Fashion Editor - Cosmopolitan
Location: Cape Town/JHB, WC
Level of Experience: Senior
Position Summary:
To develop the fashion strategy of Cosmopolitan and reinforce its position as a fashion authority in the South African market, increasing representation across designers and price points. To create a clear fashion identity for the brand (as distinct from competitors) by producing fashion stories on a monthly basis, as well as overseeing and mentoring the fashion team and managing the JHB fashion department.
Duties and Responsibilities:
* Shoot fifteen 10-page fashion shoots a year (as per the managing editor’s schedule
* Responsible for outsourcing three shoots (trying, where possible, to get them shot in Johannesburg)
* Oversee all the fashion that goes into the magazine, ensuring it complies with the “fashion commandments” (see attached) and that it isn’t contradictory or repetitive. This includes Style Counsel, which will be outsourced.
* Make sure the whole team supports advertisers, ensuring they are well represented.
* Ensures clothing from a wide variety of suppliers is used, that clothes featured are not too expensive and that they are not too difficult for readers to get.
* Manages the fashion department – in the Cape Town and Johannesburg offices – making sure it runs smoothly and that deadlines are met and systems are adhered to.
* Conceptualize and writes Fashion News and shoots items sourced in Cape Town.
* Liaises with the contributing fashion editor before each of her shoots, checking her briefs to ensure a good mix of fashion in the magazine.
* Manage cover shoots.
* Supervise the training of new fashion assistants and mentors those already trained.
* Monitors the sending and receiving of merchandise between Cape Town and Johannesburg by the fashion assistants, ensuring Associated rules and systems are adhered to.
* Deals, as the senior full-time staff member in Cosmopolitan’s fashion department, with all external and internal queries, which includes ensuring that make-goods happen and that calls are returned.
* Represents the magazine in Cape Town at launches or other functions when necessary, interacts with advertisers and maintains good relationships with clients.
* When necessary, represents Cosmo in the media.
Responsibilities regarding Own shoots:
* Source fashion items, with the help of the assistants
* Book photographers, studio, makeup, hair etc – staying within budget and ensuring only standard rates are quoted for work commissioned and that the Associated Magazines order system is adhered to.
* Book models or, in cases when ‘real people’ are needed, women who accurately reflect Cosmo’s target demographic in terms of age, race and look.
* Brief photographer.
* Styles
* Provide credits, captions and stockists details, ensuring these are accurate and complete.
* Check information for copy editors.
* Edits trannies and submits chosen ones for scanning, or edits digital photographs and submits chosen ones to the art director, clearly labelled, on a CD.
* Maintain an up-to-date and accurate order-number system and ensures that the managing editor has all pink slips (which are copies of all stock bought, shoots paid for, photographer’s fees, etc).
* Sign off invoices on time; and according to Associated Magazines systems.
* Ensures this all happens to schedule.
* Contribute to supplements and promotions
* Liaise with the Business Development Manager and Promotions Manager with regard to client added value and suggest ideas for advertorials, promotions and supplements based on client interaction (ie. feed information back to the business team).
* Liaise with Deputy Editor in conceptualising and producing editorial supplements as required
* Contribute content to fashion-related supplements.
General
* Ensure that advertisers, as well as potential advertisers, are fairly/appropriately represented. To this end strive to create a good balance of appropriate coverage for main advertisers.
* Ensuring the security of merchandise in the office and on shoots.
* Responsible to ensure clothes/materials are returned in the same condition as received.
* Maintain excellent relationships with clients/outlets/store staff.
Requirements
* Experienced and respected stylist with a minimum of 3 years as a fashion editor.
* Passionate and knowledgeable about fashion.
* Keeps abreast of trends in fashion.
* Is able to interpret briefs.
* Shows initiative and demonstrates creativity in generating ideas for future fashion pages.
* Experience in managing a department.
* Is sufficiently financially savvy to run the fashion department’s petty cash and work to a budget.
* Can work to deadlines.
* Able to manage her time efficiently and to work under pressure.
* Has good industry contacts.
* Has good people skills, patience and perseverance.
* Is flexible, energetic and hard working.
* Ability to keep abreast of trends in fashion by reading magazines; style blogs; attending shows
* A valid driver’s license (a car at your disposal is preferred).
* Physically fit enough to do all the fetching, carrying and lifting involved
* Willingness to frequently travel.
* Willingness to work irregular hours when required (ie. shoot days).
Apply directly at Associated Magazines career site here.
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