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Video Audience Development Manager (freelance)

Overview

Hearst Media Production Group is hiring a Video Audience Development Manager (freelance) to guide our continued growth and performance in video, with a primary focus on our Lucky Dog IP. In this role, you will own our YouTube programming strategy, optimize viewership and revenue performance, and automate executive-ready reporting. The ideal candidate balances platform expertise with deep analytical rigor. You'll need expert-level understanding of YouTube Studio and demonstrated ability to turn data-backed trends into practical production improvements. You'll also have strong data-backed ideas that allow HMPG to grow and prosper on YouTube without compromising on the trust we've built with our community. You'll need to be comfortable working alongside producers to provide data-backed creative direction, and capable of evangelizing best practices across production, design, talent, and sales.

The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Licensing and Distribution.

The position is on-site for four (4) days at our Hearst offices in either Glendale, CA or Charlotte, NC. 

Responsibilities

• Own programming strategy for HMPG's Lucky Dog YouTube channel, including content direction, scheduling, and presentation
• Serve as HMPG's YouTube Studio Oracle, defining new KPIs, automating reports with practical takeaways, and implementing platform standards that optimize for engagement and revenue growth 
• Automate recurring reporting (weekly/monthly/quarterly) and deliver insights that are actionable for production, design, and editorial leadership
• Partner with sponsorship sales to support YouTube monetization efforts, including Brand Partnership tools, DAI-enabled capabilities, and campaign measurement best practices
• Analyze historical and current viewership trends to inform content optimization (e.g., topic selection, formats, runtimes, cadence, and seasonal programming)
• Develop practical recommendations to reach, engage, and retain new audiences across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snap
• Lead lightweight testing and learning efforts across packaging, metadata, release timing, and channel presentation, then translate results into clear recommendations for creative and production teams
• Improve the performance of Lucky Dog's library and back catalog through playlist strategy, metadata refreshes, packaging updates, and resurfacing opportunities
• Socialize YouTube and video best practices across the organization, aligning talent, production, sales, and design around performance-driven workflows
• Partner closely with Content Operations on captioning, upload readiness, and publishing workflows to ensure consistent execution against platform best practices
• Flag potential monetization, rights-management, or platform policy issues early and coordinate with internal stakeholders and platform partners to resolve them proactively

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years experience in digital video strategy, YouTube programming, audience development, or video analytics (media company, creator network, or agency preferred)
• Demonstrated success programming or operating a major YouTube channel or network, including packaging strategy (titles/thumbnails), launch scheduling, and performance optimization
• Avid and natural consumer of YouTube with strong ties to creators, producers, and networks in the space 
• Advanced fluency in YouTube Studio analytics, content measurement, and experimentation frameworks; ability to translate metrics into creative direction without overfitting to noise
• Experience building repeatable reporting systems and dashboards (e.g., Sheets/Excel + Looker Studio/Tableau; bonus for SQL, APIs, or lightweight scripting/automation)
• Knowledge of YouTube monetization and sponsorship tooling (new DAI Brand Partnerships tools, creator-brand workflows, measurement, and brand-safety guidelines)
• Strong cross-functional communication skills; able to influence talent/creators, producers, editors, designers, and sales partners with clarity and credibility
• Highly organized, proactive operator with strong project management instincts and comfort solving problems with small teams
• Genuine passion and knowledge for pets and the industry's creator ecosystem

Education

• Related experience and/or training considered as well as a combination of education and experience
• HMPG is a proud supporter of military veterans. Related military training and experience will be considered 

Compensation

The estimated base salary range for this role is between $95,000 and $105,000. The actual base pay offered is dependent upon many factors, such as transferable skills, work experience, business needs, market demands and conditions, including geographic location where the work will be performed, and other factors permitted by law. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Values in Action

At Hearst Television we tell stories every day. Stories about people of all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. That's why, behind the scenes, we believe in being an organization as diverse and varied as the audience we reach, ensuring that the content we create is more compassionate, and more representative of the communities we serve.

Benefits

Eligible employees will have access to enroll in health coverage through our partnership with Entertainment Partners' EP Cares program. 

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• Emotional Wellness Support

• Additional benefits to meet your and your family's needs

About Hearst Media Production Group 

Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG), a business unit of Hearst Television, is an independent producer and distributor of original programming for TV stations, broadcast and cable networks and streaming services. HMPG produces hundreds of hours of programming annually across linear, streaming, digital and social media platforms for domestic and international distribution in nearly 100 countries.  Its popular shows include the Emmy Award-winning educational/informational (E/I) programming blocks airing weekends nationwide including "Weekend Adventure," on ABC stations; "CBS WKND," on the CBS Network; "The More You Know," on the NBC Network; "One Magnificent Morning," on the CW Network; "Mi Telemundo" on the Telemundo Network and "Go Time" on independent stations. HMPG also produces and/or distributes a diverse slate of other programming and content including Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien, America's #1 nationally syndicated public affairs news magazine; Consumer Reports TV, and the company's dedicated FAST channels Xplore, The Jack Hanna Channel and Rovr Pets, available on some of the most popular smart TVs and streaming platforms.   HMPG has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Charlotte.  HMPG is represented by United Talent Agency.