Senior Program Manager

Job Description

Senior Program Manager

PBS takes a multiplatform approach to content development, distribution, and marketing. This not only includes engaging audiences via broadcast television, but also on digital platforms. This content-focused position supports the growth of the digital, social and broadcast audiences, which include initiatives to increase engagement, average video streams and streaming duration as well as time on site, and also supports the leveraging of PBS digital and social platforms and content to benefit member stations.

The Senior Program Manager provides strategic and tactical leadership regarding the general audience program websites and digital experiences for all on-going series and large one-off programs. This role will also focus on enhancing the discoverability and performance of PBS content through SEO best practices.

The incumbent collaborates with areas across the organization (e.g. Marketing, Programming, and Business Affairs), as well as with other groups within PBS Digital (e.g. operations/support, product management, and design) and with broadcast and digital producers at all stages of the site lifecycle.

This position manages the growth of digital and broadcast audiences, initiatives to increase engagement and time-on-site, and the leveraging of PBS Digital platforms and content that benefit member stations.

Essential duties will include, but are not limited to:
• Manage the full lifecycle of assigned producer-built program support sites for ongoing PBS series, from asset-gathering and acceptance to site build-out, promotion, and maintenance.

• Manage program sites' content promotional schedule and tactics to support marketing objectives for tune-in and PBS Digital objectives for online video streaming.

• Manage a team of program managers (off-site contractors).

• Oversee communications from PBS Digital to assigned producers.

• Collaborate closely with the Product Support team to ensure that producers are on-boarded and are utilizing designated support systems.

• Collaborate with PBS Digital staff and producers to grow traffic and engagement to content by adopting user experience, information architecture, and search engine optimization (SEO) best-practices.

• Guide SEO recommendations and improvement plans - Work with UX designers, developers, and digital strategists on web builds to guide proper SEO implementation, content template strategy, and analytics tracking from the ground up.

• Stay current with the latest SEO trends and best practices.

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the PBS web and mobile publishing process and tools and use this to inform production timelines; ensure that subordinate staff develop, maintain, and use the same knowledge.

• Ensure that production follows PBS production requirements, including technical and editorial standards.

• Work with Product Managers and technical & operations teams to ensure that all sites meet PBS' editorial and technical specifications.

• Track and analyze website and online video traffic trends and use findings to make data-driven decisions about editorial content.

Requirements for success:
• 6 years' experience in digital publishing or media production, with experience in interactive media production, mobile web, or native app development. Strong experience with web strategy, traffic analysis, and promotion (including SEO) also required.

• 3-5 years program marketing, content production within a marketing team, agency, media company or non-profit preferred.

• Bachelor's degree in media, journalism, communications, or related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience in digital content production and project management may be considered.

• Proven time management and project management skills, effectively meeting deadlines as priorities evolve and shift.

• Ability to collaborate with all levels of staff on cross-functional teams including creative, technical, business affairs, and marketing staff.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage high-profile and sensitive relationships.

• Understanding of industry best-practices for SEO, tracking, metadata creation, and related issues.

• Experience planning and implementing successful SEO strategy.

• Familiarity with SEO tools.

• Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written.

• Sound editorial judgment.

• Ability to plan, prioritize, and execute overlapping assignments.

• Ability to review and modify database content and administrative interfaces/content management systems and analytics tools.

• Working knowledge of web development technologies and the opportunities they afford.

• Understanding of, and appreciation for, the convergence of broadcast and web content.

• Familiarity with responsive design principles.

• Familiarity with issue tracking software and team collaboration software.

• Prior management of staff employees and/or contractors.

• Online media experience preferred.

• Previous public media experience a plus.

PBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Women, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rzwz1r-18-116-42-208-42 in your application.