Manager, Content Merchandising and Audience Engagement

Company Description

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Versant's sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

Job Description

The Manager, Content Merchandising and Audience Engagement is responsible for developing and executing content merchandising strategies that maximize audience engagement, content discoverability, and viewership across Fandango's Free-to-Watch platform. This role combines data-driven decision making, editorial judgment, and operational excellence to create compelling customer experiences that support audience growth and advertising revenue objectives. 
 
In addition to content programming responsibilities, this role oversees the creative asset strategy and production workflow for site merchandising. The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable analyzing performance metrics, collaborating with internal and external content partners, managing creative priorities, and driving execution across multiple stakeholders. 
 
This position is based in Los Angeles, CA and requires regular onsite presence to support collaboration with cross-functional teams and business partners. 
 
Key Responsibilities 

• Develop, execute, and optimize merchandising strategies that increase content discoverability, audience engagement, and viewership across the Free-to-Watch platform 
• Curate featured collections, thematic programming, seasonal campaigns, and promotional experiences that drive content consumption and retention. 
• Leverage audience insights, performance data, and market trends to inform merchandising decisions and improve business outcomes. 
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators including viewership, watch time, engagement, content performance, and monetization metrics. 
• Develop and maintain merchandising calendars aligned with content releases, seasonal opportunities, marketing initiatives, and business priorities. 
• Partner with Content Acquisition, Programming, Marketing, Product, Analytics, and external content providers to support content launches and promotional campaigns. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external content partners. 
• Oversee the creative asset strategy for site merchandising, including hero placements, promotional artwork, collection imagery, and seasonal campaigns. 
• Manage and prioritize creative production requests, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality assets that support merchandising and business objectives. 
• Collaborate with Product, Design, and Marketing teams to continually improve the customer experience and content discoverability. 
• Analyze the effectiveness of merchandising placements and creative assets, using insights and testing results to optimize future campaigns. 
• Prepare and present business reviews, presentations, and performance reports, communicating key insights and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional teams. 
• Balance editorial judgment, business priorities, audience insights, and partner objectives to deliver exceptional content experiences. 

Qualifications

What You Bring 

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in merchandising, programming, content strategy, digital media, streaming, entertainment, or a related field.
• Experience working with AVOD, FAST, streaming, digital publishing, or media platforms preferred. 
• Strong analytical skills with experience using data and audience insights to drive business decisions. 
• Experience with analytics, reporting, and business intelligence tools. 
• Understanding of content merchandising, audience engagement strategies, and digital consumer behavior. 
• Experience managing creative workflows to deliver customer-facing assets. 
  Strong understanding of visual merchandising principles and content presentation best practices. 
• Ability to translate business objectives into effective creative direction. 
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously. 
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. 
  Experience with content management systems (CMS), publishing tools, and digital workflows. 
• Proven abilit