Group Head, Branded Content Solutions - BuzzFeed UK, Tasty, Seasoned and HuffPost UK

(Maternity Cover)

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.

The role

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially driven Group Head to join the branded content team at BuzzFeed UK.This role will be responsible for driving revenue growth across a targeted group of key clients and their agencies, spanning four powerhouse brands: BuzzFeed UK, Tasty, Seasoned, and HuffPost UK. As one of the newest commercial content teams in the market, we’re building something ambitious and we’re looking for someone ready to make an immediate impact.

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.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Own and grow relationships with a defined group of key clients and media agencies
• Identify new business opportunities and unlock incremental revenue
• Develop and pitch creative, insight-led branded content solutions across social and onsite
• Collaborate closely with editorial, strategy, and production teams to deliver best-in-class work
• Lead negotiations, manage commercial agreements, and ensure delivery against revenue targets
• Act as a strategic partner to clients, ensuring measurable results and long-term partnerships

Essential skills and experience

• Proven experience in branded content sales within digital and social media
• Established relationships with UK agencies and direct clients
• Strong creative instincts and ability to translate audience insight into compelling ideas
• A natural leader who can inspire confidence both internally and externally
• Deep understanding of social-first storytelling and multi-platform distribution
• Commercial acumen with a track record of hitting and exceeding revenue targets
• The ability to hit the ground running and deliver tangible results quickly

Our values – you will deliver across all our values

Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.

Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.

Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.