WHAT DOES A CONTENT DIRECTOR DO?

Published: August 15, 2024 - The Content Director oversees the development and execution of programming and content plans across FM, digital, and mobile platforms, leading a local content team to align with brand strategies. This position implements music strategies and coordinates with various departments to enhance station sound and compliance with CRTC regulations. This role engages in collaborations with National Content Directors and CHR/Hot-AC Country Content Teams to drive business goals, manage budgets, and maintain market competitiveness.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Content Director

1. Content Director Duties

  • Content Strategy Leadership: Lead the Content Team and drive content strategy for Brainrider clients.
  • Project Assessment: Join early project meetings, assess the state of the content, and provide recommendations in partnership with clients and Account Directors.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional partners to build and refine ideas, using the design to push the content, and the content to push the design.
  • Content Best Practices: Ensure content created follows Brainrider and content best practices and is aligned with client objectives and their customer's needs and pains.
  • QA Support: Help proof and refine deliverables and provide QA support.
  • Resource Management: Work closely with VP of Resourcing to ensure the right people are assigned to client projects within the flex model (dedicated, embedded, and project-based).
  • Strategic Editorial Support: Provide seasoned, strategic editorial support to thought leaders on internal thought pieces, and internal and external presentations.
  • Content Team Coaching: Coach and guide Content Managers to meet their team and professional development goals.
  • Performance Reviews: Conduct performance reviews for direct reports, and ensure they are equipped to conduct performance reviews for their own teams.
  • Content Team Troubleshooting: Adeptly balance and troubleshoot the needs of the Content Team with the requests/issues from other teams.
  • Company Alignment: Attend Directors meetings to ensure alignment across the company.

2. Content Director Details

  • Programming & Content Planning: Develop and execute the programming and content plan for both brands.
  • Content Team Leadership: Lead the local content team to create and curate content on all platforms including FM, digital, and mobile.
  • Social Media Strategy: Build strong social media presence with compelling and relevant content that fits the brand.
  • Talent Development: Coach, develop, and recruit on-air talent, production, and promotions staff.
  • Music Strategy Implementation: Lead and effectively implement the music strategy for KiSS 105.3, including clock architecture, library management, research, and scheduling.
  • Department Coordination: Coordinate with Music, Production, News, and Promotions departments to accomplish the sound of the stations in accordance with both formats.
  • Promotions & Sales Collaboration: Partner with Promotions, Sales, and Creative teams regarding promotions, contests, marketing, and commercial integrations.
  • Business Goal Alignment: Work in conjunction with National Content Directors, Programming, and Sales to support local, national, and corporate business goals to increase market share and revenue.
  • Collaboration & Creativity: Actively participate with the wider CHR/Hot-AC and Country Content Teams to foster greater levels of collaboration and creativity.
  • Budget Management: Manage the programming budget.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure station complies with CRTC regulations.
  • Market Awareness: Maintain competitive market knowledge and awareness.

3. Content Director Responsibilities

  • Editorial Workflow Improvement: Work cross-functionally to evolve and improve editorial workflow.
  • Content Strategy Collaboration: Collaborate with key stakeholders and the leadership team to evolve category content strategies.
  • Publication Deadline Management: Develop and manage publication deadlines across multiple brand properties.
  • Content Assignment & Optimization: Work with the project manager to assign, edit, and publish new content as well as optimize flow for existing content.
  • SEO & Marketing Strategy Partnership: Partner with SEO and Brand teams to develop content-specific marketing strategies.
  • Brand-Specific Content Development: Cultivate brand-specific content and content strategies.
  • Expert Writer Pool Development: Build a pool of expert writers and editors.
  • Content KPI Ownership: Own content-specific KPIs and manage the team to hit monthly goals.
  • Lead Quality Accountability: Accountable for the quality and quantity of inbound leads for the agency.
  • Brand Alignment: Align the brand with the business vision to help reach goals with strategies and detailed plans that deliver results in each market.
  • Performance Metric Monitoring: Monitor key performance metrics to ensure the return is worth the investment.
  • Content Channel Optimization: Uncover and leverage new content channels and tactics to increase engagement.
  • KPI Monitoring & Reporting: Monitor, analyze, and report on KPIs to ensure progress towards marketing and business objectives.
  • External Contributor Management: Manage external writers, contractors, and content contributors while building the in-house content engine.

4. Content Director Job Summary

  • Brand Familiarization: Familiarize with the organization's brand ideals and website to create content that supports objectives and desired identity.
  • Content Team Oversight: Oversee the content production team's creation and management of targeted content for the company website.
  • Web Content Strategy Development: Develop a web content strategy that encompasses the goals of Rob Graham Enterprises and aligns with the company's image.
  • Marketing Collaboration: Cooperate with the marketing team to create web content and monitor its effectiveness over time.
  • Content Team Management: Manage the daily activities of the content team.
  • Content Calendar Maintenance: Maintain a content marketing calendar that schedules all aspects of the creation and delivery of content throughout the year.
  • SEO Copywriting: Use target keywords to write search-engine copy that is optimized for search engines (SEO).
  • Industry Best Practices Monitoring: Stay abreast of current best practices in the industry and review competitor websites to compare their activities with those of the company.
  • Brand Voice Development: Develop a unique brand voice.
  • Content Strategy Execution: Design, execute, and measure the effectiveness of marketing content strategies.
  • Content Medium Ownership: Own all content mediums and channels, including website, blog, videos, sales collateral, and collaborate with owners of social, press releases, and more.
  • Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the product, engineering, and sales teams to define content objectives, build roadmaps, and scale content production.
  • Campaign & Developer Relations Collaboration: Work closely with campaign managers and developer relations advocates to develop content for SEO, developer engagement, nurturing campaigns, and sales enablement.

5. Content Director Accountabilities

  • Award-Winning Concept Creation: Creates award-winning concepts, programs, and campaigns that serve client objectives and strategies.
  • Omni-Channel Creative Development: Develops ground-up, omni-channel creative that defies expectations and attracts buzz.
  • Content Production Management: Leads and manages all aspects of content production projects under the direction of the Chief Content Officer.
  • Production Quality Assurance: Ensures production quality and adherence to established criteria (i.e., budgets, schedules, product placement).
  • Project Implementation Oversight: Directs professionals who oversee the implementation of production projects.
  • Brand Strategy Communication: Communicates brand and platform strategies with production teams and client leads.
  • Team Performance Accountability: Accountable for the performance, quality, and results of their team.
  • Creative Solution Leadership: Drive creative solutions while maintaining and evolving the Uline brand.
  • Content Marketing Strategy Development: Proactively develop content marketing strategies to increase visibility.
  • Print Quality Partnership: Partner with print buyers for quality assurance and timely delivery of materials.
  • Brand Consistency Enforcement: Ensure consistency in branding across all content.
  • Copywriter Team Management: Manage and train a team of copywriters.
Relevant Information
What Does A Content Marketer Do?
What Does A Content Coordinator Do?
What Does A Content Designer Do?
What Does A Content Developer Do?