The Executive Producer heads the MSN UK portal and is the representative on the UK Consumer & Online leadership team responsible for all editorial publishing projects, including what is deemed to be editorial content on the Bing search engine. Other platforms may be added.
Collaborating with the MSN business group and UK C&O leaders, the Executive Producer will set the market strategy and execute the publishing vision for MSN UK to achieve the engagement, monetization and reputational goals of the UK business, MSN and Microsoft.
The Executive Producer is the guardian of the site’s reputation and editorial integrity. Experience in running a commercial site and working with sales teams would be invaluable.
The Executive Producer must balance the commercial aims of an advertising-funded site, the Microsoft objectives of developing Bing and MSN as profitable online businesses, the promotion of Microsoft products with generating high-quality and highly engaging editorial experiences.
The current mission of the UK MSN site is: to developing portal and MSN products which Inspire, Connect and Entertain readers. MSN UK offers advertisers great audiences and powerful messages and readers compelling experiences and engaging tools.
MSN Executive Producers have historically balanced their commitments and Key Performance Indicators to the following objective: 40 per cent audience growth, 40 per cent engagement and 20 per cent revenue activation with Microsoft Advertising. In the UK, MSN’s existing market share may mean rebalancing of those objectives towards engagement and monetization.
The ideal candidate will already be a seasoned and successful online professional with editor with strategic media sensibilities and comportment to be a dynamic leader and manager. It is likely the candidate will come from an online-only publishing background or television or newspapers with evidence of an online commitment and experience in the medium. It is likely the candidate would have run editorial operations as a journalist and directed day-to-day publishing decisions.
The successful candidate will work with the MSN UK team and the MSN business group to develop relevant and timely content across all channels for the target audience. They will also be expected to lead thinking on new entry points and new ways of attracting and serving audiences.
Key leadership duties include:
Heading up a strong editorial and publishing team able to manage all aspects of the site including editorial proposition, integrity, inventory management, and production.
Representing the portal and the MSN business group on the UK Consumer & Online leadership team and in to the wider Microsoft UK business.
Ombudsman and decision-maker on editorial and advertising conflicts, including local implementation of UK and worldwide editorial policies, the Microsoft and MSN codes of conduct and the Microsoft Advertising creative acceptance policy.
External and industry representation to promote MSN and Microsoft’s interest in industry forums and public relations under the aegis of the C&O and MSN business groups.
Working with the UK and MSN businesses to determine quarterly, half-yearly, fiscal year and longer term strategies and objectives to maximise the engagement and monetisation of MSN and other platforms for editorial content - including Bing when relevant.
As the leader of the largest market outside the United States, the UK EP will contribute to the overall vision and strategy in partnership with other key MSN and C&O stakeholders.
Work with DPE and other arms of Microsoft to exploit and promote company services and tools on MSN, particularly for contemporary story-telling appropriate to the site.
Judgment on how to effectively partner with other Microsoft colleagues to promote or explain key company products - for example Xbox or Windows - without compromising editorial integrity of the MSN portal’s core channels.
Working with the MSN Business Group on UK deployment of regional or global projects.
Balance priorities and manage editorial department budget and staff resources efficiently.
Support management of employee performance and daily duties including setting expectations, providing clear feedback, documenting and rating performance, nurturing top performers and coaching for improvement in line with Microsoft standards.
Analyze site traffic and work with country teams to grow traffic through modifying editorial coverage, improving packaging and/or utilizing technology in story-telling;
Stay abreast of current industry standards and techniques, changing internet technology, journalism trends and the competition, to ensure effective content that achieves the organization’s goals; Drive innovative growth opportunities;
Recruit, interview, and select employees for the editorial department;
The ideal candidate is likely to have proven significant experience in leading media roles, latterly with an online focus, probably gained in online services, wire services, television or newspapers. Real-time media experience is invaluable. Proven management skills are a must as is experience deploying editorial budgets effectively. Excellent writing and editing skills; solid communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, are essential. The candidate would be expected to have an optimistic and engaged approach to social networking, the web and their own online “brand”.
Key stakeholders with whom the EP will have to work effectively include:
- UK General Manager and Vice President, Consumer & Online
- EMEA Executive Producer, MSN International
- MSN International Director of Programming
- UK Sales Director, Microsoft Advertising
- UK Consumer & Online Marketing Officer
- UK Chief Operating Officer and Head of Strategy
- UK Consumer & Online Chief Technology Officer
- Global Market Development and Market Solutions Team Engineering
- MSN Engineering specialist product team leaders
Required Qualifications:
Passion for online and multimedia.
Understands and promotes the strategic direction of MSN
Develops comprehensive business plans, and works through others to achieve objectives
Understands, and utilizes diverse problem-solving approaches. Actively seeks input from others
Able to absorb and integrate diverse information, and apply it to innovative courses of action
Actively seeks out and solves problems with input of key stakeholders
Delegates to and empowers subordinates to understand and take ownership of business goals
Recognizes the need for course corrections early, and takes the necessary steps
Collaborates effectively with other teams or groups to the benefit of the team
Recognizes the need for change and enlists leaders to become MSN change agents
Energetic, enthusiastic, charismatic and inspirational
Asks for and listens to feedback and suggestions. Continuous improvement mentality;
Aspires to excellence
