Digital Editorial Director, National Geographic

Job ID 10090292 Location Washington, DC, United States Business Disney Entertainment Television Date posted Jun. 26, 2024

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"I didn't think it was possible that something I did for fun - telling sports stories through stats - could become my job until I came here."

Ana, Sr. Researcher, ESPN

Job Summary:

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 management
Regularly align on content and promotion strategies with the Executive Editor of Digital, which often includes collaboration with teams across the company
Run 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 shape
Approve, reframe or kill story pitches that surface and need decision making outside of regularly scheduled meetings
Decide paywall status and weekly publishing cadence, identifying which stories align with each of our KPIs as well as what topic areas to experiment with
Instruct and set expectations for story framing and story length, regularly using data and experimentation to test new concepts and formats
Reactively and proactively advise on headlines and help editors craft compelling headlines, testing them as needed
Work with the digital photo manager, graphics team, and the manager of interactive storytelling, to plan for and publish highly engaging content and new storytelling formats
Attend 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 objectives
Meet 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 needs
Identify digital-first story packages that can be published across platforms and have the potential to be franchised
Work closely with the Director of Integrated Storytelling to conceptualize digital content for synergy priority needs, including those of National Geographic Channel and National Geographic Society
Report 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 strategically
Collaborating with the Digital Engagement Team, build and oversee the editorial Search strategy, from tools to use, tactics to deploy and content to prioritize
Regularly 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 team
Hold 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) ahead
Meet weekly with direct reports to provide a constant feedback loop on their performance and their teams’ output and performance
Regularly 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 responsibility
A strong background in writing, editing, and digital operations, with a broad knowledge of search engine optimization, are musts
Be a future-forward digital manager, have superior conceptual editing skills and be a big-picture digital strategist using data-driving tools
Lead conversations and evolve story ideas out of brainstorm sessions
Ability to write digitally optimized headlines and text
Highly developed ability to recognize and create story ideas, including ideas with major visual and multimedia components
Unflappability and a cheerful attitude under publishing pressures
Ability to work cooperatively with a variety of personalities

Preferred Qualifications

A keen sense of the competitive media landscape, tried tactics and industry trends
The ability to help with recruiting and retaining talent
An understanding of priorities and demands of a large umbrella company, such as The Walt Disney Company
The 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.

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About Disney Entertainment Television:

Disney Entertainment Television is a collection of renowned content brands at The Walt Disney Company creating original entertainment and news programming for the company’s streaming platforms Disney+, Hulu and Star, and its broadcast and cable networks. Its extensive portfolio is comprised of ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Branded Television, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content and Onyx Collective, in addition to Disney Television Studios, which include 20th Television, 20th Television Animation, ABC Signature and Walt Disney Television Alternative. Responsible for over 4,500 hours of programming a year across more than 300 programs of all genres, Disney Entertainment Television’s creative brands are at the forefront of groundbreaking storytelling, captivating audiences and generating critical acclaim. In 2023, Disney Entertainment Television’s programming excellence earned 163 Emmy® nominations across daytime, primetime, news & documentary, and children’s & family categories.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with National Geographic Partners PAY SVC, which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment Television.

National Geographic Partners PAY SVC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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