Content & Newsroom Transformation Programme Lead - 12 Month FTC

Spotlight Sports Group is a global media and technology company specialising in content and data within sports betting, horse racing and fantasy sports. With over 400 employees, the group operates multiple award-winning brands, including Racing Post, the world’s largest horse racing affiliate, Pickswise, myracing and Free Super Tips. We partner with leading operators across the betting industry to produce and build multilingual, best-in-class digital products and content to engage and educate customers. ICS-digital, an international marketing agency including ICS-translate, also operates under the group. 

Spotlight Sports Group is delivering a three year strategy that requires a step change in execution across product, technology, content, commercial and enabling functions. To support this, the Group is establishing a central Transformation Office to lead the delivery of a small number of critical, cross-functional transformation programmes. These programmes are fundamental to the Group’s strategic outcomes.

The business is at an early stage in its transformation maturity. Delivery will require strong personal ownership, delivery discipline and the ability to operate effectively where clarity, structure or alignment are still emerging. Change will often cut across established ways of working and require firm, credible leadership. The Transformation Office exists to ensure that delivery is structured, dependencies are actively managed and progress, risks and trade-offs are consistently visible to senior leadership and the Board.

Role Purpose

As a Content & Newsroom Transformation Programme Lead, you will lead the end-to-end programme delivery of one or more strategic transformation initiatives within the Content & Newsroom department. Working alongside Executive sponsors and senior functional leaders, you will provide the structure, pace and delivery discipline required to turn agreed strategy into delivered outcomes. You will not own business decisions, but you will be accountable for ensuring that delivery commitments are clear, tracked and met, and that risks, issues and trade-offs are surfaced early and transparently.

Core Accountabilities

• Lead delivery of complex, cross-functional transformation programmes with material strategic impact
• Translate agreed priorities into clear delivery plans, milestones and execution cadence
• Coordinate delivery across teams and functions, actively managing dependencies, sequencing and trade-offs
• Own programme governance, reporting and delivery rhythm, including inputs to SLT and Board reporting
• Track progress, risks and issues, and drive timely resolution with Executive sponsors and senior leaders
• Hold teams and leaders to account for delivery commitments, timelines and quality of outcomes
• Engage leaders and teams to build understanding and momentum, while maintaining delivery focus in contested or ambiguous environments

Requirements

Essential

Applicants must clearly demonstrate all of the following:

• Programme leadership experience delivering newsroom or content operating model transformation within a top-tier national or international media organisation
• Direct involvement in a print-led to digital-first transformation, including changes to editorial workflows, commissioning models, planning processes and roles
• Strong, first-hand understanding of newsroom operating models and the cultural, structural and incentive challenges involved in transforming them
• Proven experience working credibly with senior editorial leadership, including Editors-in-Chief or equivalent, in environments where change is sensitive or contested
• Track record of leading cross-functional delivery involving editorial, product, data, technology and commercial teams
• Ability to maintain delivery momentum and trust in high-profile, values-driven environments

Desirable

• Experience embedding audience-led content planning and performance metrics
• Exposure to analytics, insight or data capability within editorial environments
• Interest in sports and comfort operating in regulated gaming-adjacent environments

Benefits

We offer a range of well-being initiatives, including private medical insurance, excellent parental leave, a working globally policy, mental health support, assistance programs, and social gatherings. We also provide a pension scheme and various other benefit schemes. Plus, we all get our birthdays off work and enjoy 25 days of holiday per year.

We’ve also got you covered with life assurance and exclusive perks like the Star card and our Step Further Awards (our employee recognition program) to recognise your dedication. For those working via the hybrid model (in the office and at home) we’ve made commuting easier with our Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme.

You can also take advantage of complimentary access to our Racing Post Members Club, complete with an Ultimate Membership. We believe in making a positive impact beyond the workplace, and you'll have the chance to volunteer two days per year with our charity partner