Managing Producer, Platforms ENPI

Job Description WAMU 88.5 is a public media station owned and operated by American University. WAMU is the source for local, regional and NPR news and original programs in Washington DC. Since 1961, WAMU has been amplifying voices and sharing stories from the many neighborhoods and communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. The Managing Producer, Platforms ENPI leads the team responsible for ensuring WAMU's journalism reaches audiences wherever they are — on the radio, online, in podcasts, on social media, and through video. This person oversees how WAMU's stories are adapted, formatted, and distributed across platforms, ensuring the work is clear, engaging, and accessible to the broadest possible audience. The role also shapes the audience journey across platforms, helping audiences move from one touchpoint to another for a more connected, full WAMU experience. The Managing Producer sets up the systems and processes that help staff work efficiently across platforms, maintains quality and consistency in how content is produced and published, and tracks performance so WAMU can make smarter decisions about where and how to invest its efforts. The role requires close partnership with editorial teams, technology, operations, and revenue staff across the station. The Managing Producer leads and influences a cross‑functional team in a highly matrixed environment, aligning priorities and coordinating execution across multiple stakeholders. The incumbent will be skilled in working in a highly matrixed organization and capable of evaluating ideas against priorities and will activate those priorities using influence across the station to achieve WAMU's goals. Essential Functions 1. Multiplatform Journalism Strategy and Delivery Lead development and execution of content strategies across audio, video, digital, social, and visuals; ensure content is optimized for platform demands and audience behavior. Develop and maintain WAMU's multiplatform content strategy, defining how stories are adapted and distributed across audio, digital, video, social media, and visual formats based on platform requirements and audience behavior. Monitor platform and media ecosystem shifts (formats, algorithms, product changes, competitive landscape) and translate them into practical strategy and guidance for editors and producers. Work with editors and producers across WAMU News, 1A, and other programming teams to plan multiplatform distribution for major stories, series, and special projects — ensuring each platform version serves its audience rather than duplicating the same content everywhere. Lead the design of cross‑platform packaging and calls to action that guide audiences through WAMU’s surfaces (radio, site, podcast feeds, social, video) to increase engagement, loyalty, and overall experience. Make daily editorial and production decisions about platform priorities, balancing breaking news demands, planned content, and resource availability to maximize reach and impact across WAMU's portfolio. 2. Team Leadership and Workflow and Tool Development Manage and mentor producers and editors; establish best practices, workflows, and toolsets for production, editing, and publishing. Supervise and mentor a team of producers and editors responsible for audio, video, digital, social, and visual content production; set expectations, provide regular feedback, conduct performance evaluations, and support professional development. Lead the platforms team within a matrixed newsroom, influencing peers and coordinating shared priorities, timelines, and standards across multiple editorial groups without direct line authority. Responsible for designing and implementing production workflows, style guides, and publishing standards that create consistency across platforms and reduce redundant effort; update processes as platforms, tools, and organizational needs evolve. Partner with Technology on CMS management, publishing infrastructure, and production tools — providing editorial requirements, testing new features, and ensuring platform systems support the team's daily production needs. 3. Production Oversight and Quality Control Oversee the creation, editing, and delivery of multiplatform content; maintain content standards; ensure production values are met; manage external vendors or contractors as needed. Review and approve multiplatform content before publication, ensuring accuracy, editorial quality, brand consistency, and proper formatting for each platform's technical and audience requirements. Manage production schedules and resource allocation across the platforms team, ensuring deadlines are met for daily output, planned series, and special projects while maintaining quality under deadline pressure. Oversee relationships with external vendors, freelancers, or contractors engaged in production work — including video editors, graphic designers, or other specialists — ensuring deliverables meet WAMU's standards and timelines. 4. Metrics and Distribution, and Reach Amplification Define and track KPIs (audience, distribution, engagement); work with audience, marketing, and tech teams to amplify content reach; iterate based on data. Establish and track key performance indicators for each platform — including audience reach, engagement, growth trends, and content performance — and produce regular reporting for editorial leadership that connects data to actionable recommendations. Analyze audience behavior by platform (discovery, completion, conversion, return usage) and recommend changes to formats, packaging, and distribution to better match audience habits. Collaborate with audience development, marketing, and technology teams to identify and execute strategies for amplifying content reach, including SEO optimization, distribution partnerships, platform algorithm adjustments, and promotional campaigns. 5. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Innovation Partner with editorial teams, operations, technology, and special projects; experiment with new formats, platforms, and distribution channels. Participate in cross‑departmental planning with editorial teams, operations, technology, special projects, and revenue staff to ensure platform strategy is integrated into broader organizational initiatives and that the platforms team's capacity and constraints are understood. Identify, test, and evaluate emerging platforms, content formats, and distribution methods — bringing recommendations to editorial leadership on where WAMU should invest, experiment, or pull back based on performance data and industry trends. Job Requirements Position Type / Expected Hours of Work Full‑time. 35 hours per week. Hybrid work modality: onsite 3‑4 days per week. Salary Range $110,000 – $130,000 annually. Required Education and Experience Bachelor's degree or equivalent (relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate). Degree in journalism or related field, or equivalent experience. 5–8 years of relevant experience. 5+ years of experience in content or media with significant multiplatform leadership. Expert‑level experience in producing content across multiple platforms (audio, video, social, digital), including technical knowledge of tools, publishing platforms, and distribution channels. Proven track record optimizing content for reach, with strong analytics and metrics fluency. Demonstrated ability to build workflows, manage tools, and coordinate across departments. Excellent editorial judgment, communication, and ability to handle multiple high‑priority projects. Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on‑site at the university. Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. American University is an E‑Verify employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr