Director, Media Strategy
SourceCode Communications
Senior Director, Original Content Development
The Walt Disney Company
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: New York City • California, Connecticut, New York • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 $160,500 - $215,300 per year
Job Level
Senior
About the role
- Lead ESPN’s multiplatform storytelling strategy, overseeing creative development and incubation across 30 for 30, ESPN Films, original series, shorts, podcasts, and scripted projects
- Oversee a brand-agnostic content development team nurturing stories across documentary, scripted, audio, and digital formats
- Lead a collaborative development culture with internal EPs and external production companies to bring ambitious, meaningful stories to life
- Manage a team of four day-to-day and oversee high-volume pitch pipelines (hundreds of pitches)
- Oversee development of a system that harnesses internal IP for future films and audio projects and manage ESPN’s global master slate
- Ensure a diverse mix of formats, genres, and voices and identify gaps and next-wave IP across linear, streaming, digital, and audio platforms
- Guide creative alignment across departments and lead development strategy briefings and executive presentations for senior leadership
- Incubate and develop early-stage concepts with emerging and established talent and identify/match directors, producers, and production companies to projects
- Build and refine commercial frameworks with Ad Sales for brand underwriting and integration while preserving editorial integrity
- Partner across The Walt Disney Company (Disney+, ABC, Hulu) and international teams to align on shared IP, talent, and platform opportunities
- Conduct market scans and cultural intelligence, using research and audience insights to inform project development and strategic planning
- Represent ESPN with agents and agencies and champion inclusive storytelling, IP innovation, and global content leadership
Requirements
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in content development within media, entertainment, or related fields—preferably with a strong focus on premium documentary, original series, or podcast production
- Proven track record of developing and launching successful multi-platform content, including long-form films, audio, and digital
- Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience; demonstrated experience leading creative teams, managing talent, and overseeing high-volume pitch pipelines
- Strong existing network within the creative industry—relationships with producers, directors, agents, and production companies
- Experience collaborating with brand and ad sales teams to develop sponsored or hosted-content models without compromising editorial integrity
- Deep understanding of audience development, platform strategies, and content trends across streaming, digital, linear, and audio formats
- Ability to understand what fits for the brand and awareness of industry/marketplace trends; identified as an individual tastemaker
- Required: Bachelor’s degree in Film, Media, Communications, Journalism, or a related field
- Preferred: Advanced degree (e.g., MFA, MBA) and experience developing and launching scripted formats
- Familiarity with international markets and global storytelling sensibilities is a strong plus
Benefits
- A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package
- Full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits
- Primarily On-Site / Occasionally from Home (flexible work arrangement)
ATS Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
content developmentmultiplatform storytellingdocumentary productionoriginal series productionpodcast productionaudience developmentplatform strategiesscripted formatsmarket scanscultural intelligence
Soft skills
leadershipcollaborationcreative alignmentteam managementstrategic planningnetworkingtastemakercommunicationstorytellinginnovation
Certifications
Bachelor’s degree in FilmBachelor’s degree in MediaBachelor’s degree in CommunicationsBachelor’s degree in JournalismMFAMBA
