Editor

Prolific North is the leading media platform dedicated to championing and connecting the creative, digital, marketing and tech sectors across the North of England and Scotland.

Since its launch in 2013, Prolific North has grown to become a trusted source of news, insight and industry analysis, with an audience of over 130,000 unique monthly visitors and a combined social following of over 40,000.

We also host a series of industry-leading events, awards, and seminars, bringing together professionals from across the region to share ideas, celebrate success, and foster collaboration. We're an ambitious, collaborative and supportive team that values work-life balance and professional growth.

Job Overview

Prolific North is seeking an experienced and dynamic Editor to lead its editorial team and drive the platform into its next exciting chapter of growth and innovation. You’ll be responsible for shaping our editorial vision, implementing strategic goals to increase readership, and ensuring our content aligns with Prolific North's mission to inform, inspire and engage its audience.

This role offers the chance to shape the conversation around the creative, digital and tech industries in the North. If that’s something you’re passionate about, please read on.

Key Responsibilities

Set Editorial Vision & Strategy: Define and lead the editorial direction and long-term strategy, ensuring alignment with company goals and market trends.

Content Development: Oversee the creation of high-quality, engaging content (breaking news, investigative reports, industry profiles, thought leadership pieces, events) ensuring the content resonates with our core audience whilst also attracting new readers by developing and growing existing content and new channels, particularly tech focused content.

Contribute to our commercial strategy: Work with MD and Commercial Director to identify, develop and maximise new opportunities, identify potential for sponsored content, develop new revenue streams related to editorial content, collaborate on marketing campaigns, or produce topical content-led events.

Team Leadership: Manage, mentor and inspire a small editorial team, fostering a collaborative, creative and high-performance environment.

Board Representation: Represent and report on the company’s editorial department at monthly board meetings.

Increase Website Traffic: Utilise SEO best practices, data analytics and audience engagement strategies to grow website traffic and improve search engine rankings.

Diversify Content Channels: Innovate new content formats and delivery channels, including newsletters, podcasts, video content and social media, to reach and engage a broader audience.

Audience Growth & Engagement: Build on Prolific North’s core readership while identifying new audiences.

Partnership & Collaboration: Work with external contributors, partners and other departments (sales and marketing) to create compelling editorial content and maximise opportunities for cross-platform promotion.

Editorial Calendar & Workflow Management: Oversee editorial planning, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, content scheduling and timely delivery.

Quality Control: Ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency across all editorial content, maintaining high journalistic standards and adhering to ethical guidelines.

Stay Industry Informed: Keep up with trends in digital media, marketing, technology and journalism, ensuring Prolific North remains ahead of industry developments.

Key Requirements

• Proven Editorial Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in an editorial leadership role within a digital media organisation or newsroom.
• Leadership Skills: Demonstrable ability to lead, manage and develop a small team.
• Content Strategy Expertise: Strong understanding of content strategy, SEO and data-driven decision-making to increase audience engagement and website traffic.
• Digital Media Knowledge: Deep familiarity with digital media trends, including experience with multimedia content (podcasts, video, social media).
• Exceptional Writing and Editing Skills: Excellent command of the English language with a strong eye for detail.
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to analyse traffic data and engagement metrics to refine content strategies.
• Collaboration and Communication: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with different  internal teams (sales and marketing) to deliver integrated content initiatives; keen to engage directly with our audience and partners to learn how Prolific North can better cater to our audiences.
• Comfortable with public speaking: Chairing and presenting conferences and/or roundtables will be a regular component of the job

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with content management systems, in particular Wordpress, and other editorial tools.
• Knowledge of the media, marketing and creative sector.
• Familiarity with audience growth tools (e.g., Google Analytics) and social media management platforms.

The usual working hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (36 hours per week) but may vary based on event delivery. We get together regularly on Mondays and Thursdays at our Manchester city centre office space and you’re free to work from wherever you like (including the office) the remaining three days of the week. However, during busy event periods, more days working within the office may be required.

In this role you will report to the managing director and oversee a team of three journalists. The role comes with 20 holidays, plus bank holidays and early end of year shutdown (approximately 2 weeks).

Our hiring process

1. Informal chat with our Managing Director about your interest in the role. This is a chance for us to get to know you.
2. A second interview with a task where you'll present to our Managing Director and Commercial Director.
3. Meet the team. A chance to get to know the wider team and see if Prolific North is the right fit for you.

How to apply

If this role and our culture resonate with you, please get in touch with me, Alexandra: alexandra@prolificnorth.co.uk, with your CV, a link to your LinkedIn profile and tell me what makes you the right person for this role.

We welcome applications from everyone and are keen to build a diverse and truly inclusive team.

Deadline to apply: Friday, 29 November. Applications may close sooner if a suitable candidate is found ahead of the deadline.