The Focus of the Role:
As Deputy Head of Content, you’ll support the Head of Content in planning and creating engaging content across Bauer’s Transport Brands (Steam Railway and Model Rail). You’ll collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure accuracy, brand alignment, and efficient production workflows, while also deputising for the Head of Content when needed.
You’ll help lead and inspire a high-performing content team, overseeing compelling print, digital, and commercially-led content. This role involves planning features and news, contributing to content creation, and ensuring smooth workflows using industry tools.
Hybrid working is available, with some travel to our Peterborough office required for collaboration.
Key Responsibilities:
Editorial Content Planning –
1. Supports the Head of Content by implementing the strategic long-term and medium-term planning, as decided in collaboration with the Group Editor and Publisher
2. Supports the Head of Content by leading relevant daily, weekly, and / or monthly planning meetings, to discuss and plan content, including Flatplanning with the relevant team members
3. Captures agreed content cascades in in conjunction with the Head of Content to ensure transparency of content planning across all segments and brands
4. Plans content outside of fixed cascades and creates flatplans with the Head of Content, Production Editors, and Art Directors where appropriate
5. Commissioning articles where required, including team members and external freelancers
6. Assigns and provides links to briefs for Content Editors, using
7. Co-planning across channels with the Head of Content and wider team, to make sure we’re sharing content effectively between print and digital
Delivery –
8. Writes copy and secures imagery to fit our brand guidelines and templates, ready to pass pages to production team
9. Edits copy and imagery from Content Editors and freelancers to fit our brand guidelines and templates, ready to pass pages to production team
10. Organises, oversees, and monitors the output of the content team, to ensure the timely delivery of quality content to brands as per the planning tools
11. Creates complete base articles, ensuring all copy and pictures are in place (in conjunction with Art Director and picture team where appropriate) and optimised for print
12. Ensures Content Editors understand and follow the master workflow to create consistency and efficiency
13. Manages and maintains pre-planning and planning boards
Reviewing –
14. Following post-production review (monthly), works with Head of Content and Group Editor to ensure continuous improvement on quality and efficiency
15. Reviews Content team productivity in collaboration with Content Editors, and feeds back to Head of Content
16. Horizon scanning for trends and ideas and reviews competition, and makes recommendations in planning meetings
Team Performance and Development –
17. Supports the Head of Content in recruiting and developing team members to create an engaged and high performing Content Team and culture of continuous learning, in collaboration with Group Editor, HR and Training.
18. Identifies team and individual skills, strengths, and development needs, and collaborates with Head of Content to provide coaching, mentoring and development opportunities
What You’ll Bring:
19. Highly efficient, organised and schedule-oriented planner who can write, plan, manage and coordinate multiple people, and tasks
20. Able to influence and manage multiple stakeholders and resolve conflict
21. Creative thinker with an eye for imagery and design, with a content-first and audience-focused mindset and who can operate across multiple brands consistently delivering quality content
22. Best-in-class journalist who is passionate and authoritative about their content type(s)
23. Expert in using for pre-planning and planning and managing content cascades, and can confidently train others to use effectively and efficiently
24. Skilled in using GPS editorial production tools including WoodWing Assets and WoodWing Studio
25. Understands and follows the Master Workflow, promoting best practice amongst the content team
26. Skilled at delivering results through others, providing feedback, coaching, and mentoring to continually improve performance
27. Has a willingness and an understanding of the importance of content cascades within the framework of the current publishing business and is able to plan resources to maximise content cascades across the brands