The Head of Video will lead video production strategy, manage teams, collaborate with editorial, and drive audience growth through innovative video formats across platforms.
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.
About the Role
The Athletic is looking for an industry standout in video to help us become a global leader in sports video across all platforms. We are looking for a creative visionary who will lead our expansion into league highlights production, reporter video, social video and sports video across all platforms. This leader will have accountability for all video created outside our Series and Specials team, leading groups both in North America and Internationally. The ideal candidate will be someone who has demonstrated that they can meet audience needs in digital media and has a track record of creating successful growth strategies in digital video. They will be tasked with developing high-quality video fitting The Athletic’s journalistic standards, that can also reach engaged audiences across social, YouTube and on our app. They will also need to work closely with our newsroom to create editorial strategies that will make our daily report more engaging and find new formats for our journalism. Central to this creative success will be the leadership of our video teams globally, pushing their creative capabilities and creating a culture in which their teams can thrive.
This role is 100% remote for candidates currently residing in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.
Responsibilities
- Help build and launch our highlights properties, developing new, unique formats that utilize league highlights rights while incorporating analysis from our journalists.
- While this person won’t be responsible for leading our podcasts, shows and other franchises that are part of the Series and Specials team, they will be expected to work closely with the leadership of that group to align on company priorities and video excellence.
- Responsible for scaling our team in order to help make a more video-forward newsroom.
- Manage the video groups in Creative Development, including our UK operation, reporter video, original social video and the highlights team.
- Partner with leadership to set ambitious goals and manage the team effectively toward those goals, with wide latitude in how goals are accomplished.
- Collaborate closely with our newsroom to create video formats and templates that highlight our journalism and connect our journalists with subscribers.
- Work closely with the commercial team to create formats and audience growth that will help drive commercial revenue.
- Partner with vertical leads across the newsroom to align with and complement our editorial strategy, both amplifying the journalism and finding new audiences for the storytelling.
- Serve as the connective tissue between video production and the heads of all other departments within the company to ensure that the video team’s output is appropriately supported, promoted, and monetized.
- Develop meaningful relationships with leaders throughout The Athletic.
- Provide input into the organization of the production team to ensure the team is set up to achieve its ambitious growth targets while staying within budget.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience producing video for online platforms, including highlights and social video.
- A track record when it comes to launching and sustaining successful video templates.
- Expert knowledge of a wide range of video formats and distribution channels. Has a finger on the pulse of industry trends and can see ahead 12-18 months.
- Deep and intimate understanding of how online video algorithms work, with an exceptional ability to crack these algorithms and achieve audience growth across YouTube, TikTok and social.
- Extensive programming experience and demonstrable knowledge of video platforms best practice, such as optimizing video titles, descriptions, hashtags and thumbnails.
- A master of video analytics, with an ability to explain why a video did or didn’t perform well.
- Has a deep understanding of sports with a fluency in how topics are covered and discussed by fans. Has an eye for high quality creative output that resonates with listeners.
- A strong understanding of our sports journalism along with high editorial standards.
- Experience working on commercial projects, e.g. branded content.
- Is an excellent leader who enjoys facilitating the personal development of colleagues.
- Self-starter with great time management skills.
- Strong attention to detail and highly organized.
- Ability to make difficult decisions for the good of the business.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- This is a remote-based position in the United States, United Kingdom or Canada that will require some travel.
The annual base salary range for this role is $200,000.00 - $220,000.00 USD. The total compensation offered for this position may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skills, and location. It may also include non-cash rewards and benefits. The base salary range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
The Athletic offers unique perks and benefits to all full-time employees based on their country of residence. Our comprehensive US benefits package includes:
- Highly competitive, employer-contributed medical, dental, vision, basic life and disability insurance plans.
- Savings accounts for medical, wellness, and childcare expenses.
- 401k retirement savings plan and employer match.
- Paid time off including paid sick leave, 12 paid holidays, 15 days of accrued vacation to start, and up to 20 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
For international candidates: Our global benefits packages offer similar benefits and perks, competitive to the local market.
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].
Top Skills
Social Media Platforms
Video Algorithm Optimization
Video Production
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Marketing Tech • Software • Generative AI • Automation
Lead and inspire a remote team of software engineers, managing technical execution and collaboration to deliver impactful AI features.
Top Skills:
Nestjs FrameworkNode.jsPythonReactTypescript
Artificial Intelligence • Productivity • Software • Automation
The role involves leading the vision and execution of Zapier’s AI Capabilities team, overseeing the development of AI platform infrastructure, collaborating cross-functionally, and translating AI capabilities into user-facing components.
Top Skills:
Ai CapabilitiesAPIsLlmMl Infrastructure
_0.png)
Social Impact • Software
Manage end-to-end email marketing strategy using HubSpot, focusing on audience segmentation, campaign orchestration, and data-driven insights to improve customer engagement and retention.
Top Skills:
Ai-Driven ToolsCSSHTMLHubspot Marketing HubSalesforce
What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene
With a business-friendly climate and research universities like CU Boulder and Colorado State, Colorado has made a name for itself as a startup ecosystem. The state boasts a skilled workforce and high quality of life thanks to its affordable housing, vibrant cultural scene and unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation. Colorado is also home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, helping cement its status as a hub for renewable energy innovation.
Key Facts About Colorado Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3
- Key Industries: Software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute
