Job description
You are first and foremost the chief custodian of the magazine brands, their editorial staff and their readers. You will take control of an exceptionally talented and passionate editorial team across 17 magazines and six websites, motivating and managing them to deliver excellent quality editorial (words and pics) for use in magazines and online.
Your main day-to-day functions will be as follows:
• Lead the editorial team and maintain a good team spirit through weekly meetings and daily contact with staff
• Liaise with other departments on behalf of the editorial department
• Tweak processes and procedures in conjunction with other departments to ensure the smooth running of the magazines across all departments, and ensure editorial staff comply with these processes and procedures
• Attend and participate in weekly and monthly management meetings, plus compile statistics and reports for those meetings
• Attend weekly status meetings with the MD
• Generally represent the editorial department and give input on projects etc and their effect on the editorial department
• Take responsibility for ensuring annual editorial planning takes place, with some input from the advertising sales department and will oversee the compilation of those plans for distribution by October each year for the following year. You will also oversee the execution of those plans on an issue-by-issue basis.
• Fulfilling a full HR function for the department. Ensure the editorial department is suitable staffed, and look at career development for staff, write job descriptions for new positions, negotiate contracts, oversee those contracts being drawn up, motivate for increases and promotions, conduct disciplinary procedures, plan and approve leave applications etc
• Standing in for staff as and when required through sickness/leave etc
• Help to conceptualise and launch new magazines
• Compiling in conjunction with the Accounts department, annual editorial budgets
• Oversee and approve monthly editorial budgets, signing off invoices and ensuring payment for freelance journalists
• Participate in planning and oversee implementation of websites for magazines, plus continuing contributions to websites
• Give input on marketing initiatives for magazines and the company
• Participate in the planning and execution of events related to the magazines
• Maintaining editorial integrity and helping editorial staff do the same
• Conceptualise article ideas with staff and suggest ways of executing them
• Oversee the day-to-day running of the department, with specific focus on checking proofs of magazines, and problem solving any items that arise
Requirements
• A relevant diploma or Bachelors degree
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Experience in managing magazines (two to five years) and creative people
• Excellent editorial skills with a sound understanding of writing/subbing/editing for magazines (although you will not be doing this daily)
• Sound knowledge of the consumer and custom magazine industry
• Creativity and conceptualisation skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong computer literacy (MS Office)
• Own vehicle
Advantageous
• Afrikaans would be advantageous
• Knowledge of online trends
• Knowledge of the pet/music/IT industries
Personal Skills/Attributes
• Ability to respond flexibly to changing priorities
• Pro-active self-starter with the ability to take responsibility and be resourceful
• Commercial awareness while maintaining the ability to defend editorial independence
• Ability to see the big picture and then use that knowledge to work with other departments in meeting the company's objectives.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong sense of fairness and the ability to do justice by all
• Have a can-do mindset, and willingness to support, motivate and lead the editorial team
• Deadline orientated / ability to work under pressure
Contact details
Panorama Publications
jobs@panorama.co.za
More information here.
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