Engineering Team Lead - Referrers Team

We are looking for an Engineering Team Lead to join our Referrers Team here at Reach. Reporting to the Head of Development, the Referrers Team Lead role is a mix of hands on coding and line/technical management of a team of 4 Engineers. Our Referrers team are responsible for transferring the content our journalists produce to third parties including Apple News and Meta. We use Agile methodologies to deliver our software, the Referrers team are currently working in 3 week sprint increments.

Role Location

This role can be based remotely from home, and we are therefore open to candidates based across the UK.

So, who are we?

We are Reach Plc, you might not have heard of us but we have probably met without you even realising it. We are home to the UK and Ireland’s most iconic digital platforms, magazines and newspapers. From the Mirror, Daily Express and OK!, to our regional titles such as the Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive and the Manchester Evening News (plus lots more), our brands and the stories we cover are as varied as our people. We help all kinds of people share experiences through our stories because we believe this is what makes us human.

Oh, and we should probably also mention that with a monthly readership of 47 million people, Reach is the largest commercial publisher in the UK. At Reach, not only will you feel better understood, you will also feel you understand other people better too.

What the role involves:

• Lead and motivate the team to deliver high-quality software solutions within specified timelines and quality standards
• Facilitate Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration within the squad and with cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of transparency and teamwork.
• Support the career development and professional growth of team members by providing guidance and mentorship.
• Drive continuous improvement within the team, identifying opportunities for process enhancements and implementing best practices.
• Monitor and report project progress, risks, and mitigations to stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and alignment.

What we are looking for:

Essential skills:

• Previous line management experience
• AWS: Proficient with AWS technologies.
• JavaScript and TypeScript

Desirable skills:

• Good understanding of SEO principles
• JSON and XMLTeam Lead Skills
• Understanding of React (ideally Next.js)
• Previous experience of working in an Agile environment with the ability to coach team members in Agile ways of working.

What can we offer you?

We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including;

• Help saving for your retirement - join our pension scheme and we’ll match contributions up to 6%

• 25 days’ holiday per year when you join. After three, five and ten years’ service with Reach, you’ll accrue one additional day of annual leave. We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme

• Enhanced family leave- including maternity, paternity and adoption - and you’ll be eligible after just six months’ employment

• Private Healthcare Cash Plan - free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses

• Lifestyle and shopping discounts schemes - a variety of discounts available to employees for day to day expenses, or treats!

• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family, a free subscription to mindfulness app Headspace and access to free mental health coaching through Sanctus

• As one of the UK’s top 50 Inclusive Employers everyone’s invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive

• We are a member of the30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity at board and senior management

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested please apply early to avoid disappointment.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.