Freelance Product Development Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

The Director of Development & Production is a senior creative leader responsible for the development, production, and execution of premium digital-first content across Lifestyle, Food & Travel, and Entertainment. This role oversees content from concept through delivery while driving creative innovation, production excellence, and audience growth across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and emerging digital platforms.

The ideal candidate is an experienced creative producer with a passion for storytelling, a proven ability to develop original franchises and recurring series, and an enthusiasm for Food, Travel, and Entertainment programming. They understand how to create compelling, platform-native content that grows audiences, attracts brand partners, and elevates an established media brand.

Working closely with executive leadership, editorial, audience development, and sales teams, the Director of Development & Production will lead creative development, oversee production operations, mentor production teams, and ensure every project meets the highest editorial and production standards.

Responsibilities

Creative Development & Strategy

• Lead the creative development of original digital series, recurring franchises, specials, and branded content initiatives for growing digital editorial brands including @AmazingAmericaTV and @PauseRewind.
• Identify emerging audience trends, platform opportunities, and storytelling formats that support audience growth and business objectives.
• Generate, pitch, and develop new programming concepts while evolving existing series with fresh creative approaches.
• Create series treatments, story outlines, mood boards, production decks, and presentation materials for internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Partner with leadership to build and maintain a robust content development pipeline aligned with editorial priorities and commercial opportunities.

Production Leadership

• Oversee all productions from greenlight through final delivery across multiple platforms and formats.
• Direct studio and field productions, providing clear creative vision to crews, producers, editors, and on-camera talent.
• Manage creative execution throughout pre-production, production, post-production, and final approval.
• Review and approve creative materials including treatments, scripts, casting recommendations, production schedules, budgets, graphics, music, rough cuts, fine cuts, and final deliverables.
• Establish production workflows and best practices that improve efficiency while maintaining exceptional creative quality.

Team Leadership

• Mentor producers, coordinators, freelance talent, editors, and production partners.
• Foster a collaborative, creative culture focused on innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage multiple concurrent productions while balancing priorities, deadlines, budgets, and available resources.
• Facilitate creative brainstorms with Editorial, Audience Development, and Sales teams to maximize content performance.

Audience Growth & Optimization

• Collaborate with Audience Development and Analytics teams to leverage performance insights and optimize future content.
• Maintain a deep understanding of platform algorithms, viewer behavior, and evolving digital consumption habits.
• Champion experimentation with new storytelling techniques, production technologies, creators, and distribution strategies.

Brand Partnerships & Business Development

• Work closely with branded content and sales teams to develop premium sponsorship opportunities that seamlessly integrate advertiser objectives while maintaining editorial integrity.
• Cultivate relationships within the tourism, hospitality, culinary, lifestyle, and entertainment industries to identify new content and partnership opportunities.
• Represent the company during partner meetings, industry events, production shoots, and creative presentations.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Film, Television, Digital Media, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 7+ years of experience developing and producing original digital content for major media brands, publishers, production companies, or digital platforms.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing creative production teams and overseeing multiple concurrent productions.
• Professional experience and genuine enthusiasm for creating Lifestyle, Food & Travel, and Entertainment content.
• Proven success developing and launching original digital video series that drive audience engagement and growth.
• Extensive experience overseeing productions from concept through post-production across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, FAST, streaming, and emerging platforms.
• Strong creative judgment with experience providing feedback across every stage of development, production, and editorial review.
• Experience directing both studio and field productions, working with talent, creators, celebrities, and non-professional hosts.
• Strong understanding of branded content, sponsorship integrations, and advertiser collaboration.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and project management skills.

Preferred

• Experience developing creator-led programming and influencer collaborations.
• Familiarity with production management software, digital asset management systems, and content performance analytics.
• Experience managing production budgets, vendor negotiations, and resource planning.

Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, including employer sponsorship for an H-1B visa, OPT-STEM employment, etc.

Sinclair is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Sinclair

Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 177 television stations in 79 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; and multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest. Sinclair's AMP Media produces a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. Additional information about Sinclair can be found at www.sbgi.net.

About the Team

The life-blood of our organization is our people. We have a compelling story, a goal-oriented culture, and we take really good care of people. How good? Here is a glimpse: great benefits, open-door policy, upward mobility and a strong desire to see you succeed. Ready to be part of a winning team? Let's talk.

The base salary compensation range for this role is $110,000 to $150,000. This role also may be eligible for a quarterly bonus based on individual performance Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. Full time positions are eligible for benefits that include participation in a retirement plan, life and disability insurance, health, dental and vision plans, flexible spending accounts, sick leave, vacation time, personal time, parental leave and employee stock purchase plan.