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