Editorial Director, Hot Luck

Editorial Director, Hot Luck

Job Description

Hot Luck is seeking an Editorial Director to lead the editorial vision, content strategy, audience development, and multi-platform growth of one of the most distinctive food and music festival brands in the country. Reporting to Food & Wine and Hot Luck Editor in Chief Hunter Lewis, this role will oversee the development and execution of a year‑round content ecosystem that celebrates the people, culture, food, music, hospitality, and experiences that define the Hot Luck brand.

The Editorial Director will be responsible for expanding Hot Luck beyond its annual festival footprint and building a best‑in‑class content operation across digital, video, audio, social, newsletters, live events, and branded content. This includes launching and scaling a Hot Luck YouTube channel, developing recurring social video franchises, producing editorially‑driven sponsorship programs, growing a robust newsletter portfolio, and helping establish a Hot Luck radio and audio presence that extends the brand’s reach and influence throughout the year.

Working closely with the Editor in Chief, SVP of F&W + Events Michelle Edelbaum, VP/General Manager Events, and teams including events marketing, event production, creative, audience development, partnerships, video, sales, and social teams, the Editorial Director will create and execute audience-focused content strategies alongside a Hot Luck Social Media Editor that drive engagement, community growth, ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities, and long‑term brand affinity.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial editorial leader with experience building modern media brands across platforms. They are equally comfortable developing long‑range content strategies, launching new editorial products, managing teams and contributors, and creating compelling stories that resonate across digital, social, video, audio, and live experiences.

This position may be based in either New York City or Austin, Texas. Candidates should be comfortable working closely with teams in both markets and traveling regularly to Austin throughout the year, with increased travel during festival planning and execution periods.

Work Location & Hybrid/Remote Expectations

Hybrid 3x a week (New York, NY): In‑office expectations – this position is hybrid in‑office with the ability to work remotely for up to 2 days per week.

Remote – Austin, TX: In‑office expectations – this position is fully remote with no in‑office requirements, might require coming into an office 1 or 2x a year.

Accountabilities, Actions and Expected Measurable Results

• 25%: Develop and oversee Hot Luck’s editorial vision, content strategy, and storytelling across all platforms, ensuring a cohesive brand voice that reflects the intersection of food, music, hospitality, culture, and live experiences.
• 20%: Lead the development and growth of Hot Luck’s year‑round content ecosystem, including newsletters, social platforms, video programming, YouTube, audio initiatives, editorial franchises, and emerging audience channels. Establish measurable audience, engagement, and revenue goals for each platform.
• 15%: Launch and oversee original content initiatives including a Hot Luck YouTube channel, recurring social video series, creator collaborations, live‑stream programming, audio and internet radio programming, and other extensions that deepen audience engagement beyond the festival experience. Collaborate with the Events team to share talent and programming ideas and participate in the events.
• 10%: Partner with the Editor in Chief, General Manager, sales, marketing, and partnerships teams to develop editorially‑led sponsorship campaigns, branded content programs, and integrated marketing opportunities that align with Hot Luck’s voice and editorial standards while supporting revenue objectives.
• 10%: Lead editorial planning and execution for festival coverage, talent programming, chef and musician profiles, original features, newsletters, social content, video initiatives, and year‑round editorial franchises.
• 10%: Manage and mentor editorial staff, contributors, freelancers, creators, and production partners. Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development while fostering efficient workflows and strong editorial standards.
• 5%: Use audience, SEO, social, newsletter, video, and performance data to identify opportunities, optimize content strategy, diversify traffic sources, and expand reach across existing and emerging platforms.
• 5%: Represent the Hot Luck brand as editorial talent at events, panels, interviews, video productions, podcasts, radio appearances, and other public‑facing opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent work experience.

Experience, Specific Knowledge, and Skills:

• Experience launching or managing video‑first content initiatives, including YouTube programming, social video series, or creator‑led franchises.
• Experience developing newsletters, audience engagement programs, and subscriber growth strategies.
• Experience creating or overseeing podcasts, audio programming, radio shows, or other audio storytelling formats.
• Experience working with sponsorship, branded content, and integrated marketing programs.
• Experience in food, hospitality, music, entertainment, culture, or experiential event media.
• Demonstrated success building audiences across multiple platforms and distribution channels.

Travel

• 15%–25%: This role requires regular travel to Austin, Texas, the home of the Hot Luck brand and its flagship festival. It may also include travel to new Hot Luck event locations. Travel will include editorial planning sessions, festival operations, talent and creator programming, sponsorship activations, content production, partnership meetings, restaurant meals, and other brand‑related initiatives throughout the year. Additional travel may be required for editorial shoots, industry events, media appearances, and strategic business opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of People Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Accommodation requests can be made by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io.

The Company participates in the federal E‑Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E‑Verify program, please click here:

Pay Range

New York: $110,000.00 – $130,000.00

Remote: $100,000.00 – $120,000.00

The pay range above represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position and may change in the future. Actual pay may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to work location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of People Inc's total compensation package for employees. Other compensation may include annual bonuses, and short‑ and long‑term incentives.

Benefits

People Inc. provides to employees (and their eligible family members) a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, unlimited paid time off (PTO), adoption or surrogate assistance, donation matching, tuition reimbursement, basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life insurance, supplemental accident insurance, commuter benefits, short‑term and long‑term disability, health savings and flexible spending accounts, family care benefits, a generous 401(k) savings plan with a company match program, 10–12 paid holidays annually, and generous paid parental leave (birthing and non‑birthing parents), all of which may vary depending on the specific nature of your employment with People Inc. and your work location. We also offer voluntary benefits such as pet insurance, accident, critical and hospital indemnity health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance.