About us

The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

In 2024 The Independent’s portfolio of brands increased through a new licensing partnership with BuzzFeed Inc. to operate the BuzzFeed brands in the UK - BuzzFeed UK, Tasty, Seasoned and HuffPost UK. The additional brands echo the existing business ethos and allow for increased audiences and a further strategic diversification of revenue streams.

About the Role

Location: London, United Kingdom / Hybrid working

Fulltime: Option of 4 or 5 day week (salary reflective)

BuzzFeed UK is looking for an outstanding Creative Director to lead our Branded Content team on a 12-month maternity cover contract. Based in London, this is your chance to shape some of the internet’s most-loved content — all while guiding a talented team of creatives and building unforgettable campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands.

This isn’t a sit-back-and-supervise kind of role. We’re looking for someone who’s ready to get stuck in — from shaping the creative vision to jumping into Google Slides to help build a pitch deck. You’ll be in the weeds with the team, writing treatments, crafting concepts, and finessing ideas into big, beautiful branded campaigns.

You’re not just creatively brilliant — you’re socially fluent. You don’t just watch TikToks — you make them. You understand what’s trending, why it matters, and how brands can show up authentically without killing the vibe.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading, mentoring, and motivating a team of creatives — pushing ideas to be bold, culturally sharp, and social-first.
• Owning the creative vision on branded campaigns across BuzzFeed Inc. brands (BuzzFeed, Tasty, Seasoned, HuffPost).
• Working on briefs, building decks, writing treatments, crafting scripts, and shaping pitch ideas.
• Directing shoots and guiding projects through post-production with a sharp eye for detail and storytelling.
• Partnering with sales, strategy, and production to align big creative thinking with business objectives.
• Presenting to clients with clarity, confidence, and charisma — helping them see the magic in the ideas.
• Championing a culture of originality, experimentation, and craft across every touchpoint.
• Staying tapped into what’s trending — and helping the team use those moments to drive relevance and results.

You Should Apply If You...

• Have senior-level experience leading branded content or creative teams in a digital-first space.
• Are just as comfortable inspiring a room as you are inside a deck, finessing a headline or building out a narrative.
• Bring a portfolio that shows off creative work across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and beyond.
• Willing to roll up your sleeves and work alongside your team — brainstorming, pitching, and producing.
• Know the ins and outs of creative production, from concept to final cut.
• Are an active player in digital and social culture — you get internet speak and know when (and how) to use it.
• Can take feedback, pivot quickly, and keep the creative bar high.
• Have the leadership experience to inspire teams, win over clients, and steer the creative ship with confidence.

Sound like your kind of role?

Send us your portfolio — and let’s make some brilliant, culturally connected work together (maternity cover style).

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.

We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.

The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Our values – you will deliver across all our values

Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.

Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.

Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.