The Role
Lead strategy and execution for premium sports video formats: manage a team of producers, define a consistent visual voice, drive data-driven performance and monetization alignment, pilot new platform features and video technologies, and produce high-engagement, platform-native social and O&O video content.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Us
Powered by one of the largest global newsrooms in sports media, The Athletic brings sports fans the most comprehensive stories about the teams, sports and athletes they love. The Athletic’s newsroom of 500+ full-time staff delivers in-depth coverage of hundreds of professional and college teams across more than 47 North American markets and all 20 football clubs in the English Premier League, as well as many Championship clubs.
The Athletic is seeking a dynamic, strategic Senior Executive Producer (EP) to lead the ideation, creation, and execution of premium video formats. Sitting at the intersection of high-end sports journalism, data, and audience engagement, this role is responsible for transforming raw game highlights and in-depth analysis into compelling, platform-native content.
The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between social-first experiences and our owned-and-operated (O&O) platforms. You will lead the charge in developing high-engagement video assets—utilizing data visualizations, unique audio overlays, and scroll-stopping editing styles—while building a robust, evergreen content library.
Responsibilities
- People Management: Direct, mentor, and elevate a high-performing team of video producers.
- Brand Voice: Define and enforce the distinct visual "voice" of our sports highlights and analysis to ensure absolute consistency across all platforms.
- Commercial Alignment: Partner closely with the commercial and revenue teams to ensure video formats support monetization goals without sacrificing editorial integrity.
- KPI & Performance Management: Drive data-driven decision-making by tracking content performance against business objectives
- Deep subject matter expertise in social platforms, content formats, and algorithmic trends, including the YouTube ecosystem, creators and culture.
- Platform Innovation: Stay ahead of social trends and algorithm shifts. You will be the first to identify how to leverage new YouTube features, TikTok trends, or emerging platforms.
- Tech Piloting: Evaluate and integrate emerging video technologies, AI tools, and data visualization software into the team's daily workflow.
- Hybrid Execution: Balance high-level executive strategy with a willingness to get hands-on with production when launching new pilots or breaking major news.
- Collaboration: Experience working cross-functionally with various stakeholders and teams.
Team Leadership & Strategy
Innovation & Execution
Requirements
- Experience: 8+ years of experience in social content creation, with a proven track record of scaling audiences for a major sports network, digital media brand, or agency.
- Technical "Preditor" Skills: Proficient in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Must possess basic field filming skills (DSLR or advanced mobile/iPhone production) to effectively guide the team and execute pilots.
- Internet Fluency: Deep subject matter expertise in social platforms, content formats, and algorithmic trends (e.g., maximizing a YouTube Community post vs. optimizing an Instagram Reel vs. a TikTok hook). You live on social media and understand community-building and how to drive the conversation among fans who want more than click-bait hot takes.
- Editorial Judgment: Uncompromising journalistic standards. You know how to capture "viral" energy and algorithmic favor while strictly protecting The Athletic’s reputation for elite, deeply-reported journalism.
The annual base salary range for this role is $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 USD. The total compensation offered for this position may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skills, and location.
For roles in the U.S., dependent on your role, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits may include medical, dental and vision benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s), a company-matching 401(k) plan, paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs.
For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process.
We are excited to learn more about you and your experience. To keep our hiring process as fair and authentic as possible, we ask that you submit your own work and not use GenAI tools to generate substantive content during the application and interview process. If you are a candidate for a technical role, we will let you know what specific tools you are permitted to use for your technical assessment.
The Athletic Media Company is an equal opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. The Athletic will consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Click here to review our Applicant Privacy Notice, which describes how and when The Athletic Media Company collects, uses, and shares certain personal information of job applicants and prospective employees.
Beware of fraudulent job recruiting schemes! Our recruiters use [email protected] exclusively, and our team members will use an email address with @theathletic.com domain. We do not conduct interviews via text or instant message and we do not ask candidates to download software, to purchase equipment through us, or to provide sensitive personally identifiable information, such as bank accounts or social security numbers. If you have been contacted by someone claiming to be a member of the recruiting/HR team at The Athletic but operating from a different email address about a job offer, please report it as potential job fraud to the law enforcement and to [email protected].
Skills Required
- 8+ years of experience in social content creation with a proven track record of scaling audiences for a major sports network, digital media brand, or agency.
- Proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.
- Basic field filming skills (DSLR or advanced mobile/iPhone production).
- Deep expertise in social platforms, content formats, and algorithmic trends (e.g., YouTube, Instagram, TikTok).
- Uncompromising editorial judgment and journalistic standards.
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