Executive Director, Audience Development & Content Strategy

Location: New York, NY

About the role

WIRED is looking for an experienced, creative, relentless newsroom leader to oversee audience development and content strategy for its editions around the world. Reporting directly to the Global Editorial Director, this senior leadership position requires digital news and reporting experience to drive subscriber growth, shape editorial packaging, and provide audience insights that inform storytelling strategies and daily newsroom decisions. The role oversees the WIRED app, subscriber growth, audience development, social, and analytics functions for global editions, and partners closely with social video production units to align insights with social platform strategies. The candidate must set high‑level audience growth strategies, disseminate KPIs, and also engage in detailed work on story packaging and blockbuster scoops. Collaboration with Condé Nast stakeholders on revenue imperatives and connecting audience strategy to brand revenue opportunities is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead audience development and social promotion in a fast‑paced digital newsroom publishing dozens of stories daily, plus newsletters, podcasts, and vertical video products.
• Partner with editorial leaders to drive subscriber growth, convert engaged readers into paying subscribers, and deepen engagement among existing subscribers.
• Develop and optimize subscriber‑focused editorial experiences, including subscriber‑only newsletters, exclusive content, programming, and other premium benefits.
• Build strategies for growing direct relationships with WIRED’s most engaged audiences across newsletters, the WIRED app, podcasts, events, and other owned platforms, emphasizing loyalty, frequency, and subscriber value.
• Provide high‑level audience development strategies for the website, app, and off‑platform destinations such as TikTok and Instagram, iterating to meet global KPIs.
• Collaborate with social media leads to create enterprising social strategies, balancing owned‑and‑operated referral and bespoke platform brand identity.
• Work with editors on packaging, visuals, and other elements to maximize audience reach and impact for each story.
• Partner with analytics teams to identify new content opportunities for brand growth and deliver actionable feedback to editorial teams.
• Develop and oversee newsletter strategy and products, conducting testing and optimization on an ongoing basis.
• Provide ongoing guidance on SEO best practices, conduct trainings, and evaluate search and online landscapes to future‑proof WIRED against AI and related impacts.
• Hire, onboard, and develop a global, diverse team of ~12‑15 analysts, audience development, and social media professionals.
• Represent WIRED as a leader internally and externally, deepening relationships with editorial and video leadership.
• Work closely with Condé Nast commerce, consumer revenue, and commercial teams to prioritize revenue needs and ensure timely delivery of audience development support.
• Collaborate on sponsored editorial opportunities and ensure social extensions and bespoke newsletters drive ad revenue.
• Support global expansion efforts and hiring in new markets as needed.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in fast‑paced digital news publishing; ideally having worked as a reporter or editor in addition to audience development functions.
• Professional experience optimizing for multiple revenue streams, including subscriptions, commerce, and sponsored editorial.
• Proven ability to create and optimize content for SEO, social platforms, and newsletters, both for promotion of existing content and bespoke platform‑specific pieces.
• Experience with publishing and analytics tools such as SocialFlow, CrowdTangle, Facebook Insights, Parse.ly, and Google Analytics.
• Experience collaborating with product and engineering teams to improve traffic, retention, and revenue opportunities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver difficult feedback and insights diplomatically.
• A passion for news and a sense of urgency to get high‑impact stories in front of audiences, and the ability to instill these qualities in a global team.
• Experience managing and training teams, helping employees navigate shifting priorities in audience development and social media.

Skills

• Strategic audience development and growth planning.
• Social media strategy and platform‑specific content creation.
• Subscriber acquisition, retention, and value optimization.
• SEO best practices and training delivery.
• Data‑driven decision making using analytics tools.
• Cross‑functional collaboration with editorial, video, product, and revenue teams.
• Leadership, hiring, and talent development.
• Understanding of regional nuances for a global brand.

Pay

The expected base salary range for this position is $185,000 – $230,000. Salary offers consider factors such as relevant skills, training, experience, and education. In addition to salary and a generous employee benefits package, successful candidates may be eligible for discretionary bonus compensation.

Benefits

WIRED offers a generous employee benefits package.