Assistant Director, Programming, Digital Studios

Position Title:

Assistant Director, Programming, 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 of Programming for PBS Digital Studios assists the Digital Studios team in managing day to day editorial and audience development activities for select member station produced programs for YouTube and select social media platforms. The incumbent will manage several digital-first series spanning subject matter for a Corporation for Public Broadcasting funded program focused on elevating diverse voices and increasing digital capacity in public media. The incumbent supports the team in quality control, growing and developing station producing partners through the production of digital-first series, and sharing knowledge about digital production and audience development strategies throughout the PBS system.

Sample grant-related series include: Rogue History: Behind the Patch, Hip-Hop and the Metaverse, Ritual, Brave Spaces, and Dead and Buried.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• 4-5 years professional experience working for media organizations or nationally recognized brand(s) on digital media initiatives (content development, social media, communications, etc.)
• Develop close partnership with relevant station and project Executive Producers to ensure project content and brand continuity
• Familiarity with PBSDS' series, video approach and style
• Experience producing digital video and building audiences around educational or fact-based content, especially on YouTube
• Assist with grant reporting and assessment deliverables
• Help coordinate cross program collaborations and network-wide promotions (including PBS broadcast tie-ins and new series announcements)
• Offer feedback to producers, ensuring that all content meets PBS’ editorial standards
• Frequent consumer of educational content across different platforms, especially YouTube and social media
• Experience with grant programming and deliverables a major plus
• Monitor and manage digital rights claims and disputes
• Work with Director of Programming and the Director of Audience Development to grow new audiences across YouTube channels
• Positive attitude, willingness to share ideas, proven ability to build consensus, and work effectively within teams
• Supervise PBS station series including reviewing pitches, outlines, scripts, rough cuts, fine cuts, and other editorial and creative material
• Demonstrated video production skills and passion for creating online video content that educates, entertains and inspires
• Experience creating, producing, and/or writing digital-first content a major plus
• Work closely with Director of Programming and other staff to execute editorial responsibilities for station-produced PBS Digital Studios series including:
• Plan, coordinate and execute events such as grant-related conferences, professional development webinars, panels
• Work with production teams to gather Standards & Practices compliant materials
• Work with PBS stations to develop new digital-first series concepts, including vertical video companion pieces for social media platforms (Facebook/Instagram Stories/Reels, YouTube Shorts/Stories, TikTok)
• Work collaboratively with station producers and staff, serving as a teacher and leader to enhance their program participation experience, further digital production capacity and understanding of best practices
• Ability to cover sensitive or controversial topics with nuance and editorial integrity
• Familiarity and experience with public media a plus
• Experience mentoring teams in new content methodology a major plus
• Coordinate the PBSDS editorial calendars
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of skills, training and work experience
• Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry including but not limited to: anti-racism, disability inclusion, LGBTQIA+, gender/sexuality
• Track and effectively use analytics across channels to drive series engagement
• Strong content project management and organizational skills
• Support PBSDS Operations and Audience Development teams as needed
• Superior written and oral communication skills (experience writing for online video preferred)
• Ability to deliver thoughtful, actionable feedback for video content, scripts and series concepts
• Work closely with Diversity Consultant and Grant Manager
• Work with PBS station producers on their platform-specific strategies, especially on YouTube and vertical video social media platforms
• Committed to the mission of the Public Broadcasting Service
• Familiarity with a variety of digital trends, social media platforms and their audiences