Commissioning Editor (Mat Leave)

Job Title: Commissioning Editor 
Location: London, UK (Hybrid Working - 2 days in the office per week)

Stylist, the multi-platform women’s media brand, is hiring for a Commissioning Editor to join our team in our London office on Fleet Street. Stylist is part of the DC Thomson media and publishing company.

The Commissioning Editor delivers distinctive, high‑quality features content that strengthens Stylist’s brand authority, cultural relevance and audience engagement across all platforms. The role converts editorial direction into executable, high‑performing features output, combining creative leadership with clear accountability for delivery and results.

Stylist is an award-winning women’s media with a highly engaged audience of women who expect more from their world, delivering content, insight and experiences that inform, inspire and connect.

Operating with autonomy within agreed editorial strategy, the Commissioning Editor leads the day‑to‑day features agenda, originating, commissioning and editing content while taking ownership of performance against agreed KPIs. It provides a senior editorial voice below Executive Editor level, balancing creativity, craft and data‑informed decision‑making to ensure consistent quality and impact.

The Commissioning Editor will liaise with writers to commission features from external writers and once received, edit and upload to the Stylist website. We want to hear from different voices and the successful candidate will shape where Stylist goes next when it comes to stories we tell. The Commissioning Editor will also contribute to longer term projects alongside the team.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Features Ideation & Delivery- Originate, plan, commission and edit compelling, timely features content that reflects Stylist’s voice, values and audience needs.

• Editorial Craft & Quality Control - Ensure all features content is accurate, well‑structured, on brief and on deadline, meeting high editorial standards across platforms.

• Performance Ownership - Monitor and optimise features content performance against agreed KPIs, taking decisive action to improve outcomes where required.

• Forward Planning & Cultural Relevance - Maintain a live planner of cultural moments, trends and events to ensure proactive, resonant features coverage.

• Curating & Delivering Emails - This role will be responsible for sending a weekly email to Stylist’s paid members.

• Brand Representation & Industry Connection - Act as a visible ambassador for Stylist through events, multimedia content and industry relationships that enhance reputation and influence.

Requirements

Skills:

Essential

• Excellent time management skills and confident holding others to account to meet their deadlines

• Content Publishing - Provides authoritative editorial oversight for features content, ensuring consistent quality, tone and fitness for purpose across channels.

• Digital Analytics - Uses performance data to evaluate features content, identify trends and adapt editorial approaches to improve results.

• Stakeholder Relationship Management - Builds effective working relationships with editors, freelancers and cross‑functional partners to deliver agreed outcomes.

• Innovation - Applies creativity and experimentation to features formats and storytelling, balancing originality with audience insight.

• Marketing - Applies SEO, audience understanding and promotional principles to maximise reach and relevance of features content.

Desirable

• Able to use Content Management System (CMS); training will be provided

Experience:

Essential

• Previous experience in a Commissioning Editor type role within a national publication

• Experience commissioning real-life and first-person stories

• Well connected with a contact book of writers who tell great stories

• Able to meet deadlines

• Demonstrable experience identifying where to go for a brilliant first-person story that resonates with audiences

Desirable

• Prior experience from an industry championing women’s voices, lifestyle and interest

• Prior experience curating and sending emails

• Prior experience working with paywalls and membership offerings

Behaviours that will help this role succeed:

• Being More Curious- Continuously explores culture, audience insight and new voices to keep features fresh and relevant.

• Experiment with Purpose - Tests new content approaches deliberately, using insight and results to refine future decisions.

• Owning the Outcomes - Takes responsibility for features performance and quality, acting quickly when expectations are not met.

• Being More Collaborative - Works constructively across editorial, social, commercial and freelance networks to deliver stronger collective outcomes.

To apply for this role, please follow our online application process and submit a CV and cover letter.

Closing date for applications: 27th August at 12:00noon

This role is being offered as maternity cover, with an expected duration of approximately 12 months. We recognise that circumstances can evolve, so while there is some flexibility around the end date, we are committed to keeping you well informed and providing appropriate notice.