Editor in Chief, Chatelaine

St. Joseph Communications • Toronto, ON

22d • CA$100,000 - CA$120,000

About The Position

Chatelaine has been part of Canadian women’s lives for generations. That history matters, and right now it’s paired with real momentum. In 2023, Chatelaine celebrated its 95th anniversary and won Gold for Best Lifestyle Magazine at the National Magazine Awards — a category it was nominated for again this year. The brand has also continued to grow into new formats, including a podcast and newsletter that extend Chatelaine's voice and community beyond the page. We are looking for an Editor-in-Chief to set a new vision for Chatelaine (English edition). The job is to understand what Canadian women—and women connected to Canada around the world—are thinking about, dealing with and looking forward to, then build the journalism, service, conversation and community that meet them there. This is a brand leadership role as much as an editorial one. You will lead print, web, newsletters, social, video, audio, events and the platforms still taking shape. You will decide where Chatelaine should show up, what it should sound like and what it can do that no other brand can. Then you will bring the team, the audience and the business along with you.

Requirements

• Deep editorial leadership experience in a newsroom, media company or ambitious content organization. You have led people and change, not just a section or a beat.
• A record of building and growing content across several formats; ideally including print or long-form journalism, in addition to digital, newsletters, social, and events.
• Excellent editorial instincts. You can spot the idea, sharpen the angle, edit the line and judge the package.
• Strong writing and editing skills, grounded in reporting and journalistic standards.
• The production sense to move from concept to finished work: talent, format, visuals, schedule, budget, distribution and follow-through.
• A strong, influential and relevant network of contributors and creatives to help shape and develop your vision.
• A real understanding of the lives and interests of women in Canada, and the curiosity to keep listening as those lives change.
• Comfort with data, budgets and business decisions. You can make a creative case and an operating case for where the brand should invest.
• Confidence as a spokesperson and host. You are credible on camera and on stage, and you know how to make other people interesting.

Responsibilities

• Define the next chapter of Chatelaine: who it is for, what it stands for and where it can lead.
• Build an editorial agenda around the issues, ambitions, pleasures and pressures shaping women’s lives today — from health, money, work and caregiving to culture, politics, identity, style, food and relationships.
• Hold a high bar for accuracy, fairness, originality, voice and visual execution.
• Keep the brand Canadian at its core while finding ideas, contributors and stories with relevance beyond Canada.
• Lead the full content mix across print, web, newsletters, search, social, video, audio, events and new platforms as they emerge.
• Create a practical system for turning one strong assignment into the right set of stories, clips, conversations, newsletters, visuals and live moments—without lowering the standard or simply increasing workload.
• Stay close to the work. Commission, edit, write, produce or host when the story calls for it.
• Own audience growth across platforms, with clear goals for reach, engagement, loyalty, newsletter growth, subscriptions, event participation and repeat use.
• Use audience data and editorial judgment together. Know what performed, understand why, and turn that learning into better decisions—not safer ones.
• Develop repeatable franchises and formats that can become habits for audiences and durable assets for the brand.
• Bring new and younger audiences into Chatelaine while respecting the readers who already know and trust it.
• Lead, coach and challenge a small, talented team of editors, writers, producers, designers, freelancers and contributors.
• Partner and collaborate with the Editor-in-Chief of Châtelaine on cross-brand initiatives, creative expression and editorial planning.
• Set priorities clearly. Protect time for ambitious work, make quick calls when needed and create a culture where people can test ideas, disagree well and do their best work.
• Build a contributor network that reflects the breadth and diversity of women’s experiences in Canada and brings real expertise and lived perspective to the work.
• Run the editorial calendar, workflows and budget with discipline.
• Represent the brand in media, at industry and community events, with partners and in public conversations.
• Host interviews, video, audio and live events with authority, warmth and curiosity.
• Build relationships with writers, creators, experts, cultural leaders and communities who can extend the brand’s range and credibility.
• Make the Editor-in-Chief and the brand feel closely connected: recognizable, accountable and present.
• Work closely with audience, marketing, product, events, sales and branded content teams to turn editorial strength into sustainable growth.
• Develop editorial franchises and extensions that can support subscriptions, sponsorships, events, commerce and other revenue without compromising trust.
• Give commercial partners a clear understanding of the audience and the brand, while keeping editorial decision-making independent.
• Track the measures that matter, such as audience behaviour, loyalty, output and reuse, revenue contribution and brand impact, while having the adaptability to adjust quickly when something is not working.

Benefits

• Health and Dental Benefits
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and access to online health & wellness resources through Homewood Health.
• Scholarship program available for employees’ children.
• Exclusive employee subscription rates for SJC publications.
• A complimentary 1-year Toronto Life Insider membership.
• Discounted annual GoodLife membership.
• Participation in the Perkopolis Perk Program, offering employee pricing at a wide range of retailers.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed