The Washington Post

Department Head, Audio & Video

DC-Washington-TWP Headquarters Full time

Application Instructions

Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.

Join the future of news

We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

About Our Team

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

Why This Role Matters

 

The Washington Post is seeking an exceptional journalist to lead our newsroom into a new era of audio and video storytelling.

We’re looking for someone with outstanding leadership experience and cross-functional skills in both audio and video, at a foundational moment for The Post. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of where and how audiences are consuming news today, but even more important, a visionary sense for where formats and platforms are heading in the next few years. They should be a strong operator, with a bias for action and problem-solving, capable of leading the transformation of our video and audio work into a critical driver of newsroom performance. And they should have experience working with executives on the business side, understanding commercialization strategies and opportunities. This is a role that will work across not just the newsroom but the company, collaborating with everyone from our social media team to the chief revenue officer.

The person who fills this role will lead with creativity and precision—identifying talent, greenlighting projects, driving innovation and ensuring our work stays competitive in a fast-changing media environment. This is a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of shows and franchises at the forefront of The Post’s digital storytelling.

This position is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom and reports to the Managing Editor for Content Strategy.

What Motivates You: 

  • You enjoy building, executing and scaling both audio and video strategy.

  • You have an enthusiasm for new, conceptual approaches to storytelling.

  • You have a collaborative mindset and an eagerness to experiment.

  • You thrive in a competitive, fast-paced environment driven by news and serving audience needs.

  • You understand the marketplace for video and audio talent and are eager to make the most of your expertise.

How You’ll Support the Mission: 

  • Develop and execute a platform-savvy, talent-driven content strategy that prioritizes audience engagement and growth.

  • Serve as a creative decision-maker, running a greenlight process to make high-impact choices on which shows and talent to invest in.

  • Set and track success metrics for new formats, franchises and personalities.

  • Lead the development and execution of video and audio evolution on Post O&O platforms, partnering with Product.

  • Obsess about the off-platform experience and ecosystem and how The Post shows up successfully in these spaces.

  • Offer expertise on emerging video and audio trends, assess opportunities, and analyze the competitive landscape to ensure The Washington Post is leading in these spaces. 

  • Act as the in-house audio and video expert for leadership, communicating strategy, milestones, results, challenges, opportunities and roadmap, working in collaboration with colleagues on the business side.

  • Support team retention, recruitment and development, fostering a collaborative culture that values effectiveness.

The Skills and Experiences You Bring: 

  • 10+ years of experience leading digital news strategy and audio/video production. 

  • Fluency in platform dynamics—from YouTube and TikTok to Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

  • Demonstrated ability to work quickly and under tight deadlines.

  • A track record of experimentation, particularly around new story forms and platforms.

  • Deep understanding of platforms and audiences to drive engagement and success.

  • Strong understanding of the digital media landscape and video and audio ecosystems.

  • Strong understanding of KPIs for online video businesses.

  • Proven skills in planning, forecasting, data analysis, managing budgets and a track record of exceeding goals.

  • Good understanding of UX, features, and viewer behavior, with a product and viewer mindset.

  • Demonstrated skills as a transformative leader with superb people management.

  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across multiple teams within an organization.

  • Ability to move fast, build and make smart decisions.

Interested candidates should upload a detailed cover letter and a résumé to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by Mar. 15 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Managing Editor for Content Strategy Bryan Flaherty.

The pay range for this position is $161,100 - $299,300. The actual starting salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a Post recruiter will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.

 

Collaboration makes us stronger. That’s why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.

Compensation and Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

  • Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage

  • Company-paid pension and 401(k) match

  • Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave

  • Nine paid holidays and two personal days

  • 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent

  • Robust mental health resources

  • Backup care and caregiver concierge services

  • Gender affirming services

  • Pet insurance

  • Free Post digital subscription

  • Leadership and career development programs

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

 

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.