Commissioning Editor

Job Introduction

When you join Saga we welcome you with open arms and we fuel your career possibilities. We support. We encourage. We champion you to reach your full potential.

This role is an important part of the Group Marketing team who strive to facilitate, to help and support the Membership function of the business.

At Saga Magazine we are committed to creating a really good read that is entertaining, informative, inspiring and fun; commissioning great content is fundamental to achieving that. Working in a small team of editorial professionals you’ll be responsible in implementing the overall strategy of the magazine by commissioning and developing articles to delight and inspire our readers.

You’ll need good judgement to decide what commissions will drive greater engagement with the magazine and the brand as well as understanding what makes our readership tick, from new developments in healthcare to the Beatles’ greatest hits.

Ideally, you’ll have worked in a similar role on a national magazine and have a good grasp of print journalism, stakeholder management and what sells.

And in return, you can look forward to all of the responsibility and involvement of an integral role, providing you with a rewarding and fast paced career with an excellent benefits package including life assurance, pension, high street and online discounts, and concessions for holidays and travel.

Role Responsibility

• Help commission and edit features/beauty/health/celebrity content
• Originate feature, opinion, interactive and multimedia ideas in print and online
• Help commission staff and freelancers
• Liaise with other desks such as pictures/ design/ production/ multimedia/ community/ membership
• Excellent stakeholder management
• Help ensure production deadlines are met
• Engage with readers in an imaginative way
• To work within a ‘commission once, publish anywhere’ model to streamline content production workflow, ensuring content can be quickly repurposed into print, digital and social
• To be responsible for meeting press and digital deadlines and print KPIs ensuring Saga Magazine is delivered on time and on budget
• To uphold the company’s brand values and standards, both internally and externally
• To ensure relevant celebrities, opinion formers, columnists, agencies, PR and writers are actively sourced, maintaining a pool of experts, writers and public figures engaged in creating and delivering timely content, opinion, features and interviews in digital and print and bring Saga’s brand to life
• To ensure content meets reader needs and supports the commercial strategy for the business and ensure magazine content across owned topics and sections meets the demanding standards required to maintain its position as the UK’s biggest selling subscription magazine

The Ideal Candidate

Capability, knowledge and experience:

• Proven experience working in a commissioning editor role on a national newspaper or magazine
• Proven track record of editing and commissioning
• Clear vision of the purpose and aims of Saga Magazine
• Wide knowledge of and interest in the what interests the over 50s market
• Deep knowledge of consumer print and digital production environments, including the full print process

Education and qualifications:

• A good standard of secondary education required but Graduate-level or higher desired
• Maintains continuous professional development

Personal characteristics:

• A strong communicator and collaborator, able to communicate ideas and concepts, at varying levels of seniority
• Energetic
• Confident
• People-person
• Organised
• Ability to deal with a multifaceted role
• Ability to stay up to speed with daily general news events: especially those relating to the world of people over 50
• Ability to stay up to speed with libel laws and other legal requirements of a publishing house
• At least five years practical knowledge of digital content production
• Excellent literary skills

Package Description

The standard benefits when you join Saga include:

• Option to purchase a further 5 days annual leave per year
• Free private medical insurance after 1 years service
• Pension
• AXA Be Supported
• Apples Nursery (Folkestone only and on a waiting list basis)
• Free fruit 
• Give as you earn
• Free eye tests
• Honeymoon benefit
• Sharebuy
• Salary finance
• Discounts on Saga holidays and insurance products
• A range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Long service awards

About the Company

When you join Saga you will see that we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. 

We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better. Creating a culture in which everyone feels welcome and offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement is incredibly important to us. Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities. If you need support at any point with your application please let us know as we will be happy to help.

Learn more about the Saga business by watching our Saga plc results for the financial year 2018/2019

To all recruitment agencies: Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the HR Recruitment Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.

Saga Group