Job Posting Title:

Digital Editorial Director, National Geographic

Req ID:

10090292

Job Description:

National Geographic is looking for a Digital Editorial Director (DED)! We are looking for a leader that can manage and execute National Geographic’s visually rich and scientifically sourced digital storytelling! This important role leads a team of editors making data-informed content decisions that drive results by creating relevant, timely, and conversation-worthy content with a National Geographic lens.

This leader will spearhead content creation from planning through publication, approving content targeted for platform-specific audiences that meet acquisition goals. They will set the standards for content that drive results across all editorial teams by being selective about story assignments, intentional with story structure, and creative with irresistibly click-worthy headlines. The DED should have a keen understanding for how content is consumed on different digital platforms, and specifically how it should be optimized for Search, Social and subscription wins.

While the DED will be expected to guide and influence editors across the entire editorial operation to adhere to digital best practices, the leader will also collaborate on publishing priorities in support of the National Geographic Society, National Geographic Channel, and The Walt Disney Company at large.

What You Will Do:

Manage digital content team, which requires hiring, coaching, and performance managementRegularly align on content and promotion strategies with the Executive Editor of Digital, which often includes collaboration with teams across the companyRun regular digital editorial pitch meetings throughout the week, leading the conversation and making decisions on which stories to pursue, which stories to not pursue, and which pitches to continue to research and shapeApprove, reframe or kill story pitches that surface and need decision making outside of regularly scheduled meetingsDecide paywall status and weekly publishing cadence, identifying which stories align with each of our KPIs as well as what topic areas to experiment withInstruct and set expectations for story framing and story length, regularly using data and experimentation to test new concepts and formatsReactively and proactively advise on headlines and help editors craft compelling headlines, testing them as neededWork with the digital photo manager, graphics team, and the manager of interactive storytelling, to plan for and publish highly engaging content and new storytelling formatsAttend weekly leadership meeting to report on what upcoming content has potential for synergy support from PR and Marketing teams, while contributing to the larger conversation about overall business objectivesMeet with PR and Marketing teams regularly to strategize creative solutions to reshape print-first stories so they have high consumer impact and support overall company needsIdentify digital-first story packages that can be published across platforms and have the potential to be franchisedWork closely with the Director of Integrated Storytelling to conceptualize digital content for synergy priority needs, including those of National Geographic Channel and National Geographic SocietyReport on daily trends, whether it’d be a topic in the news, on Search, on Social, or otherwise in the zeitgeist, executing our digital publishing strategicallyCollaborating with the Digital Engagement Team, build and oversee the editorial Search strategy, from tools to use, tactics to deploy and content to prioritizeRegularly collaborate with the Social team on digital content ideation. The director will decide what content to pursue for timely publishing, and along with managers, assign that content. They will also ideate and execute on bigger digital projects in alignment with the Social teamHold monthly data meetings with the editorial team to report on the previous month’s performance, including strategies to continue, topics to continue pursuing, areas to pull back on, and what to experiment with in the month(s) aheadMeet weekly with direct reports to provide a constant feedback loop on their performance and their teams’ output and performanceRegularly jump in to help with text editing as needed

Required Qualifications & Skills

8 plus years of editorial experience in digital publishing, including management and supervisory responsibilityA strong background in writing, editing, and digital operations, with a broad knowledge of search engine optimization, are mustsBe a future-forward digital manager, have superior conceptual editing skills and be a big-picture digital strategist using data-driving toolsLead conversations and evolve story ideas out of brainstorm sessionsAbility to write digitally optimized headlines and textHighly developed ability to recognize and create story ideas, including ideas with major visual and multimedia componentsUnflappability and a cheerful attitude under publishing pressuresAbility to work cooperatively with a variety of personalities

Preferred Qualifications

A keen sense of the competitive media landscape, tried tactics and industry trendsThe ability to help with recruiting and retaining talentAn understanding of priorities and demands of a large umbrella company, such as The Walt Disney CompanyThe patience to work effectively with many different divisions as well as those outside of National Geographic.

Education

Bachelor’s degree with concentrated studies in journalism, digital media or communication

The hiring range for this position in Washington, D.C. is $163,500 to $219,200 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

Disney Networks

Job Posting Primary Business:

Disney Networks All

Primary Job Posting Category:

Digital Content Editorial

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Washington, DC, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2024-05-23