Sr. Manager, Live Programming & Breaking News

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Job Description

Your New Role

We are CNN. The world's most essential and engaging source of digital news. We are in the midst of rapid transformation and need our next generation of innovators, makers, and dreamers who will lead and drive our growth. We aim to make the world a better, more connected place. We are seeking a dynamic and editorially strong Senior Manager, Streaming Merchandising, Live Programming & Breaking News to lead the execution and oversight of merchandising daily live content for our direct-to-consumer streaming service. This role will be responsible for managing the streaming schedule across dayparts—including AM, PM, Primetime, and breaking news blocks—ensuring content is timely, editorially sound, and aligned with the global news agenda.

This position is at the heart of our real-time streaming programming operation and requires a deep understanding of news judgment, live production workflows, audience behavior, and digital/streaming platform dynamics. The ideal candidate is an experienced newsroom leader who thrives under pressure, collaborates easily across departments, and is passionate about delivering a premium, habit-forming streaming experience for a global audience.

Key Responsibilities:

Live Programming & Editorial Execution

• Own and manage daily and hourly programming blocks across all dayparts (AM, PM, Primetime), live events, and breaking news windows for the streaming platform.

• Curate and adjust streaming feeds in real time based on the editorial agenda, breaking developments, and audience behavior.

• Ensure streaming content reflects the highest standards of journalism, editorial consistency, and brand integrity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work in close partnership with Global News, Programming, and Editorial Planning teams to implement day-of coverage priorities.

• Coordinate with Linear Programming and digital Programming platform leads to ensure alignment on major live events, breaking news alerts, and push notification strategy.

• Collaborate with streaming producers, operations teams, and show leads to ensure the smooth execution of scheduled blocks and on-the-fly coverage shifts.

Audience Optimization & Real-Time Insights

• Interpret and apply real-time audience performance data (in collaboration with embedded data analysts) to inform programming choices, pacing, and presentation— when journalistically appropriate.

• Adjust content packaging or editorial flow in response to audience behavior and engagement trends.

Operational Readiness & Scheduling

• Oversee daypart calendars and work with resource managers to align staffing and production resources to the programming schedule.

• Ensure technical readiness and production workflows are optimized for seamless live delivery, especially during breaking news events.

Editorial Leadership & Executional Excellence

• Exercise strong editorial judgment in balancing newsworthiness, urgency, tone, and audience expectations in a live environment.

• Provide clear editorial direction to producers and cross-functional teams to maintain accuracy, quality, and brand cohesion across live streams.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in live news production, editorial planning, or digital programming, ideally within a fast-paced newsroom or streaming environment.