U.S. Head of News

About us

The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

In 2024 The Independent’s portfolio of brands increased through a new licencing partnership with BuzzFeed Inc. to operate the BuzzFeed brands in the UK - BuzzFeed UK, Tasty, Seasoned and HuffPost UK. The additional brands echo the existing business ethos and allow for increased audiences and a further strategic diversification of revenue streams.

Job purpose

The Head of News will lead agenda-setting news coverage as The Independent continues to expand its editorial operation in America.

They will be an experienced newsroom leader who will play a pivotal role in setting the news agenda, ensuring regular exclusives and original stories, quality comment and analysis.

They will work closely with reporters and other editors to lead our US team on breaking news, key event coverage and longer term exclusives.

They will work from our Manhattan office to collaborate with other editors in the US and the UK, as well as different teams from culture and lifestyle to sport and video to ensure high-quality, comprehensive coverage.

With our audience team they will work to ensure our journalism is read as widely as possible and expand our US readership.

Skills

• The successful candidate will have significant experience leading and managing news teams, editing and coordinating both breaking news and agenda-setting exclusives. Their portfolio will include work for some of the world’s best media brands. They will be able to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities.
• They will have an impeccable understanding of US and global editorial environments and be excited by the prospect of working in an international news media organization.
• They must be able to exhibit an in-depth knowledge of attracting, retaining and growing a digital news audience and should have experience of working in a multimedia news environment.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a proven track record of editing and coordinating breaking news, exclusives, compelling features and analysis, and be able to craft polished, attention-grabbing headlines. Their portfolio will include work for some of the world’s best media brands.
• Have solid news judgment and be able to prioritize urgent Vs non-urgent news, be able to identify potential high-traffic stories and be able to mine social media and other sources for stories.
• Be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities.
• Be able to communicate quickly, clearly, and respectfully to their team.
• Exhibit an in-depth knowledge of attracting, retaining, and growing a digital news audience and should have at least seven years’ experience of working in an editing role in a fast-paced multimedia news environment.
• Have a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in journalism or communications, related field or equivalent training and/or experience.
• Commit to upholding The Independent’s reputation for trusted, quality journalism.

About you

• Driven to succeed – you are driven to optimize the impact and reach of our news coverage, to maintain and improve on The Independent’s position in terms of audience, and to further grow the brand’s reputation as a market leader in quality digital news media.
• Driving the news agenda – not only do you follow the news, you are uniquely qualified to ensure The Independent leads the pack. You have an unerring sense of which stories are going to be big and how you can optimize them to make them most attractive to a mass audience, while remaining true to our values.
• Proven leadership abilities – you have a demonstrable track record in leading a team and building positive and supportive working relationships with colleagues. You know how to create an inclusive and professional work environment. You are comfortable with inter-departmental collaboration at a senior level.
• Responsive delivery – you work to agreed goals and objectives and deal with challenges in a constructive and responsive way. You are personally invested in the quality of our work.
• Care for others - you know the value of investing in quality, and are keen to promote training and personal development for yourself and for all members of your team.

The Independent adheres to a hybrid work model. This role will be based in our Manhattan office.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.

We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.

The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. The Independent is not able to sponsor a visa at this time.