The posting
Spotlight Sports Group is a global media and technology company with a clear purpose, to set the standard for trusted, customer-driven experiences across global racing and sports betting. Guided by our mission to create experiences that fans love, we combine more than 40 years of heritage with bold innovation to deliver award-winning content, data and digital products. With over 400 employees worldwide, our portfolio includes Racing Post, Pickswise, myracing and Free Super Tips, as well as the international marketing agency ICS-digital and ICS-translate. Together, we partner with leading operators, affiliates and media groups to power growth and engagement across the industry.
As Visual Editor, you will lead Spotlight Sports Group’s graphics team. The role will have day-to-day responsibility for leading the editorial graphics operation, while also setting common standards, workflows and priorities across the wider graphics function in partnership with audience, marketing, commercial and B2B.
You will oversee the delivery of high-quality visual assets for live editorial needs, planned campaigns, premium storytelling, data-led journalism, print, social, video, B2B and commercial projects. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the business, you will set clear standards, improve commissioning and prioritisation, strengthen quality control and ensure graphics are involved early enough to add real creative and strategic value.
Key accountabilities/responsibilities:
- Lead Spotlight Sports Group’s graphics team and develop the graphics function, delivering high-quality visual output across editorial, audience, marketing, commercial, B2B, video, social and print platforms.
- Assign and assist in the production of daily editorial requirements – including news graphics, premium title images, thumbnails, print assets, infographics, racing and sport packages, and motion graphics – and creative work across marketing, B2B, commercial and brand campaigns.
- Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture, ensuring clear ownership, fair prioritisation, constructive challenge and strong relationships across the business.
- Pioneer more ambitious digital-first visual storytelling, including data visualisation, motion/social formats, premium presentation and creative approaches to complex betting, racing and sports stories.
- Set and maintain shared standards to ensure graphics are accurate, clear, consistent and aligned with Spotlight Sports Group’s brand.
- Work closely with senior editors, audience, product, marketing, commercial and B2B teams to ensure graphics are involved at the point of commission and to brainstorm visual components.
- Support the wider marketing function for campaign activation and branding opportunities.
- Manage our team of award-winning photographers and build and maintain relationships with retained and freelance contributors. Manage and liaise on contacts, media rights, and archive material.
- Identify opportunities to automate or streamline low-value repetitive work through templates, improved workflows, self-service options and appropriate use of AI tools, freeing the function to focus on standards, commissioning and creative ambition.
Requirements
Essential
- Experience of leading a team to produce graphics, design, visual journalism and creative editorial and hands-on delivery experience.
- Strong understanding of digital-first publishing and how visual presentation can improve journalism, audience engagement, conversion and premium content.
- Excellent editorial judgement, with the ability to turn complex stories, data, racing, betting or sporting subjects into clear and engaging visual formats.
- Proven ability to lead, manage or influence creative teams in a fast-paced publishing, media, agency or commercial content environment.
- Strong knowledge of design standards, visual hierarchy, typography, layout, image treatment, brand consistency and digital asset production.
- Excellent attention to detail, with a strong understanding of proofing, accuracy, data-checking and quality-control processes.
- Ability to balance speed and quality, particularly across reactive daily output and higher-value planned creative projects.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge briefs, shape ideas and build effective relationships across editorial, marketing, commercial, product and B2B teams.
- Highly organised, with excellent prioritisation skills and the ability to manage competing demands across multiple teams and platforms.
- Collaborative leadership style, with the ability to create clear processes, build trust and support a positive team culture.
- Strong working knowledge of relevant design, publishing and content-production tools.
- Willingness to work weekends (approximately one in three) and to work from our London office three days per week.
Desirable
- Experience working in racing, betting, sport, financial data, news media or another data-rich publishing environment.
- Experience with data visualisation, interactive graphics, motion graphics, video assets or social-first visual formats.
- Experience developing visual style guides, design systems, templates or shared creative standards.
- Experience using AI or automation tools to improve creative workflows, ideation or production efficiency.
- Experience working with commercial, B2B, marketing or brand campaign teams as well as editorial teams.
- Knowledge of Ceros or similar interactive content tools.
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.
