Assistant Director, Programming – Stem, Pbs Digital Studios

Position Title:

Assistant Director, Programming – STEM, PBS Digital Studios

Department:

PBS Digital Studios

Corporate Area:

General Audience Programming

Status:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term), Full time Exempt

Manager Title:

Director, Programming, PBS Digital Studios

Position Overview:

PBS Digital Studios focuses on developing original online series and content strategies that position PBS as a leading global source of entertaining and enlightening video content, in support of the PBS vision of being the most trusted, valued and supported media organization in America. The 20+ ongoing PBS Digital Studios series — including Be Smart, Deep Look,, Weathered, and Eons, among others — receive approximately 50 million average views per month, and have amassed four billion views on YouTube to date.

The Assistant Director, PBS Digital Studios assists the Digital Studios team in managing day to day editorial and audience development activities for science-related Digital Studios shows and channels. This includes but is not limited to PBS Terra, PBS’ home for original digital STEM-programming on YouTube and select social media platforms. The incumbent will specifically work on new seasons of Weathered, a series focused on extreme weather, and Overview, a series that reveals the natural phenomena and human forces shaping our plane, as well as any other existing and forthcoming digital-first climate change and science content in the PBSDS pipeline. The incumbent supports the team in quality control, developing new digital-first series and sharing knowledge about digital production and audience development strategies throughout the PBS system.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Review rough cuts and offer feedback to producers, ensuring that all content meets PBS’ editorial standards
• Familiarity with a variety of social platforms and their audiences
• 3-4 years of experience working with a digital team (content creation, online publishing, or social media)
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of skills, training and work experience
• Work with Director of Programming and the Director of Audience Development to grow new audiences for PBS Terra
• Assist with events such as fan meet ups, grant-related conferences and panels
• Monitor and manage digital rights claims and disputes
• Work with production teams to gather S&P compliant materials
• Experience as a YouTube creator a major plus
• Create content for and manage the themed channel community tabs
• Experience creating, producing, and/or writing digital-first STEM content a major plus
• Plan, coordinate and execute events such as fan meet ups and conference panels
• Ability to thrive in an independent work environment
• Monitor and sort incoming pitches from various sources
• Help coordinate cross program collaborations and network-wide promotions (including PBS broadcast tie-ins and new series announcements)
• Coordinate the PBS Terra editorial calendar
• Creation of series “one-pagers” to distribute to PBS PR/Comms
• Superior written and oral communication skills (experience writing for online video preferred)
• Proven ability to build consensus and work effectively within teams
• 3-4 years professional experience working for media organizations or nationally recognized brand(s) via digital media initiatives (content development, social media, communications, etc.)
• Ability to deliver thoughtful, actionable feedback for video content, scripts and series concepts
• Committed to the mission of the Public Broadcasting Service
• Willingness to take on new roles, share ideas, and perform other duties as assigned
• Assist as needed with grant proposals and reporting for current PBSDS projects
• Frequent consumer of educational content across different platforms, especially YouTube and podcasts
• Familiarity with PBSDS' series, video approach and style
• Experience producing digital video and building audiences around educational or fact-based content, especially on YouTube
• Track analytics for individual videos and series on PBS Terra
• Ability to cover sensitive or controversial topics with nuance and editorial integrity
• Positive attitude and superb organizational skills
• Understanding of audience development strategies for YouTube, TikTok and other online video platforms
• Demonstrated video production skills and passion for creating online video content that educates, entertains and inspires
• Support PBSDS Operations and Audience Development teams as needed
• Work with PBSDS creators on their platform-specific strategies, especially on YouTube
• Work with PBS stations, production companies and other partners to develop new digital-first series concepts, including vertical companion pieces for emerging social media platforms (FB/IG Stories/Reels, YT Shorts/Stories, TikTok)
• Work closely with Director of Programming and other staff to execute editorial responsibilities for science-related PBS Digital Studios series including: