Are you passionate about sports and an SEO expert? We're looking for a dynamic Sport SEO Editor to join our Distribution Hub and support our national, regional, and central sport news desks. In this exciting role, you'll be at the forefront of driving performance across all Google platforms by crafting strategic content plans and leveraging audience insights. 

As a key player in our team, you'll collaborate with editors and writers to enhance page views and spread best practices. Your expertise in search strategy will be crucial to growing our sport audiences, providing hands-on support, and delivering training that empowers newsrooms. 

So, who are we?

We are Reach Plc, you might not have heard of us but we have probably met without you even realising it. We are home to the UK and Ireland’s most iconic digital platforms, magazines and newspapers. From the Mirror, Daily Express and OK!, to our regional titles such as the Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive and the Manchester Evening News (plus lots more), our brands and the stories we cover are as varied as our people. We help all kinds of people share experiences through our stories because we believe this is what makes us human.

Oh, and we should probably also mention that with a monthly readership of 47 million people, Reach is the largest commercial publisher in the UK. At Reach, not only will you feel better understood, you will also feel you understand other people better too. 

We are happy to consider applications on a flexible working basis, and will always aim to accommodate requests where possible.

This role is home based and we are therefore open to candidates based across the UK, however there will be occasional travel to hubs throughout the UK.

What will the role involve?

You will shape and deliver editorial strategies to grow traffic across all Google platforms for sport content across our network, and ensure efficient implementation. Building sport editorial calendars, you will communicate key upcoming events to editors and support forward planning to establish authority on core topics. Staying on top of the sport news cycle, you will communicate trending topics and ensure a high-quality internal linking structure to improve user experience. You will provide performance feedback to sport newsrooms, advising on what has and hasn’t been effective, and work with editorial managers to embed SEO strategies in audience development plans.

As the point of contact for sport newsdesks, you will help solve referral traffic issues and monitor SEO performance, taking proactive measures when targets aren’t met. You will identify training needs, deliver best practice advice, and troubleshoot problems with quick action plans. Attending business conferences, you will ensure SEO priorities are integrated into daily planning. Additionally, you will deputise for other SEO team members as needed, foster a high-performance culture by setting expectations and recognising achievements, liaise with other departments, and maintain up-to-date knowledge of media law and the IPSO code. This role will typically be Monday to Friday (apart from 1 weekend shift in approximately 5) but a flexible approach is required to cover major sport events.

Who are we looking for?

You are an experienced NCTJ (or equivalent) qualified journalist with a clear passion for all things sport. You have a proven track record of creating and publishing SEO driven digital news content in large regional or national newsrooms. You have a demonstrable understanding of Google and how to push content to reach as many people as possible. 

You ideally have a sports or SEO newsdesk background, but must have strong knowledge and interest in sport. You are an excellent communicator who can liaise with senior stakeholders with ease. You have a knack for boosting audience engagement and you are ready to collaborate with our sports desks to craft SEO strategies.

What can we offer you?

We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including;

• Help saving for your retirement - join our pension scheme and we’ll match contributions up to 6%
• 25 days’ holiday per year when you join. After three, five and ten years’ service with Reach, you’ll accrue one additional day of annual leave. We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Giving back day - an additional day’s leave each year to support a cause close to your heart
• Enhanced family leave - including maternity, paternity and adoption - and you’ll be eligible after just six months’ employment
• Private Healthcare Cash Plan - free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
• As one of the UK’s top 50 Inclusive Employers everyone’s invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your nearest and dearest
• Awesome career opportunities - you’ll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes
• We are also a member of the 30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity at board and senior management levels

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.