Executive Director, Strategy & Operations

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Your New Role

Reporting to the SVP, Strategy & Operations - WBD Studios, the Executive Director, Strategy & Insights – WBD Studios will play a critical role and be responsible for identifying growth opportunities across all business units of the Studios segment and partnering with them to develop and execute against those opportunities based on market insights and strategic plans/business cases. This position will work closely with leaders across corporate functions and the Studios, including CFOs/finance, BU-level strategy, franchise and operations teams, and focus on growth opportunities impacting the Motion Pictures, TV, Global Experiences, Consumer Products, Franchises, Games, Content Sales, and Studio Operations businesses.

Your Role Accountabilities

Strategy & Business Case Development

• Lead the identification and research to support growth opportunities across the Studios segment and COO WBD areas of responsibility, in partnership with SVP Strategy & Operations.
• Develop strategy presentations to establish overall vision, insights, and business cases for Studios growth opportunities for the next 5-10 years.
• Gather research and insights as input to the development of new creative concepts for Global Experiences, in close collaboration with Experiences Leadership vision and strategy.
• Formulate comprehensive research plans and performance tracking for growth projects, with a focus on executive-level audience (C-Suite) reporting.
• Foster strong relationships and serve as liaison for key stakeholders across the Studios and the company.
• Responsible for developing and vetting the market size for potential Experiences, articulating the addressable market size, attendance and per cap assumptions in the business cases and providing supporting analysis via consumer research and market studies.
• Manage external consultants who provide market assessments, feasibility reports, and competitive benchmarking in partnership with BU leadership.
• The Executive Director will run, as needed, multiple rounds of consumer research, including focus groups, quant surveys, user testing, etc. and be integral the launch of the new experiences.
  
  

Develop Strategic Insights

• Lead development of strategic plans, including materials creation, communication and coordination with Senior Studios executives.
• Partner closely with BU teams to develop research-supported assumptions for business cases and new investments / projects.
• Proactively monitor and advise on key industry trends that impact Studios business units (Motion Pictures, TV, Games, Consumer Products, Global Experiences) and key growth areas, including but not limited to new experiences, retail-tainment, innovative technologies, short form content, AI, etc.
• Lead development of market trend materials for Board-level strategy presentations, partnering with BU research teams.
• Demonstrate deep technical and strategic understanding of the business unit and what is needed to drive successful future growth.
• Attend industry events, as needed, for themed experiences, such as IAAPA, to track industry trends and build external market knowledge and expertise.
  
  

Leverage Data / Analytics to Track Performance

• Track the performance of Experiences on a regular basis with consumer surveys and reporting KPIs to the Global Experience Executive team. This will involve partnering with multiple research vendors to monitor customer satisfaction and guest sentiment.
• Work with BU teams to develop KPIs and analyze business performance effectively, providing input and recommendations to leadership based on best practice and industry experience.
• Develop dashboards with technology teams to track business performance in real time and deliver key insights and data driven recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Partner with Technology and Finance teams to create new reporting capabilities that summarize Global Experience Business activities and metrics. This will include consolidating external data and internal data as input to future strategy and planning
• Lead research projects with research vendors.
  
  

Qualifications & Experiences

• Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy, consumer insights, or research/ analytics role for a consumer-facing business.
• 5+ years of management experience leading cross-functional project teams.
• Bachelor’s degree from a top university.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and software.
• Proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with wide range of research methodologies (e.g., focus groups, quant surveys, user testing, etc.)
• Experience in media and entertainment industry preferred.
• Experience in multinational, complex organizations preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, with strong ability to present complex information effectively.
• Strong leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills are required.
• Ability to manage internal and external stakeholders as well as third-parties.
• Excellent ability to manage multiple projects and hit aggressive deadlines.
• High quality, consistent deliverables.
• Occasional travel will be needed.
  
  

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $140,000.00 - $260,000.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.