A New Type of Publishing Professional
One of the most fascinating parts of our job right now is being briefed on roles that did not have names five years ago. Publishing has always generated new specialisms - digital publishing roles emerged in the 2000s, social media managers in the 2010s. But the pace of role creation has accelerated sharply since 2020, and the shapes these roles take are genuinely new.
These are not simply rebranded traditional roles. They represent the genuine intersection of publishing craft with technology, data, and new business models. And right now, demand for people who can fill them far exceeds supply.
The Roles We're Placing in 2026
AI Content Operations Lead- One of the truly new arrivals. This person oversees the integration of AI tools into content workflows, not as a technologist, but as an editorial and operational professional who understands where AI adds value, where it introduces risk, and how to build processes that maintain quality standards. It is a rare skill set and salaries are reflecting that scarcity.
Digital Product Manager (Publishing)- Borrowed from the tech sector, this role applies product thinking to publishing assets. The Digital Product Manager owns the development and commercial performance of a digital product, a subscription platform, an app, a course. They need editorial understanding, technical literacy, and commercial acumen in roughly equal measure.
Content Monetisation Strategist - Publishers are increasingly focused on unlocking revenue from content archives and new formats. This role exists to identify and execute those opportunities, whether through licensing, syndication, membership models, or adjacent product development.
Why These Roles Are So Hard to Fill
The challenge is that these roles require combinations of expertise that do not typically coexist in a single career path. A brilliant editor who has spent fifteen years developing authors may have limited commercial or data skills. A talented data analyst from outside the sector may lack the editorial judgement that publishing demands. Finding people who genuinely bridge both worlds is the central hiring challenge of this moment.
Where to Find These Candidates
The most productive sourcing strategies we are using right now combine publishing-specific channels with adjacent sectors. Technology, media, journalism, and eCommerce are all producing candidates who have transferable skills and genuine interest in publishing. The sector's instinct to hire only from within itself is increasingly a barrier to filling these roles effectively.
Advice for Career Changers
If you are coming from outside publishing and interested in these hybrid roles, lead with your transferable skills and demonstrate genuine sector knowledge. Publishers can be cautious about non-traditional backgrounds. The candidates who break through are those who can speak fluently about both the commercial dynamics of publishing and the specific skills they bring. Sector familiarity - even as a committed reader or consumer of the media - matters more than you might expect.