Head of Editorial Operations

Alexandria (Sydney) HQ | Full-time | 1 day WFH per week 

The Local Project is one of the fastest growing design publications across Australia, New Zealand, and North America. We celebrate extraordinary local design and its global impact through premium print, digital, video, and social content. With over 100 million impressions per month across our platforms, we’re redefining design media on a global scale. 

In 2024, we expanded with The Local Production, a full-service creative agency dedicated to elevating brands through strategic storytelling and high-end content creation. 

Now we’re looking for a Head of Editorial Operations to lead the next chapter of our growth - driving operational excellence, building systems for scale, and ensuring our storytelling remains world-class. 

This is not a typical editorial role.

We’re searching for a strong operator who thrives on structure, pace, and precision. Someone who can bring order to creative chaos, lead a high-performing team, and embed systems that allow editorial innovation to flourish. 

You’ll manage the day-to-day operations of our editorial department across Australia, New Zealand, and the US, while partnering with the CEO on the execution of our ambitious 2025-2026 Editorial Strategy, and beyond. 

What you’ll be working on... 

Lead the team 

• Manage and mentor editors, writers, and freelance contributors across three regions. 

• Foster a high-performing culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, and creative excellence. 

• Support senior editorial roles in evolving their focus areas (e.g. Editorial Director leading long-form and print; US Editor shaping regional strategy). 

Operational excellence 

• Build and optimise workflows to deliver content at pace and scale. 

• Oversee budgets and resources, maintaining strict control of subcontractor spend 

• Introduce systems for database management, commissioning, and freelancer onboarding. 

Drive the strategy 

• Execute key pillars of the 2025-2026 Editorial Strategy: 

• Launch news-style digital content (5–10 pieces weekly). 

• Elevate lifestyle and travel features to align with global design culture. 

• Support the rollout of new US-exclusive editorial formats and hybrid editorial-video content. 

• Contribute to the vision for the 2025 Magazine and planning for the 2026 Books program. 

• Work closely with the CEO to integrate AI into editorial workflows for first drafts, SEO, research, and subbing. 

Cross-functional collaboration 

• Act as the key bridge between Editorial, Partnerships, Design, and Video teams. 

• Support the development of editorial-only sponsorships and commercial opportunities. 

Track and report 

• Own performance metrics across content volume, US content share, subcontractor cost reduction, and AI integration. 

• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on progress and opportunities. 

What you’ll bring... 

• Proven experience in editorial operations, production management, or content leadership in a fast-paced media or agency environment. 

• Strong organisational and operational skills, with a focus on scaling systems and processes. 

• A track record of managing budgets and driving efficiencies without compromising quality. 

• Confident people leadership skills and the ability to inspire high-performing teams. 

• Knowledge of digital publishing trends and a sharp understanding of how AI can enhance workflows. 

• Comfort navigating the intersection of editorial creativity and commercial strategy. 

• Experience with CMS platforms and editorial production tools. 

• A background in architecture, design, or lifestyle media is a plus, but not essential. 

Why join us? 

This is your chance to take a leadership role in one of the world’s most dynamic design media brands. You’ll help shape how stories about architecture, design, and culture are told on a global stage, leading a talented and passionate editorial team. 

You’ll join a business that values bold ideas, embraces innovation, and invests in systems and people to deliver world-class work. 

Key details 

• Location: Sydney HQ (1 day WFH per week) 

• Type: Full-time 

• Reports to: Founder & CEO 

• Start date: August 2025