Job Description

About Us

Powered by one of the largest global newsrooms in sports media, The Athletic brings sports fans the most comprehensive stories about the teams, sports and athletes they love. The Athletic’s newsroom of 500+ full-time staff delivers in-depth coverage of hundreds of professional and college teams across more than 47 North American markets and all 20 football clubs in the English Premier League, as well as many Championship clubs.

About The Role

As a Manager, Video Growth, you are a key leader within The Athletic’s content ecosystem. You will be responsible for driving the global audience strategy on and off-platform - overseeing performance and reporting on video produced across our Video, Reporter and Shows & Series teams.

This is a management role that bridges the gap between creative production, data-driven distribution, and external partnerships. Beyond platform optimization, you will spearhead our Creator Program, identifying and managing high-level talent to produce content powered by The Athletic. You will serve as a critical link between our external creators and our world-class newsroom, ensuring that influencer-led content remains aligned with our high standards of journalistic integrity and news-gathering needs.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader who understands the nuance of social algorithms, the mechanics of high-end series production, and the evolving landscape of the creator economy.

Responsibilities

People Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of growth specialists and platform leads, fostering a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and career development.

Platform & Series Strategy: Oversee the end-to-end performance of all video content, specifically focusing on the growth of our original Shows & Series across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Creator Program Oversight: Lead the strategy and execution of our Creator Program. This includes identifying talent, negotiating partnerships, and overseeing the production of creator-led content that leverages The Athletic’s brand.
Newsroom Integration: Act as the primary liaison between the Video team and the Newsroom. Ensure creator content supports our news-gathering efforts and that breaking news is effectively leveraged across our social video channels.
Data & Insights: Own the departmental data stack. Translate complex analytics into actionable strategies for the Director of Video Growth and executive leadership.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Senior Executive Producer of Creative Studios to support commercial RFPs, ensuring our growth and creator strategies are integrated into branded content pitches.
Process Architecture: Design and implement sophisticated workflows that streamline content packaging, SEO optimization, and community engagement efforts across global time zones.

Requirements

Experience: 7+ years of relevant experience in video growth, social media strategy, or digital publishing, with at least 3-5 years in a formal people management role.

Leadership Mastery: Proven track record of managing teams and navigating complex, matrixed organizations.
Creator Economy Expert: Deep understanding of the creator landscape, including talent management, contract nuances, and understanding what content enhances The Athletic brand
Algorithmic Authority: Intimate knowledge of YouTube, TikTok, and Meta algorithms, with a demonstrated ability to pivot strategies based on platform shifts.
Editorial Judgment: Strong news sense and the ability to ensure creator-led content meets the rigorous editorial standards of The Athletic.
Technical Proficiency: While this is a leadership role, you must be fluent in the Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere and Photoshop) to provide high-level creative direction and quality control.
Communication: Exceptional copywriting and presentation skills; ability to "speak to the numbers" to stakeholders at the executive level.
Strategic Vision: Ability to work with high autonomy, transforming high-level business goals into tactical execution plans for your team.