General Manager

Company Description

The Kit, Canada’s 360-degree beauty and style leader and a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, is a modern media brand, which uses the power of digital, print and social to tell rich, engaging, authentically multi-platform stories. The Kit connects with readers by offering Canada’s most compelling beauty and fashion content: breaking news, gorgeous photo shoots, editor-approved shopping lists, and thoughtful trend features. The reader sees herself reflected back in the best possible light: strong, smart, beautiful. The Kit helps her feel seen.

Job Description

The General Manager is responsible for business operations for The Kit’s portfolio of media assets. They are focused on overseeing the publishing and collab divisions, which prioritizes revenue management associated with digital, newsletter, social, print, production and creative LOBs. The GM sets forth the plan for goal achievement, working with relevant proactive and inbound sources to ensure alignment and pacing to company needs. They keep wider company stakeholders informed of changes, adjustments, forecasts, etc. They are also responsible for new business innovation and thought-leadership, ensuring the brand succeeds into the years to come.

This is a permanent full time role.

This role includes:

P&L OWNERSHIP: working with finance to ensure appropriate budgeting, cash flow and EBITDA management. The GM:

• Manages the P&L, including revenue generation and relevant expenses tied to payroll and not payroll needs
• Sets forth annualized budgets for collab and editorial team needs
• Maintains the revenue tracker with the Collab Manager, reconciling weekly against internal CRM tools
• Submits revenue forecasts weekly to sales, along with RF3, RF6 and RF9 at a company-level through finance
• Signs off on book size, date changes and formatting adjustments, reviewing each issue prior to being shipped for press for any revenue-focused needs
• Authorizes all revenue-driven product decisions and liaises with the editorial team on their direction changes

STRUCTURING NEW INNOVATIONS: developing and bucketing team ideation into viable productization and new LOBs. The GM:

• Drives forward the 3-year revenue growth strategy through its multi-phased workback
• Adapts to new market innovations in agile manner, beta testing new projects that meet market needs and working with the collab team to productize 
• Support implementation and execution of new concepts and ideas, including creative projects, events, activations, etc.
• Fosters an entrepreneurial spirit and environment that welcomes fresh thinking while rewarding proven results

SUPPORTING SALES FUNCTIONS: working closely with Toronto Star, Metroland and external sales agencies to drive revenue to the brand. The GM:

• Manages direct relationships with top clientele in the lifestyle space, keeping relevant sales stakeholders informed and involved
• Represents The Kit brand as a specialist with the Collab Manager in sales meetings, client meetings and internal town halls
• Oversees premium placements, incumbencies and scheduling to ensure all clients are represented with the best alignment to their goals

BRAND MANAGEMENT: develops brand guidelines and guardrails with editor-in-chief. The GM:

• Represents and embodies The Kit brand, our mission and our mandate
• Adapts principles of tone with the team to ensure representing the next generation of thought-leadership
• Attends and supports branded and client events on behalf of The Kit as an ambassador

Qualifications

The General Manager must be passionate about the beauty, fashion and lifestyle industries. They must have a strong background in and thorough understanding of multi-platform media. They must understand media-needs, brand needs and how to bridge them to optimize ROI. Maintaining positive internal and external relationships is a must.

Candidates must have:

• 8-10 years of media, agency or PR
• University or post-graduate degree in related discipline
• Experience in:
  • Managing revenue tracking and P&L ownership
  • Working closely with finance-based functions
  • Maintaining client relationships across the industry
  • Developing and overseeing proposals, pitches and presentations
  • Managing a cross-functional team of individuals
  • Managing a brand

Additional Information

Torstar Group of Companies is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment process ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for candidates, including persons with disabilities. In compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Human Rights Code we will endeavour to provide accommodation to persons with disabilities in the recruitment process upon request. If you are selected for an interview and you require accommodation due to a disability during the recruitment process, please notify the hiring manager upon scheduling your interview of your requirements.