Job Description

Company Description

We are looking for a strategic, commercially driven

Head of Digital Subscriptions

to lead and scale our subscriptions business across a diverse portfolio of national, regional, and digital-first news brands. This is a hands-on leadership role, responsible for developing and launching new subscription propositions, optimising pricing and packaging, and driving full-funnel performance--from acquisition and conversion through to CRM, retention and lifetime value. You will work cross-functionally to deliver outstanding subscriber experiences that fuel long-term reader engagement and sustainable journalism.


The role is pivotal to our growth ambitions and the successful candidate will relish the opportunity to build a sustainable subscription business at the UK's largest commercial publisher.

Role Location

This is a hybrid role linked to our Canary Wharf Hub in London. The successful candidate will need to be based in or commutable to London on an ad hoc basis.

About us

Hello, we're Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live - whether that's on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day.


We're home to more than 120 brands - from household names like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star.


It's our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us the UK and ROI's largest commercial news publisher. We reach 70% of the UK's online population, 10% of the US online population, and over 100 million social followers around the world, reflecting who they are, where they live and what they love.

Your story, with Reach

As a modern media organisation, we're much more than just news. And it takes a wide range of people and skills to serve diverse audiences, customers and communities like we do.


We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we've built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore.


We'll help you build a career that works with your life, while giving you the space to create and grow.

Key Responsibilities

You will lead the end-to-end delivery of the subscriptions business, developing and executing growth strategies, launching new propositions, and driving acquisition, conversion, retention, and lifetime value. Responsible for ambitious growth targets and key engagement metrics--including subscription volumes--you'll shape business models, subscriber journeys, and pricing and packaging strategies across all brands using data, experimentation and market insights. Beyond this, you are expected to develop content strategies that drive both subscription growth and retention.


You will mentor a high-performing team in acquisition, CRM, and customer service, and collaborate with product, data, engineering, editorial, marketing, and design to optimise paywall strategies and ensure brand alignment. You'll define KPIs, foster a test-and-learn culture, oversee revenue forecasting and reporting, and act as the internal expert on subscription trends.


Ultimately, your role is about delivering outstanding subscriber experiences that fuel long-term reader engagement and sustainable journalism, driven by your passion for building experiences that support trusted journalism and deliver long-term audience value.

Essential Skills & Behaviours

The ideal candidate will have proven experience leading subscription strategies, preferably within a media or content business, whether across digital, print, or hybrid models. A curious and driven self-starter who is comfortable launching and iterating strategic initiatives independently, they will have excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills and the ability to coach and collaborate effectively across departments.


Above all, they must be passionate about building subscription experiences that support trusted journalism and deliver long-term audience value.


They will possess a deep understanding of the consumer subscriptions ecosystem, including acquisition, retention, pricing, and platform capabilities and have strong analytical and marketing skills, demonstrating a data-driven mindset and fluency in performance metrics and KPIs.


Experience with CRM and subscription platforms and tools is essential.

How we'll look after you

We take good care of our people - and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you'll get a range of benefits. Here are our standard UK & ROI benefits - please check the specifics out for your role when you apply.

25 days' holiday

(not including bank holidays), plus an extra day after you've been with us for three, five and ten years

.

We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want to.

Bonus scheme

- you'll get a stake in our success and a chance to add to your annual earnings.

An extra day's paid leave each year

to volunteer for a cause that matters to you.

Help saving for your retirement

- we'll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice.

Wellbeing support

- including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.

Private healthcare for you

Access to lots of discounts

- including with Reach's very own online marketplace, Yimbly, where you can buy everything from homewares to beauty products.

Supportive and progressive people policies

- we're proud to have a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression. We believe you shouldn't have to wait to join us to know what to expect from us, which is why we share this overview of the policies we have in place to support families and carers. If there's something you want to understand more about, just ask.

Additional Information

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.