Head of Subscriptions, The Observer

Head of Subscriptions, The Observer

What’s the job?

As Head of Subscriptions, you will be responsible for the delivery and day-to-day management of The Observer’s subscription strategy and Platform. You will support the Chief Customer Officer in ensuring The Observer has the right processes and platforms to power our reader revenue initiatives, across digital and print subscriptions and events, from acquisition to retention. An experienced leader with a strong media subscriptions background, you will combine operational delivery with a genuine passion for The Observer’s journalism to shape and execute a growth plan that will support The Observer’s newsroom’s future.

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 to ensure that it thrives.

What’s my personal contribution?

Your leadership of the subscriptions function will cover Subscriptions across print, digital and audio, incorporating management of CRM, member service and growth marketing / acquisition leads. You will be running the subscriptions business operationally in close collaboration with Product and Data leads, and be part of The Observer’s Commercial Management team.

What are my responsibilities & accountabilities?

  • Lead the end-to-end operational delivery of The Observer’s subscription business, across digital, print and bundled products
  • Develop and execute growth strategies that drive acquisition, conversion, retention and lifetime value
  • Manage and mentor a high-performing team across acquisition, CRM/retention, and customer service, as well as key agency and platform partners
  • Own the day-to-day relationship with product, data and engineering teams to optimise paywall performance, improve subscriber journeys and deliver seamless experiences across platforms
  • Partner with editorial, marketing and design teams to ensure messaging, campaigns and subscriber experiences align with brand and business goals
  • Define and monitor core subscription KPIs, building a culture of continuous experimentation and performance optimisation
  • Lead forecasting, reporting and revenue planning for subscriptions in collaboration with the Commercial and Finance teams
  • Ensure internal systems and fulfilment workflows (across print and digital) are efficient, accurate and scalable
  • Act as the internal expert on subscription trends, platform capabilities, and emerging opportunities in the reader revenue space
  • Develop and support a culture of experimentation and rapid iteration, with an obsessive focus on developing subscription experiences that attract, delight and retain readers in service of The Observer’s journalism.

What do I show? Essential skills and behaviours

  • Experience running subscriptions, ideally for a media business, with a keen and up-to-date awareness of the broader subscriptions ecosystem from both a consumer and technology perspective
  • Excellent knowledge of marketing, data and analytics
  • Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, with the ability to coach and advise others.
  • Experience with subscriptions platforms and tools
  • Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
  • Self-starter with the ability to develop, launch and iterate detailed and effective strategies independently
  • Curious and personable with a natural inclination to go deeper and understand how to drive improved growth

Salary and Benefits

  • Competitive salary & bonus scheme
  • 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. 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 covering 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


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