Sr Manager, YouTube Operations & Optimization

Job ID 10111024 Location Glendale, California, United States Business The Walt Disney Studios Date posted Jan. 17, 2025

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Job Summary:

The Disney Entertainment segment includes the company’s full portfolio of entertainment media and content businesses globally, including streaming.

The YouTube Operations & Optimization Team supports the Disney Entertainment Theatrical & Digital Brand Marketing Teams and the larger brand and franchise YouTube Ecosystem. This group is responsible for leading and the development of macro-level channel optimization strategies, including metadata updates, playlisting, tagging, chapters, thumbnail reconciliation, the reorganization of back-library content, and ensuring alignment with YouTube Digital Strategy and Brand teams’ priorities and guidelines. The efforts of this team will prime content for search, optimize to algorithms, and audience discoverability, retention, and engagement.

Reporting into the VP, Digital Strategy & Operations, the Sr Manager, YouTube Operations & Optimization will support The Disney Entertainment Digital Marketing YouTube Team that is focused on Brand, Studio, and Title Marketing.

The Sr Manager, YouTube Operations & Optimization should be well-versed in YouTube as a platform, its various products and tools within the larger ecosystem, have an expert understanding and history of managing CMS backend systems, and have a proven track record successfully leading efforts involving multiple CMS within a matrixed YouTube ecosystem. This leader will have a deep understanding of content uploading, playlisting, geo-targeting, and metadata and have demonstrated successes utilizing channel and content performance data to drive and pivot optimization strategies.

More importantly, this senior leader must possess expertise in the nuances of general audience versus made-for-kids content as it relates to the above. This leader will already have strong platform relationships and contacts, and understand the opportunities and limitations of the platform’s capabilities and its representatives’ technical support.

This senior leader will work closely with respective MFK and GA YouTube Creative & Programming counterparts to collaborate on scheduling workflows and mobilize plans forward or provide solution paths to roadblocks.

In addition to internal digital team stakeholders, this leader will regularly interface and lead collaborations with Legal, Anti-Piracy, CyberSecurity, YouTube Governance, and cross-line-of-business (xLOB) leaders across TWDC (where applicable) and must be able to provide recommendations backed by sound reasoning and data within their proposals.

This senior leader should be strategic, collaborative, results-driven, and detail-oriented, with an expert understanding of content distribution within a highly matrixed organization and YouTube ecosystem. Additionally, they should possess a deep understanding of digital and emerging platforms outside of YouTube and how they co-exist within a larger landscape. They should be able to lead and shepherd multiple projects at a time within a fast-paced environment while identifying ways to streamline processes to maximize efficiency across all workflows and groups. This senior leader will have a successful track record of leading direct reports, executing performance reviews, and possess the ability to influence, inspire, and mobilize team members effectively.

Responsibilities:

Drive the larger strategy for ecosystem recommendations and collaborate with internal stakeholders to align tactics.
Lead the team responsible for maintaining the backlog of legacy content and identifying areas of optimization for the go-forward strategy.
Understand domestic and international requirements for content restrictions that will live on global brand channels from the Creative & Programming team and share those insights downstream for the team executing geo-targeting tactics.
In partnership with Digital Strategy, Creative & Programming, and Brand Leads, manage the creation and maintenance of playlists across the portfolio of YouTube channels.
Lead operational efforts in maintaining permissions, user access levels, and quarterly audits for CyberSecurity compliance.
Support content rollouts on the platform and resolve issues/bugs, publishing errors, and escalate outstanding platform issues as applicable.
Proactively identify larger operational and optimization platform roadblocks and provide solutions for Sr Executive leadership review.
Serve as the lead platform expert and attend regular YouTube trainings to ensure up-to-date knowledge of product features and priorities, discerning their application to the Digital YouTube ecosystem. Regularly share best practices with stakeholders.
Collaborate with the Studio Analytics Team to share channel and content performance data at appropriate intervals to inform business decisions.
When applicable, collaborate with the wider Digital Marketing Team to support publishing efforts (including unlisted assets) on designated YouTube channels on behalf of Brand, Title, and Creative & Programming Teams.

Minimum Qualifications:

7+ years with relevant experience in digital marketing for brand and entertainment properties, preferably within a highly matrixed multi-IP/brand organization
5+ years specifically in YouTube Operations & Optimization
3+ years experience successfully managing teams and the professional development of individual contributor professionals, a plus managing people-managers
Can successfully drive work forward and has demonstrated a proven track record in working with partners across multiple functions/disciplines
Mastered YouTube as a platform, the backend CMS operations, capabilities, limitations, and has navigated complex-problem troubleshooting with platforms and internal stakeholders to resolve
Experience with direct management of YouTube Channels with large followings within a complex ecosystem structure
Strong understanding of AdSense, YouTube Policies, Block Categories, and Channel Designations
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (excel, word), Google Doc
Strong Keynote/Powerpoint/Google Slide experience and building Sr Executive facing materials with the ability to discern appropriate communication for all levels of team members
Previous experience with other CRM tools – Salesforce, AirTable, Zendesk, JIRA
Strong understanding of relevant social media platforms Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. More specifically, how they differ from one another and how to leverage within the wider ecosystem alongside YouTube
Strong analytical and quantitative skills coupled with the ability to communicate and implement operational processes effectively
Ability to thrive in a rapidly-changing workplace, can lead with positivity through ambiguity, and is self-accountable to independently executing plans with minimal supervision once project guidelines, expectations, and goals are shared
Superior organizational and communication skills with strong history of working with xLOB/partners across multiple teams and departments
Ability to juggle and work on multiple projects successfully over a sustained period of time, often carrying sensitives and high visibility
High sensibility with the ability to be open minded to feedback and always seeking out the best idea, not just their own idea
Strong expertise in the ability to synthesize historical context, new information, data and insights into actionable strategies and tactics

Preferred Qualifications:

AA or BA in Digital Marketing, Marketing, Business Admin or relevant degree preferred

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $113,800 to $152,500 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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About The Walt Disney Studios:

For over 95 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today it brings quality movies, episodic storytelling, music, and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. The Walt Disney Studios encompasses a collection of respected film studios, including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures. It is also home to Disney Theatrical Productions, producer of world-class stage shows.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Disney Entertainment Operations LLC, which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Studios.

Disney Entertainment Operations LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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