Senior journalist (Ireland) - Racing Post

Spotlight Sports Group is a global media and technology company with a clear purpose, to set the standard for trusted, customer-driven experiences across global racing and sports betting. Guided by our mission to create experiences that fans love, we combine more than 40 years of heritage with bold innovation to deliver award-winning content, data and digital products. With over 400 employees worldwide, our portfolio includes Racing Post, Pickswise, myracing and Free Super Tips, as well as the international marketing agency ICS-digital and ICS-translate. Together, we partner with leading operators, affiliates and media groups to power growth and engagement across the industry.

The Racing Post is looking for an exceptional senior journalist to join our award-winning editorial team. You will be responsible for delivering exclusive stories on Irish horseracing, covering the sport on and off the track. As an experienced, accomplished and dynamic reporter, you will have a track record of delivering scoops and will continue to do so on the major issues affecting the racing and betting sectors in Ireland. 

You will be able to show a track record of building strong working relationships and will be expected to develop an unrivalled contacts book with senior trainers/jockeys, administrators and others to land a significant volume of powerful new stories. 

As part of your reporting duties you will also create analysis and explainer packages around the team’s strongest stories, write columns, special reports, features, reports from major racedays and appear on Racing Post video shows as an expert on Irish racing.

What you’ll do:

• Deliver a regular flow of exclusives among a significant volume of strong stories 
• Quickly develop an appreciation of our audience so as to tailor content for maximum impact
• Write expert analysis, comment and explainers to produce comprehensive packages around the biggest stories
• Develop and maintain a sport-leading contacts book 
• Produce audio-visual output as part of editorial content packages
• Pitch story ideas to the Ireland editor and execute those ideas with flair 
• Actively contribute ideas for news, special reports and news investigations in planning meetings within the wider news team
• Monitor the daily news environment in racing, betting and beyond to identify and report upon potential items of interest 

Requirements

• Excellent writing and storytelling skills with an instinct for finding stories others miss
• A strong knowledge of the horseracing landscape in Ireland and its interlinked industries
• A proven affinity for cross-team collaboration that will maximise the power and impact of your stories 
• Experience using racing and industry data as the basis for storytelling, with an ability to identify important trends and statistics 
• Comfortable using performance analytics to shape your approach to identifying and executing stories
• An excellent standard of written English and excellent attention to detail
• Ability to use initiative, to work under pressure of deadline and without supervision
• Excellent communication skills
• A team player with the ability to encourage, foster and develop colleagues 
• Full driving licence

Benefits

We offer a range of well-being initiatives, including private medical insurance, excellent parental leave, a working globally policy, mental health support, assistance programs, and social gatherings. We also provide a pension scheme and various other benefit schemes. Plus, we all get our birthdays off work and enjoy 25 days of holiday per year.

We’ve also got you covered with life assurance and exclusive perks like the Star card and our Step Further Awards (our employee recognition program) to recognise your dedication. For those working via the hybrid model (in the office and at home) we’ve made commuting easier with our Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme.

You can also take advantage of complimentary access to our Racing Post Members Club, complete with an Ultimate Membership. We believe in making a positive impact beyond the workplace, and you'll have the chance to volunteer two days per year with our charity partner.