Channel Manager, TikTok & Instagram, LA

Warner Bros. Discovery•Burbank, CA

About The Position

We are CNN. THE WORLD'S MOST ESSENTIAL AND ENGAGING SOURCE OF DIGITAL NEWS. We are in the midst of rapid transformation and need our next generation of innovators, makers, and dreamers who will lead and drive our growth. We aim to make the world a better, more connected place. We are CNN. The world's most essential and engaging source of digital news. We are in the midst of a rapid transformation and need our next generation of innovators, makers, and dreamers who will lead and drive our growth. We aim to make the world a better, more connected place. We are seeking a Channel Manager, TikTok & Instagram to lead the editorial, creative, and strategic development of our TikTok & Instagram presence across one or more flagship news channels. This role is responsible for growing audience reach and engagement across TikTok and Instagram while driving innovation in content strategy, format testing, and platform-native storytelling. This is a highly cross-functional role, working closely with editorial, video, newsgathering, creative, growth marketing and analytics teams. The ideal candidate is a deeply platform-native thinker with strong editorial instincts, proven leadership capabilities, and a passion for using both TikTok and Instagram to build habit-forming, mission-aligned video experiences.

Requirements

6–8+ years of experience managing professional social channels, ideally for a media, news, or content-driven organization.
Deep expertise in TikTok and Instagram content strategy, platform algorithms and audience development.
Proven experience managing content calendars, production workflows, and editorial packaging for large-scale audiences (5–25M+ reach).
Strong writing and editorial skills, with a track record of crafting compelling, high-performing titles and descriptions.
Proficient in native TikTok and Instagram platform analytics, and other video performance tools; familiarity with third-party analytics platforms like Sprout and RivalIQ a plus.
Experience using Adobe Premiere Pro or similar post-production tools.
Strong understanding of community engagement, retention strategies, and YouTube monetization models.
Demonstrated leadership skills with experience managing direct reports and working cross-functionally.
Excellent communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
Flexibility to work extended hours during major breaking news events or global moments.

Responsibilities

Channel Strategy & Growth • Develop and execute a TikTok and Instagram-first content strategy and audience development tactics that grow engagements, followers, video views and improves monetization potential.
Build and iterate repeatable, habit-forming content strategies, including video formats and best practices that improve content performance and drive long-term engagement.
Own and manage all publishing workflows, including scheduling, packaging, and optimization for search and discovery algorithms.
Editorial & Creative Support • Write, edit, and optimize video titles, descriptions, and thumbnails using SEO best practices to maximize visibility and click-through performance. This role will be responsible for owning publishing to TikTok and Instagram during their shift.
Oversee content adaptation and packaging for TikTok and Instagram with a strong editorial eye and understanding of platform-native storytelling.
Oversee rigorous quality control of TikTok and Instagram content to ensure it meets accessibility, clarity, and tone standards.
Data-Driven Strategy & Performance Optimization • Lead TikTok and Instagram analytics and performance tracking in partnership with the data team, identifying key trends, platform shifts, and viewer behaviors to optimize future strategy.
Set, track, and communicate progress against KPIs to internal stakeholders.
Collaborate with the data and research teams as well as audience strategy leadership to interpret findings and translate insights into actionable programming decisions.
Innovation & Cross-Functional Collaboration • Serve as a testbed for new formats, talent, and content pilots that can inform broader digital video and O&O content strategies.
Collaborate with platform editorial and product partners at TikTok and Meta to maximize support, visibility, and partnership opportunities.
Team Leadership & Cross-Team Coordination • Collaborate deeply with digital video producers and editors.
Act as primary point of contact with TikTok & Instagram’s external product and editorial teams.
Share platform insights, best practices, and learnings across global editorial and social teams to drive organizational growth and alignment.