Ad-Ops manager, The Observer

What’s the job?

Ad-Ops manager. Full-time, Tuesday - Saturday.

Where do I work?

The Observer newsroom, London (22 Berners Street) plus some flexibility to work remotely 1 day per week.

What are we for?

The Observer’s promise is in the name. The Observer bears witness; the best of journalism being curious minds at work. It loves the arts and ideas, both for their own sake and because they can change lives. It’s proudly progressive, but has no party allegiance. It’s open to different arguments and its editorial independence is non-negotiable. We are building a new Observer across print, audio and digital. We’re here to build journalism that lasts, and a commercial model that supports it.

What’s my personal contribution?

As Ad-Ops Manager you play a critical role in the newspaper’s weekly production cycle. You will manage the flatplan and oversee the layout of advertising across all sections of the Sunday paper – including News, Sport, OFM, New Review and The Observer Magazine. Acting as the central coordinator, you will work closely with the editorial teams, designers, advertisers and agencies to ensure that each edition is planned smoothly, accurately, and on time. You will be a calm, organised centre of the production process: holding the pen, chasing copy, resolving conflicts, and keeping everything running to deadline.

What are my responsibilities & accountabilities?

Key responsibilities include:

• Own and manage the weekly flatplan for the newspaper, maintaining accurate and up-to-date layouts for all Observer sections.
• Act as the key point of contact between editorial, advertising, production, and design teams throughout the week.
• Liaise with media agencies, creative agencies, and direct clients to ensure ad copy is delivered correctly and on schedule.
• Copy chase late ads and troubleshoot any supply or technical issues with ad files.
• Work closely with the commercial team to ensure advertiser requirements are fulfilled and placements are optimised.
• Ensure that editorial and advertising content are balanced appropriately and positioned according to both commercial and editorial needs.
• Support press deadline delivery by coordinating final checks and approvals across departments.
• Provide daily status updates and flag risks, conflicts, or delays in production early and constructively.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, efficiency, and clarity across all aspects of the print ad operations workflow.
• Work with the wider Advertising and Editorial teams on Ad-ops processes for our Audio & Digital platforms

What do I show? Essential skills & behaviours

• Proven experience in newspaper or magazine production, print ad operations, or flatplanning.
• Deep understanding of print production processes, ad placement, and media agency workflows.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented, with a strong ability to manage deadlines and competing demands.
• Calm and reliable under pressure, especially during time-critical production stages.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, able to liaise confidently with both internal teams and external partners.
• Skilled in using flatplanning tools (e.g. Knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Adpoint, or similar systems a plus).
• A collaborative team player who thrives in fast-moving environments and takes ownership of delivery.
• Willingness to work Tuesday to Saturday, with a strong sense of responsibility to weekend deadlines.

Salary and Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private Healthcare
• Group Income Protection
• Group Life Assurance
• Pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loans
• Free snacks and drinks in the newsroom

Working with us

We are a progressive business with a diverse, motivated team; a mix of veterans and young people starting out on their careers. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our employees, and we welcome applicants regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.

To apply please send a letter and a PDF of your CV to jobs@observer.co.uk. You should include the name of the job that you are applying for in the email subject