VP, Digital Strategy, Entertainment - Versant

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Versant is seeking an experienced, innovative and growth-driven digital Vice President, Digital Strategy who will be responsible for managing a multi-platform digital strategy, identifying and executing key KPIs and driving growth and revenue across the SYFY, Oxygen, USA and E! News.

The Vice President will oversee the digital strategy in the following topical areas: multi-platform video, social and emerging platforms, revenue and audience, and establish best-in-class content strategies on websites, apps and third party distribution. The Vice President should have a strong background in digital and entertainment editorial, a demonstrated history of building digital businesses, a clear vision around brand strategy and tactics to build revenue and audience in a highly-competitive, fast-paced environment. A high level of hustle, a passion for storytelling in multiple formats and a strong understanding of all digital platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, live programming, on-domain video and editorial, and emerging products is a must.  

In addition, a clear programming strategy and how to position content for growth, revenue, and engagement on platforms like AVOD, FAST, audio/podcasts, mobile-web apps, and streaming is required. A clear vision on how to optimize pre-existing products and platforms for revenue and growth or build revenue on a brand’s longstanding foundation is also imperative.

Reporting into the Senior Vice President, Digital for Entertainment this candidate will work alongside an established leadership team to develop and execute a cutting-edge and growth-oriented digital strategy.

Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Experienced digital strategist with a primary focus on building digital businesses, premium video, and editorial across the Entertainment brands and spearheading new strategies to build audience and revenue
• Leader should be a self-starter who excels in managing multiple brand strategies
• Leader must be rooted in a digital-first strategy, with a deep understanding on how to build out brand IP to grow digital P&Ls working alongside executives in editorial, marketing, live events, PR, analytics and other digital team members. 
• Stay up to date on industry trends, analyze competitors and formats with ability to react quickly and adapt strategy
• Clear visionary with ability to create KPIs and identify tactics to execute KPIs

Growth Strategies + Revenue: 

• Grow digital revenue across platform, thinking strategically about the core revenue to business as well emerging revenue opportunities.
• Must be able to conceptualize, build and execute cross-platform digital and social strategies primed for growth (audience, engagement and views) on YouTube, on-domain, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and emerging platforms. Identify key KPIs for team to execute rooted in that strategy
• Collaborate with ad sales teams, sponsorships/integrations to identify digital-first integrations and revenue opportunities
• Work with leadership to create a Long-Range Plan (LRP), analyze metrics, identify trends and use metrics-driven thinking to pivot and position brands for success
• Develop and manage P&Ls across all digital brands. Collaborate with finance teams
• Manage relationships with partners like YouTube, TikTok, Meta, Spotify, to ensure that  Versant Entertainment is strongly positioned to take advantage of new product opportunities and new content strategies.
• Clear understanding of how to build digital revenue in a variety of platforms and formats: AVOD, FAST, streaming, apps, on-platform and off-platform. Ability to execute said revenue strategy.
• Create a robust digital video strategy (short form, long form, social and digital original programming) across all brands and platforms to broaden brand IP. A deep understanding of digital video production and digital video best practices is a must.
• Work with audience development on strategy for paid traffic optimizing earned views and subscribers
• Guide traffic analysis and contribute future coverage plans based on data insights and user engagement

Operations:

• Ability to identify business efficiencies and manage team leaders
• Oversee the technical stack of all websites, applications, live events and video distribution. Work as the key liaison interfacing with technical and product teams across the company
• Liaise with legal and business affairs teams, maintain all digital business contracts
• Manage video distribution efforts across digital platforms
• Strong familiarity with programming content for growth on streaming platforms and FAST channels as well as AVOD.

Editorial:

• Strong command of editorial best practices and journalistic integrity, skilled at building traffic and fandom on O&O site
• Work alongside, social, video, original, editorial and brand leaders to monitor brand sentiment and community engagement
• Strong familiarity with SEO, best practices for on-domain and off-domain growth, web applications and distribution platforms
• Work with social and editorial teams on cross promotion distribution strategy and implementation

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience
• 10+ years of progressive experience in digital strategy
• Experience transferring creative ideas into successful audience growth on social platforms
• Big-picture strategist, with the ability to seamlessly execute on vision
• Proven ability to drive revenue streams and growth on each platform
• Proven experience driving social media and content strategy within the voice of the brand
• Strong video editorial and traditional digital background
• Inspirational leader: ability to lead teams to pivot quickly through the dynamic digital environment
• Strong knowledge of SEO and algorithms
• Ability to grow originals without known IP
• Ability to connect trends and influencers with USA, Oxygen, SYFY and E! News  brands
• Strong understanding of social media measurement and how to tie results back to client and business goals

Desired Characteristics

• Strong client service skills and experience, clear and effective communicator
• Self-starter with the ability to conceptualize and execute to hit deadlines 
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple initiatives at once
• Ability to think strategically and execute methodically
• Strong sense of pop culture

Additional Requirements:

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.
• This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. Salary range: $200,000 - $250,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible)

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.