street Kensington, London
Position: Permanent

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial Digital Editor to take editorial ownership of our digital products and lead our editorial teams through a period of bold innovation and digital change.

New Scientist is a legacy brand with a reputation built on expert and authoritative journalism. We are now entering into a new chapter of digital-first innovation in order to reach a larger, younger, and digital native audience - all the while staying true to our values of expert, quality journalism. This role will drive that evolution, helping us to deliver on our digital vision, spearhead a culture of innovation and experimentation, and lead the team in digital best practice. 

The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with hands-on execution, working closely with editorial, product, technology, marketing, and audience teams to help reimagine what our brand means for the next generation of audiences.

Main Responsibilities

Digital ownership and innovation

• Take ownership of success of our digital content and audience and subscriber growth objectives

• Ensure content is optimised for different audiences during commissioning, and work closely with the whole editorial team to develop strategies to reach younger, more diverse and digital savvy audiences through innovative formats and platforms.

• Work closely with the Editor to ensure our digital products represent our brand and values.

• Lead on exciting new formats and user experiences through experimentation, data-driven decision-making, and creative risk-taking, and instil a culture of experimentation throughout the wider team.

Audience & Platform Innovation

• Identify new content verticals, formats (video, social, podcasts, immersive experiences), and distribution strategies that resonate with younger demographics.

• Forge partnerships with creators and digital platforms to expand brand reach and engagement.

• Understand our audience needs and industry trends to understand and react to emerging content consumption habits.

Organisational Change & Leadership

• Lead on innovation, helping legacy teams integrate digital thinking into every part of the business.

• Work cross-functionally to help modernize workflows, and imbue the wider team with a digital mindset.

• Initiate or lead training, capability-building, and change management initiatives to empower staff to embrace new technologies and storytelling methods.

Product, Technology & Revenue Growth

• Drive product and tech teams to enhance the user experience across owned digital platforms.

• Set and own KPIs to measure progress, ROI, and impact of digital initiatives.

Person Specification

• Proven experience in delivering great content and growing a digital publication, preferably across multiple types of media (text, audio, video).

• Strong track record of digital audience growth and engagement.

• Experience of how to build habits and grow subscriber behaviour.

• Deep understanding of content ecosystems, social platforms, and emerging digital technologies.

• And understanding of, and interest in, the use of AI in new product development.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to move seamlessly between strategy and execution.

• Familiarity with newsroom operations, digital production workflows, and data analytics tools is a plus.

• Digital native with a wide-ranging interest and knowledge of digital platforms.

• Prepared to roll up sleeves and take a hands-on approach.

Personal Attributes

• Visionary and innovative - thrives on imagining what’s next.
• Collaborative, empathetic leader who inspires creative teams.
• Analytical and commercially savvy, with a bias for action.
• Passionate about storytelling, science, and technology.

About Us

New Scientist is the world’s global science media brand, reaching more than [1.2 million] readers every month.The website, app and print editions cover international news from a scientific standpoint, and ask the big-picture questions about life, the universe, technological progress and what it means to be human.

The magazine was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”. It now includes newsletters, videos, podcasts, courses, holidays and live events in the UK, US and Australia, including New Scientist Live, the world’s greatest festival of science and technology.

Our Commitment

We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in other formats or if you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process. Please be assured that any such information will be held separately to your recruitment application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.