Sr. Director, Podcasts

Warner Bros. Discovery•New York, NY

36d

About The Position

CNN is seeking a Senior Director of Podcasts to lead the evolution of its podcast portfolio during a pivotal moment of transformation. This role is responsible for overseeing the strategy, development and production of CNN’s podcasts across video and audio, with a strong emphasis on video-first formats. The Senior Director of Podcasts will guide a portfolio of flagship news, franchise and personality-driven shows; raise creative and production standards; and ensure that CNN’s podcasts are distinctive, audience-focused and commercially viable. This leader will work closely with CNN talent, newsroom leadership, video, product and commercial teams to ensure podcasts play a central role in CNN’s broader editorial and business strategy. This role requires a senior editorial leader with deep experience in video and audio podcasting, format development and video and audio production. The ideal candidate brings strategic judgment, creative ambition, and operational discipline — and thrives at the intersection of journalism, audience, and innovation.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in video journalism and podcasting with significant responsibility for editorial content and production.
Demonstrated experience developing, launching and managing successful video podcasts and audio podcasts, ideally including video-forward or multi-modal formats.
5+ years of leadership experience managing producers, editors, or cross-functional creative teams in a newsroom or studio environment.
Strong editorial judgment and storytelling instincts, with a deep understanding of news, culture and audience behavior.
Proven ability to guide content strategy and execute change within an evolving media landscape.
Experience using audience insights, analytics and performance data to inform content decisions.
Familiarity with video and podcast distribution platforms, including YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others.
Comfort collaborating with senior newsroom leaders, on-air talent, and cross- functional partners.
Strong communication, organizational, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage complex workflows and competing priorities.
Ability to lead and motivate teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, 24/7 news environment.

Responsibilities

Set and execute the editorial and strategic vision for CNN Podcasts across video and audio, aligned with CNN’s content strategy, journalistic standards, audience needs and business priorities.
Oversee the full podcast portfolio, including news, franchise, limited-series, and personality-driven shows, ensuring each has a clear purpose, audience and success metrics.
Lead the evolution and drive the expansion of video podcasts, ensuring production value, format and tone meet audience expectations and reflect CNN’s strength in video.
Ensure all podcasts deliver high editorial quality, strong storytelling and production standards appropriate for both audio and video platforms.
Drive the development, testing and launch of new podcast concepts that address identified audience needs and strategic gaps.
Evaluate performance regularly to determine where to invest, iterate, pause or sunset shows based on audience engagement, growth and strategic value.
Oversee staffing models, workflows, schedules and budgets to support efficient, high-quality production across the slate.
Lead, mentor and develop podcast producers and editors, fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
Drive change effectively in a fast-paced, evolving media environment, aligning podcast operations with CNN’s broader video strategy.