Video Audience Development Manager (freelance)

Hearst Media Production Group is seeking a freelance Video Audience Development Manager to drive growth and performance for our video content, with a focus on the Lucky Dog intellectual property. This role blends platform expertise with analytical rigor to optimize viewership, revenue, and reporting.

About the role

The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Licensing and Distribution and requires on-site work four days a week 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 expert, defining KPIs, automating reports with actionable insights, and implementing platform standards to optimize engagement and revenue growth
• Automate recurring reporting (weekly/monthly/quarterly) and deliver insights 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 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, translating results into clear recommendations for creative 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 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 resolutions with internal stakeholders and platform partners

Requirements

• 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
• Advanced fluency in YouTube Studio analytics, content measurement, and experimentation frameworks; ability to translate metrics into creative direction
• 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 (e.g., DAI Brand Partnerships tools, creator-brand workflows, measurement, and brand-safety guidelines)
• Strong cross-functional communication skills; ability to influence talent, producers, editors, designers, and sales partners with clarity and credibility
• Highly organized, proactive operator with strong project management instincts and comfort solving problems with small teams
• Genuine passion and knowledge for pets and the industry’s creator ecosystem

Qualifications

Related experience and/or training, as well as a combination of education and experience, will be considered. HMPG is a proud supporter of military veterans, and related military training and experience will be considered.

Pay

The estimated base salary range for this role is $95,000 to $105,000, dependent on transferable skills, work experience, business needs, market demands, and geographic location.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage through the EP Cares program
• Emotional wellness support
• Additional benefits to meet your and your family’s needs

About Hearst Media Production Group

Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG), a business unit of Hearst Television, is an independent producer and distributor of original programming for TV stations, broadcast and cable networks, and streaming services. HMPG produces hundreds of hours of programming annually across linear, streaming, digital, and social media platforms for domestic and international distribution in nearly 100 countries.

Notable productions include Emmy® Award-winning educational/informational (E/I) programming blocks such as Weekend Adventure (ABC), CBS WKND (CBS), The More You Know (NBC), One Magnificent Morning (CW), Mi Telemundo (Telemundo), and Go Time (independent stations). HMPG also produces and distributes Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, America’s #1 nationally syndicated public affairs news magazine; Consumer Reports TV; and dedicated FAST channels like Xplore, The Jack Hanna Channel, and Rovr Pets.