Acting Head of Social Media and Development, Financial Times

• Excellent writing and editing skills, with a commitment to accuracy and editorial integrity
• Deep understanding of FT coverage areas, from global economics and business to politics and culture
• Experience leading social media for a major news organisation or magazine, including writing posts and designing social-first visuals
• Strong judgment about tone, reputation, and risk in a fast-moving social landscape
• Strategic mindset with experience planning social media coverage of major news events and projects
• Expertise in analytics and audience insights, using tools to track and optimise performance
• Strong organisational, leadership, and communication skills
• Knowledge of social listening and analytics tools (e.g. NewsWhip, Socialflow, Later )
• Calm under pressure, with experience handling breaking news and sensitive stories

Desirable

• We are looking for an acting head of social media and development for a six-month fixed term contract
• The head of social media leads and develops the FT’s global social media strategy and team, overseeing the FT’s flagship presence across platforms including X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Reddit and TikTok
• This crucial role ensures that The FT’s journalism reaches, engages, and grows audiences worldwide, with a focus on impact, innovation, and integrity
• The successful candidate will shape how the FT’s voice and values are represented on social media, champion experimentation, and work across the newsroom to amplify key stories and journalists
• Lead the FT’s social media strategy to increase the reach, influence, and distinctiveness of FT journalism
• Develop and execute platform-specific approaches that introduce the FT to new audiences and engage existing subscribers
• Oversee daily publishing decisions on FT social accounts, ensuring accuracy, speed, tone, and authority
• Work closely with the wider editorial growth and engagement team, main and section news desks, visuals, video, data, graphics, marketing, FT Live, and product development teams
• Act as a bridge between editorial and commercial departments to ensure social strategy supports broader FT goals
• Manage and mentor a global social media team distributed across London, Manila and New York

• Please submit your application by the end of the day, Thursday November 20 2025
• We expect applicants to the FT newsroom to refrain from using AI in their test submissions, and any written materials should be a genuine reflection of their own knowledge, skills and experiences. We encourage candidates only to employ AI as a tool to help with research and interview readiness for a role
• Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process is monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all