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. We’re not chasing breaking news, but revealing what’s driving it. Built to cover stories not as they happen, but when they’re ready. 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. We also produce award-winning, chart-topping investigative series including Sweet Bobby, Hoaxed, Londongrad, Pig Iron and Hidden Homicides and informative series with leading talent including The Backstory with Andrew Neil and Visible Women with Caroline Criado Perez.

Our team of experienced reporters, editors and producers also work with brand partners to create bespoke podcasts – combining our journalistic audio experience to deliver the very best narrative storytelling and analysis to a brands’ audience. So far we’ve worked with brands across sectors including law firms, consultancies and charities and are focused on scaling this area of business in 2023.

We’ve had a huge amount of commercial success to date, through advertising and sponsorship, content partnerships and selling IP for film and TV including a multi-year deal with Sky Studios. But we’re just getting started – the 2023 Tortoise audio slate is more ambitious than ever: we’re launching new shows and more investigations with Tortoise’s brilliant team of journalists and exciting external talent.

What’s my personal contribution?

Your role will be focused on monetising the reach of our audio audience through securing sponsorships, working closely with our monetisation partner, and working with existing and new brand partners to sell in and deliver bespoke podcasts. Success will be defined by your ability to build on existing, and develop new revenue streams as well as managing the delivery and execution of commercial podcast opportunities in close collaboration with the audio team and our monetisation partner.

Day-to-day your role will be varied, ranging from front-line business development, to working closely with our audio editors and producers to identify and deliver on growth opportunities. You will be working within a group which is extremely collaborative and hands-on.

What are my responsibilities & accountabilities?

• Deliver revenue against your targets.
• Work with the Chief Commercial Officer, Commercial Director for Audio and wider audio and partnerships teams to build a pipeline of sponsorship and branded podcast opportunities.
• Lead business development conversations with senior stakeholders at target organisations and create persuasive proposals that secure long-term relationships.
• Develop associated marketing materials to assist in business development and conversion.
• Manage the relationship with commercial partners, delivery partners and internal Tortoise teams to execute effectively.

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

• 5+ years’ experience in Business Development, ideally within the media industry.
• Experience working in a creative environment balancing different priorities (commercial and editorial).
• Audio experience is a plus but not a necessity.

What do I show? Essential behaviours.

• Confident communicator with excellent verbal and written skills.
• A track record of developing new business with senior stakeholders.
• Excited to work in a high growth start-up environment.
• Ability to think strategically and balance day to day needs and goals.
• Multi-tasker and highly organised – able to run with multiple projects.
• Proactive – able to take an initial idea and run with it.
• Positive attitude – able to handle changing goals / targets
• Unflappable under pressure – work with tight turnaround times.
• A sound knowledge of current affairs.

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, massages and after-work socials
• Tortoisestock – once a year we all head out to the countryside for a weekend 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 short cover note to audio.recruitment@tortoisemedia.com.