Responsibilities

• Manage the Pilot Pipeline: Oversee the daily workflow of the pilot program, actively selecting the best aggregated content from the main team and directing social producers on how to swiftly convert it into video formats.
• Format Development: Collaborate closely with the VP of Content Development to design, test, and iterate distinct, repeatable short-form and medium-form video commentary structures.
• Talent Coaching: Guide on-camera hosts and voiceover talent to establish a sharp, authoritative, yet culturally authentic commentary and analysis tone.
• Scripting & Storyboarding: Edit and refine short-form scripts and video outlines to ensure commentary is punchy, legally sound, and optimized for viewer retention.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the broader newsroom, video editors, and leadership to seamlessly integrate the pilot workflow into daily operations without disrupting core traffic.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor real-time audience reception, comment sentiment, and retention metrics alongside leadership to quickly pivot formats during the experimental sprint.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Digital Media, Communications, Film/Television Production, or a related field is preferred or equivalent practical experience with a robust portfolio.
• 4+ years of experience as a digital video producer, social media editor, or content manager, specifically producing high-volume, short-form video content (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts).
• Proven track record in a fast-paced media environment (e.g., breaking entertainment news, celebrity culture, or lifestyle media) managing a rapid-turnaround production pipeline.
• Experience in talent coaching and production leadership, with a proven ability to direct social producers, video editors, and guide on-camera/voiceover talent to capture a specific brand voice.
• Experience working within a highly fluid, experimental, or "startup-style" pilot program inside a larger, established media organization.
• Ability to format development, with a history of building, testing, and scaling repeatable, high-engagement social video structures from the ground up.
• Strong editorial background with extensive experience writing, copyediting, and storyboarding punchy, concise scripts under tight deadlines, ensuring content is legally sound and optimized for viewer retention.
• Data-informed approach to content creation, with experience monitoring real-time audience reception, comment sentiment, and platform retention metrics to pivot content strategies.
• Deep cultural fluency and a strong, intrinsic familiarity with The Shade Room’s brand identity, community dynamics ("The Roomies"), and the celebrity/pop culture landscape.
• Social Video Expertise: Deep understanding of current social video ecosystems, algorithm trends, and formatting strategies specifically for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube.
• Editorial Judgment & Scriptwriting: Exceptional editorial instincts with a proven track record of writing and editing sharp, concise, and accurate short-form copy under tight breaking-news deadlines.
• Production Leadership: Proven ability to manage a fast-turnaround production pipeline, direct creative teams, and coach on-camera or voice talent behind the scenes.
• Collaborative Mindset: A builder’s mentality with the agility to experiment, accept real-time feedback, and comfortably navigate a temporary, highly fluid startup environment within a major media brand.
• Industry Experience: Prior direct experience producing high-volume social content or digital video programming for a major entertainment, celebrity news, or lifestyle media channel.

Preferred

• Cultural Fluency (Preferred)