Vacancies

Editor

For the first time in its history, The Spinoff is publicly recruiting for the role of editor. This is your chance to step into a pivotal position and shape the next exciting chapter for this dynamic media brand.

Purpose of the role:

The editor is a pivotal leadership role responsible for shaping and executing the editorial strategy and vision for The Spinoff. This role demands a strategic and creative individual with exceptional editorial judgment, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the New Zealand media landscape. The editor will lead the editorial team, delivering high-quality, engaging, and impactful content that aligns with The Spinoff’s mission. They will also serve as a key public representative of The Spinoff and collaborate closely with other heads of departments to achieve the organisation’s strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities:

Editorial strategy and leadership

• Develop and execute a clear and compelling editorial strategy and direction for The Spinoff, ensuring alignment with the overall organisational goals.
• Lead and inspire the editorial team, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing work environment.
• Chair and guide editorial meetings, setting agendas, facilitating discussions, and ensuring clear outcomes and accountability.
• Oversee editorial budget, ensuring effective allocation and tracking of resources.
• Proactively identify and address editorial challenges and opportunities, implementing effective solutions.

Editorial content development and management

• Lead the commissioning process, identifying and assigning compelling stories and projects to staff and contributors.
• Work closely with writers to develop their talents and skills and cultivate a consistent flow of high-quality content that drives audiences. 
• Copy edit and shape stories written by staff writers and external contributors. 
• Identify and attract top freelance contributors to generate diverse and engaging content.
• Periodically evaluate editorial content to make informed decisions regarding continuation, termination, or evolution of existing formats and series.
• Maintain a consistent, effective and creative style across all editorial outputs
• Adhere to editorial standards, enforcing a system for escalating stories with potential legal risk and responding to complaints. 

Team management

• Directly manage senior editorial staff, providing guidance, support, and performance feedback.
• Lead the editorial staff recruitment process in collaboration with the CEO, identifying and attracting top talent.
• Foster the professional development of editorial team members, supporting their growth and skill enhancement.

External representation

• Serve as a key public face of The Spinoff, representing the organisation in media appearances, relevant events and contributing to industry discussions and initiatives.

Cross-department collaboration

• Work collaboratively with the head of audience to input into the development of new products, inform editorial strategy and output with audience insights and continually optimise content for reach and audience engagement.
• Manage and respond to correspondence from The Spinoff’s members and readers in a timely and professional manner, as required.
• Engage with the head of commercial to explore and implement commercially viable editorial initiatives while maintaining editorial integrity, as required.
• Creatively engage with the commercial editor on ideation, as required.

Key skills and experience

• Proven experience in a senior editorial role within a digital media environment.
• Exceptional editorial judgment and a strong understanding of journalistic principles and ethics. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful editorial strategies.
• Excellent leadership skills with experience in mentoring and developing editorial talent.
• Strong understanding of the New Zealand media landscape and current affairs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Experience managing budgets and resources effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships across different teams.
• A proactive approach to digital publishing, analytics and audience insights tools.

Personal attributes

• Highly creative, strategic and innovative thinker.
• Strong work ethic and tenacity with a calm and collegial temperament. 
• Passionate about delivering high-quality and engaging content.
• Strong ethical compass and commitment to journalistic integrity.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced and evolving media environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• A strong alignment with The Spinoff’s mission.

Next steps

Please submit your application via SEEK. All applications require a CV and a cover letter to be addressed to The Spinoff CEO, Amber Easby. 

Applications are due by June 13th 2025. 

Applicants must be based in Auckland and have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role. 

Video journalist

The Spinoff has been funded by NZ On Air for a new current affairs project called 60 Seconds.

60 Seconds is a dynamic and essential short-form online video series where an urgent issue affecting Aotearoa is unpacked for rangatahi in just one minute.

We’re looking for a video journalist to join The Spinoff team for the 42-week duration of the project. You’ll be responsible for scripting approximately three episodes of 60 Seconds each week and presenting at least one of those three episodes as a recurring presenter. 

Working closely with the editorial and audience teams as well as the video editor and series producer of the project, you’ll be responsible for delivering each episode on time to maximise reach to our audience. 

Understanding current affairs and digital media is crucial to this role. Excellence in writing, meeting deadlines and presenting on camera are a must.  Building strong working relationships and effective communication are also essential. 

You will report directly to the head of audience and will work closely with the video editor and series producer of 60 Seconds. 

Next steps

This job is a full time fixed-term contract, for 42 weeks. Ideal start date is Monday June 9, 2025 but there is a degree of flexibility here. 

Applicants must be based in Tāmaki Makaurau and have the right to live and work in Aotearoa to apply for this role. We would also consider fewer than 40 hours a week for the right candidate. 

For more information or to apply for this role, please visit SEEK. All applications require a CV and a cover letter to be addressed to The Spinoff general manager, Sophie Dowson. Please note that the second part of the application process will involve a self-tape screen test. Applications are due by May 23 but may close earlier if a suitable applicant is found. 

Audience insights specialist

The audience insights specialist will be a key contributor to our audience-led strategy and the growth and sustainability of The Spinoff’s award-winning, locally owned and independent journalism.

You will work closely with the head of audience and the audience team at an exciting juncture for the company to increase our paying membership base, deepen audience engagement and inform critical and strategic decisions with insights as we implement our roadmap for the future. 

This role combines data analysis and audience insights experience, a love of experimentation, efficiency and results, communication and data presentation skills. 

You’ll build our understanding of what drives audiences to strengthen their relationship with us across all our channels. You’ll be involved in all audience activity, including onsite, always-on activity, campaigning, display advertising, SEM, life cycle and communications email programmes, newsletters, video, podcasts and social media. 

You’ll translate audience data into insights to assist all teams at The Spinoff and investigate ways to provide accessible and useful reporting on strategically important audience insight, metrics and KPIs. You will work with the audience team to test and refine approaches to deepening audience relationships and providing them with experiences and interactions they value.

In this newly created position, you can contribute to the future of The Spinoff, how we understand and respond to our audience’s needs, create more meaningful relationships with them and build sustainable and effective paths to revenue growth.

Next steps

This job is a full time fixed-term contract, for 48 weeks. Ideal start date is Monday June 9, 2025 but there is a degree of flexibility here. 

Applicants must be based in Tāmaki Makaurau and have the right to live and work in Aotearoa to apply for this role. 

For more information or to apply for this role, please visit SEEK. All applications require a CV and a cover letter to be addressed to The Spinoff head of audience, Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Applications are due by May 23 but may close earlier if a suitable applicant is found.

HR and Finance Support 

The Spinoff is looking for a highly organised and proactive HR and Finance Support person. This role is critical in ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, including HR and administrative functions, and supporting our finance manager. 

You’ll be responsible for managing HR processes and office operations to maintain a welcoming and well-organised environment where people can thrive. You will also be supporting our finance manager. 

The ideal candidate will have experience in HR and office administration with some knowledge of financial management. On-the-job training from our finance manager will be available. 

Next steps

This is a permanent position. We would also consider fewer than 40 hours a week for the right candidate.

Ideal start date is Monday August 4, 2025 but there is a degree of flexibility here.

Applicants must be based in Tāmaki Makaurau and have the right to live and work in Aotearoa to apply for this role. 

For more information or to apply for this role, please visit SEEK. All applications require a CV and a cover letter to be addressed to The Spinoff general manager, Sophie Dowson.