Why are we here?

We’re building a different type of newsroom, for a slower, wiser news. Now, more than ever, it’s important to have calm, clear journalism you can trust. At Tortoise, we’re not chasing breaking news, but revealing what’s driving it, covering stories not as they happen, but when they’re ready and where everyone has a seat at the table. Tortoise sets out to bring people together to try and make sense of the world. We’re here to build journalism that lasts.

Podcasts are now the primary output of our journalism. We produce daily and weekly shows and multi-part investigative series, always taking time to tell the stories that really matter in our distinctive slow, considered, narrative Tortoise style. Our most popular podcasts include: our daily Sensemaker – one story everyday to make sense of the world; our weekly Slow Newscast – investigating one story every week that really matters in the UK and around the world; and The News Meeting – where three journalists pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise Editor James Harding. We also produce award-winning, chart-topping investigative series including Hoaxed, Londongrad, Pig Iron, Into the Dirt, Hidden Homicides and most famously, Sweet Bobby, which recently was voted in the top 20 podcasts of all time by The Guardian!

We’ve had a huge amount of success to date – our podcasts have been enjoyed by tens of millions of listeners. Last year, our listenership grew 90% year on year. We’ve sold IP for film and TV including a multi-year deal with Sky Studios. And we launched a new audio app offering listeners a premium Tortoise listening experience. But we’re just getting started – the Tortoise audio slate is more ambitious than ever: we’re launching new shows, for new audiences in new countries, plus continuing to release new investigations with Tortoise’s brilliant team of journalists and exciting external talent.

What’s my personal contribution?

Your role will be focused on maximising the reach of our audio audience. You’ll do this by creating and executing marketing campaigns, working closely with our podcast distribution partner and external podcast partners to develop cross promotional opportunities. Success will be defined by your ability to drive audio reach, project manage podcast launches and promotional campaigns and to own audio brand communications across Tortoise.

Day to day your role will be varied, ranging from planning and delivering marketing campaigns, copywriting and performance tracking. You will be working with teams across Tortoise: audio, production, product & tech, design and partnerships, as the go-to person for all things audio marketing.

What are my responsibilities & accountabilities?

• Working into the Commercial Director for Audio, the Activation Manager for Tortoise Podcasts is responsible for owning reach targets which meet our business ambitions and building our audio audience across all our audio products and platforms.
• Support the launch of new podcasts: development and delivery of marketing plans across owned, earned and paid media.
• Find creative ways to engage audiences and create content that drives reach.
• Copywriting & editing for podcast titles, trailers and episode descriptions.
• Briefing and managing marketing campaigns internally & externally and using third-party platforms to book activity.
• Working closely with, and coordinating, internal teams (editorial, social, product, tech) to ensure Tortoise podcasts are promoted effectively across Tortoise’s owned media (daily and weekly newsletters, website and audio app).
• In collaboration with the Tortoise audio team, ensure there is a co-ordinated “call-to-action” strategy which drives deep listener engagement, listener to paid subscriber conversion on both our app and Tortoise+ channel, and clear brand messaging.
• Build relationships with Tortoise’s podcast distribution partners and external brand partners to set up contra swaps and paid marketing opportunities to promote Tortoise content.
• Being in the weeds of the numbers – owning the reporting and analysis of listener metrics: what’s performing well & why, and what could perform better & how.
• Liaising as required with the partnership and design teams to create brand marketing materials that support the growth of Tortoise’s branded audio content.

What do I know? Essential knowledge, skills and experience.

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in marketing and communications, including marketing partnerships.
• Passionate about podcasts, audio and news.
• Experience in audio or podcast marketing is highly advantageous.

What do I show? Essential behaviours.

• Confident communicator with excellent written and verbal skills.
• Diligent, enthusiastic and proactive with a love for podcasts and news.
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple projects & deadlines concurrently, as well as working effectively as part of a busy cross-functional team.
• A team player with a positive attitude – happy to roll your sleeves up to tackle tasks from creative to organisational.
• Unflappable under pressure – able to handle working in a start-up culture with tight turnaround times and changing goals.

Salary & benefits

• Competitive salary & bonus (team and individual)
• 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Bunk off birthday (because who wants to work on their birthday?)
• Company pension
• Private healthcare
• Group Life Assurance
• Snacks on tap and regular treats including free lunches, workout classes and after-work socials
• Tortoisestock – once a year we all head out to the countryside for two days of fun and plotting

Working with us

We are a new and 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.

How to apply

Send a CV and a cover letter to audio.recruitment@tortoisemedia.com.

Job Email id: audio.recruitment(at)tortoisemedia.com