Job Description
About us
The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.
The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.
Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.
We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.
The role
The Independent is looking for an experienced Consumer Editor to produce money-saving and product-focused coverage for its eCommerce division.
The successful candidate will write and edit articles about the best deals, sales and discounts to help our readers find tried and tested products at their lowest prices. They will also be as comfortable in front of the camera showcasing products and discussing money-saving tips as they are writing articles, reviews and product round-ups.
The role will require a broad product and brand knowledge and the successful candidate will be able to stay one step ahead of the latest trends and launches.
The successful candidate will be a core member of our editorial team and will also be able to work closely with our commercial and audience teams to build on the successes of our existing deals and sales events coverage which keeps the consumer at the heart of all decision making and product choices.
The consumer editor will also take a leading role during key shopping events, such as Prime Day and Black Friday.
They will be expected to produce content that strikes a chord with The Independent’s readers, while also being able to test and review new things in a bid to reach new audiences. They should be self-starters, remain unflappable under pressure and be a stickler for editorial quality and best practice.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
* We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone
* We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.
The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.
About you
Key responsibilities and accountabilities
* Be an expert when it comes to money-saving advice
* Write well-researched product and money saving-focused articles, features and guides
* Create engaging video content for on-site and social
* Understanding of how to build an audience and following on social media
* Lead on deals coverage, including sales events
* Use analytic tools to track performance, such as Google Analytics, Trackonomics and affiliate platforms
* Regularly update and optimise existing evergreen deals coverage
* Identify new opportunities to expand The Independent’s offering when it comes to saving money
* Stay abreast of product launches and trends
Essential skills and experience
* Relevant commerce experience, writing and editing for a digital publication
* First-rate understanding of best SEO practices
* Experience in writing product reviews, round-ups and covering major sales events
* Exemplary editorial judgement
* Presenting experience for video content
* Experienced at managing social media accounts
* Understand the commerce media landscape
Our values – you will deliver across all our values
Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.
Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.
Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.