Director - Creative
It’s an amazing time to join Pocket FM as we continue shaping the future of audio entertainment both in India and globally. We are a leading audio OTT platform across India and the US with the largest collection of OTT shows, podcasts, and audiobooks across a wide variety of genres and languages. We have recently launched in the UK and Germany and are planning our launch in France and Italy. We are reimagining the traditional radio to build an internet-scale platform to bring together communities to share stories and spread knowledge. Our mission is to give wings and wisdom to stories, transforming them into a strong entertainment package. Pocket FM has grown to 80 million listeners, spending an average of over 110 minutes every day, while the total streaming on the app counts to over 4 billion minutes monthly.
At its core, this role is grounded in partnering with some of the best storytellers and helping them bring their visions to life on the Pocket FM App across a range of content formats. You shall actively engage with the creative team, writers, data analysts, and producers to work on concepts, research, and data, to create immersive and compelling scripted serialized stories across multiple genres. The successful candidate will marry a strong passion for entertainment and storytelling with a hearty curiosity for innovation and data, to define the content strategy and playbook. If you’re a fan of Fictional content, this is your chance to transform how storytelling is presented and discovered by millions of users around the world.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Development:
* Hire, onboard, and mentor Pod Leads, writers, and other creative talent with the support of HR and recruitment agencies.
* Build, nurture, and grow a high-performing creative team, fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and accountability.
* Oversee the development of scripted content across multiple genres, ensuring creative vision and quality standards are met.
* Provide ongoing guidance and feedback to writers and creative teams to ensure scripts and stories align with strategic goals.
Creative Oversight & Execution:
* Lead the production of original scripted series from initial pitch to ongoing production, ensuring consistent quality and adherence to timelines.
* Review and provide constructive feedback on outlines, scripts, and storylines to maintain creative integrity and alignment with audience expectations.
* Act as the primary point of contact for writers, authors, and literary agents, building strong relationships and sourcing new projects for development.
* Generate and develop new show ideas and concepts, identifying unique opportunities to engage listeners.
* Manage and ensure that all ongoing series scripts are delivered on time and in line with production schedules.
Collaboration with Business & Data Teams:
* Collaborate with the business team to analyze audience engagement data, market trends, and test results to optimize content strategy.
* Synthesize data insights to inform creative decisions and identify opportunities for content innovation.
* Work with the creative team to adjust ongoing stories, scripts, and formats based on data-driven feedback to improve retention and overall performance.
* Participate in brainstorming sessions and creative strategy meetings to define content goals, objectives, and execution plans.
Innovation & Experimentation:
* Lead experimentation in content creation, testing new formats, genres, and delivery methods to expand PocketFM’s content offerings.
* Create scalable playbooks for content creation, incorporating best practices, creative strategies, and efficient workflows.
* Identify emerging trends in the podcast and audio content industry to ensure PocketFM stays ahead of the curve in offering innovative content to listeners.
Content Performance & Optimization:
* Partner with the business and analytics teams to monitor the performance of ongoing series, identifying areas for improvement and making data-driven adjustments.
* Implement strategies for improving audience retention, engagement, and growth through creative adjustments and content optimization.
* Oversee content cost control and ensure efficient resource allocation without compromising creative quality.
Qualifications:
* Proven (10+ years) experience as a Creative Director, Head Writer, or similar leadership role in a content-driven organization, with a strong background in scripted content (podcasts, audio series, TV, film, etc.).
* Strong experience in managing a team of writers and creative professionals, with a hands-on approach to coaching and development.
* Expertise in interpreting and leveraging data (performance, audience insights, market trends) to inform creative decisions.
* Exceptional communication, leadership, and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships across departments and with external stakeholders (e.g., authors, agents, writers).
* Ability to work under tight deadlines while maintaining high creative standards and meeting production timelines.
* A deep understanding of the podcasting/audio content industry, with a passion for innovation and storytelling.
Location: Anywhere in Europe (Remote Working) with monthly trips to Italy/ London
Language Proficiency: Italian and English