YouTube Channel Manager - London

As a YouTube Channel Manager at Animaj, you are at the core of our digital-first strategy. Your objective is clear: to transform Animaj-owned IPs into global cultural phenomena on the world’s leading platform for kids and families. This role requires a unique blend of creative storytelling and rigorous strategic insight. You will shape the YouTube experience for millions of children, using data-driven decision-making and platform expertise to build brands that kids love and parents trust. At Animaj, we don’t just manage channels; we build the future of kids’ media by merging high-quality animation with cutting-edge AI-native workflows.

We offer:

• The opportunity to work at the intersection of a premium animation studio and an AI-powered, digital-first company.
• Direct involvement in the growth of world-class IPs (e.g. Maya the Bee).
• A high-energy, entrepreneurial environment in London, working as part of a global team of innovators.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Channel Leadership: Own the end-to-end management of a portfolio of YouTube channels, including sophisticated publishing schedules, metadata architecture, and holistic playlist strategy.
• Performance Optimisation (SEO & Growth): Drive exponential growth by mastering YouTube’s discovery systems. You will optimise SEO, CTR (Click-Through Rate), and AVD (Average View Duration) through constant experimentation with metadata and content packaging.
• Creative Excellence & Design: Lead the visual identity of some of our brands on YouTube. You will design high-converting thumbnails and channel art, ensuring every asset meets Animaj’s premium quality standards and brand guidelines.
• Data-Driven Programming: Conduct deep-dive viewership analysis using YouTube Analytics and third-party tools (e.g., Tubular Labs). You will provide actionable insights to guide programming, marketing, and investment decisions.
• AI-Enhanced Workflow Integration: Collaborate with our technical teams to pilot and implement AI-native production and localisation tools to scale content efficiency and reach.
• Cross-Platform Synergy: Ensure brand consistency across the digital ecosystem, maintaining a unified voice for our IPs across YouTube, CTV, and emerging social platforms.

Qualifications

• Platform Expertise: 2+ years of experience managing high-growth YouTube channels, specifically within the Kids & Family vertical.
• Certified Knowledge: YouTube Certified. Deep familiarity with Content ID, CMS management, and COPPA/MFK compliance.
• Design Proficiency: High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro). Experience with After Effects is an advantage.
• Analytical Mindset: Expert-level ability to interpret complex data sets and translate them into a clear content strategy.
• Global Perspective: Fluent in English (additional languages are a plus). Experience working in a multinational environment with localised global-first content strategies.
• Future-Focused: A genuine passion for kids’ content, emerging technologies, and a desire to redefine the industry through AI and digital-first innovation.
• Academic Background: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Media, Film, or a related field preferred.

Outcomes

After 30 days at Animaj:

• Deep Catalogue Audit: Complete a performance diagnostic for the assigned IP, identifying the specific Viewership Engine (New vs. Returning viewers) and providing a data-backed list of structural weaknesses in pacing and packaging.
• Retention Deep-Dive: Map out Audience Retention heatmaps for the top 20 videos, identify specific drop‑off triggers, and present a tactical Editing & Pacing Guide for the production team to improve future assets.
• Tactical Metadata Audit: Perform a full SEO/Metadata cleanup for the core assigned channels to ensure high discoverability.
• Performance Reporting: Establish a weekly Programming Health Report that identifies immediate “quick wins” (e.g., updating thumbnails on high‑impression/low-CTR videos) to boost traffic.

After 90 days at Animaj:

• Growth Optimisation: Implement at least two major tactical changes (e.g., new thumbnail style, altered intro hook, or playlist restructuring) that result in a measurable uptick in channel growth.
• Shorts-to-Longform Funnel: Launch an active YouTube Shorts strategy designed to act as a discovery tool, with a clear workflow for converting Shorts-only viewers into long‑form Watch Time contributors.
• Global Synchronisation: Manage the publishing calendar to ensure localised content is perfectly synced with regional cultural moments and holidays to maximise localised suggested traffic.
• AVD Benchmarking: Successfully execute a 3‑month programming calendar with a target increase of 10–15% in Average View Duration (AVD) across the managed IP.
• Workflow Efficiency: Successfully integrate at least one AI-native tool (e.g., AI translation or generative metadata) into the daily channel management workflow to increase output speed.

After 180 days at Animaj:

• Platform Beta Participation: Actively manage the implementation of YouTube’s newest features (e.g., Multi‑Language Audio, A/B Thumbnail Testing) to gain a first-mover advantage over competitors.
• Seasonal Programming Calendar: Own and execute a comprehensive 12‑month programming roadmap that accounts for key cultural moments (Halloween, Christmas, Back‑to‑School) and major sporting events (e.g., World Cup/Olympics).
• New IP Transition: Lead the technical channel launch and early‑stage growth strategy for new co‑created or incubated IPs (e.g., the Disney partnership projects), ensuring a hit trajectory from Day 1.
• Watchtime Growth: Achieve a 10%+ increase in average monthly watchtime for the portfolio of managed channels compared to the same period the previous year.
• Format Innovation: Scale at least one new content format (e.g., a specific compilation style or Shorts series) that consistently reaches high-performing view thresholds within its first 30 days.