Director, Shows

Cox Enterprises • Atlanta, GA

10h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is one of the most storied brands in journalism, with a legacy that stretches back over a century. Our mission is to be The Soul and Substance of the South and we have a vision to transform this great institution into a modern media company. That’s where you come in. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking an experienced Director, Shows to lead the development, production, and optimization of our growing slate of live and non-live show franchises across video and audio. This leader will oversee all aspects of show strategy, production workflows, audience development, and cross-departmental collaboration, serving as the primary owner of AJC’s show ecosystem. This role sits within the Content Development & Production team and works closely with video, audio, graphics, social, and production operations to build innovative, high-quality programming that reflects AJC’s editorial standards and mission. We are seeking a leader who is: News-first, with strong editorial judgment and an understanding of journalistic standards Digitally minded, fluent in platform-native storytelling across YouTube, live streaming, podcasts, and social video. An experienced showrunner, with a proven record producing both live and non-live digital shows and digital video Operationally strong, able to build and refine systems, workflows, and repeatable processes. Innovative and creative, bringing forward new concepts, formats, and audience-growth ideas. Highly organized, capable of managing complex productions, deadlines, and multiple stakeholders. People-focused, with experience managing and developing talent. A collaborative communicator, comfortable working across a large, multidisciplinary organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and 10 years’ experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 8 years’ experience; a Ph.D. and 5 years’ experience in a related field; or 14 years’ experience in a related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in a management or leadership role
• Demonstrated showrunner or Executive Producer experience.
• Strong editorial writing and news judgment.
• Experience managing teams.
• Deep understanding of digital audiences and distribution.
• Ability to manage production systems and workflows.
• Highly organized and deadline-driven.
• Experience with YouTube strategy, podcast development, or serialized formats.
• Newsroom experience.
• Familiarity with sponsorship and revenue-driven strategy.
• Comfort with analytics and optimization.
• Strong creative vision and franchise development experience.

Responsibilities

• Showrunning & Production Leadership
• Oversee AJC’s portfolio of shows, including DawgNation, current and upcoming podcasts including the Flagship, the launch of an AJC Varsity show, and additional programs.
• Lead all phases of production—concepting, scripting, booking, pre-production, execution, and post-production.
• Serve as editorial liaison between shows, the newsroom, and AJC Experiences, when live events are built around talent and shows.
• Serve as editorial liaison between podcast shows, Goat Rodeo and the AJC
• Maintain editorial, legal, and production standards across formats and platforms.
• Manage digital executions of shows and/or franchises/series across platforms.
• Strategy, Planning & Development
• Own full-funnel launch plans for new shows, including concept development, positioning, piloting, rollout, and long-term audience strategy.
• Develop new show formats and extensions informed by audience insights and platform best practices
• Partner with cross-functional teams to maximize reach and engagement.
• Operational Systems & Workflow Improvement
• Conduct a comprehensive review of current show workflows and systems to find efficiencies
• Establish standardized documentation, templates, and communication systems, as needed.
• Support XF alignment across all productions with Head of Content Ops
• Sponsorship, Revenue & Partnerships
• Collaborate with advertising and revenue teams to identify sponsorship opportunities.
• Support creation of pitch materials and integrated storytelling opportunities.
• Build programming with long-term monetization potential.
• Editorial Standards & Writing
• Uphold AJC’s journalistic values of accuracy, fairness, and trustworthiness
• Ensure programming and writing complies with legal and newsroom standards.
• Leadership & People Management
• Manage both directs and non-directs in the production of content
• Set expectations, provide coaching, and foster team culture
• Book talent and oversee/manage booking resources
• Budget & Resource Management
• Create and manage production budgets, as needed
• Oversee vendor and talent relationships, as needed
• Ensure productions meet timelines and financial parameters

Benefits

• The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members.
• Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
• Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director