Rolling Stone: Head of Media Strategy & Operations

Rolling Stone has shaped culture for over five decades with its iconic voice in music, entertainment, politics, and pop culture. Today, it continues to evolve as a global multimedia brand, rooted in storytelling that pushes boundaries and celebrates artists, movements, and ideas that define generations.

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As we continue to expand our reach and impact, we are seeking a strategic and operationally-minded Head of Media Strategy & Operations to drive cross-functional alignment, unlock growth opportunities, and operationalize key business initiatives across content, media, and revenue-generating platforms.

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The Head of Media Strategy & Operations is responsible for aligning Rolling Stone’s editorial and commercial strategies with operational excellence across digital platforms, content partnerships, analytics, media planning, and go-to-market execution. This leader will act as a strategic partner to senior leadership and a central hub for operationalizing key projects and initiatives that drive audience growth, engagement, and revenue

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Responsibilities

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Strategic Planning & Execution

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• Partner with CCO and executive team to define and operationalize Rolling Stone’s growth strategy across editorial, media, and commercial functions.
• Lead business planning cycles, performance tracking, and strategic prioritization across departments.
• Translate strategic goals into detailed execution plans with clear owners, KPIs, and timelines.

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Media Strategy

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• Oversee the holistic media strategy for Rolling Stone, including content distribution, audience development, paid media, and channel optimization.
• Lead the development of cross-platform campaigns (digital, video, social, audio, print, etc.) in collaboration with editorial, sales, and marketing teams.
• Align media strategy with audience insights and content performance to ensure the right stories reach the right audience at scale.

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Business Operations

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• Build and optimize internal workflows, campaign operations, and team structures to support integrated storytelling and monetization strategies.
• Manage vendor relationships and technology platforms that support campaign delivery, audience tracking, and ad operations.
• Drive process improvements across pre-sale and post-sale operations, ensuring seamless execution and client satisfaction.

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Analytics & Performance

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• Lead development and implementation of performance dashboards, business reporting, and forecasting models across media and revenue teams.
• Use data to inform and adjust strategic direction, resource allocation, and campaign effectiveness.
• Partner with product and audience development teams to assess media trends and opportunities for innovation.

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Cross-Functional Leadership

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• Collaborate with editorial, product, sales, marketing, events, and finance teams to align goals, timelines, and operational plans.
• Serve as a key liaison between the creative/editorial vision and the operational mechanics that bring campaigns to life

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Requirements

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• 10+ years of experience in media, publishing, digital strategy, or operations—ideally within a high-growth, content-driven brand.
• Strong background in media planning, audience development, content strategy, or marketing operations.
• Proven success leading complex projects across cross-functional teams and delivering measurable business outcomes.
• Highly analytical and organized, with experience in reporting, forecasting, and process improvement.
• Deep understanding of the digital content and media landscape, including monetization models, platform trends, and audience behaviors.
• Experience with tools such as Looker, Tableau, Google Analytics, Salesforce, or media campaign systems.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across editorial and commercial lines.
• Passion for storytelling, culture, and the evolving role of media in society.

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Typical wage range: $160k - $220k + Bonus. Factors that could be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, years of experience and comparison to current employees already in this role. The typical candidate is hired below midpoint of the range. If you have more or less experience than specified on this job posting, please apply and list your salary expectations. As PMC values in-person collaboration and team cohesion, employees work onsite 4 days a week and 1 day remotely with a focus on maintaining a vibrant and inclusive culture. 

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If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors).

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It’s all About You…

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PMC's comprehensive benefits package is thoughtfully designed to support every aspect of your life, empowering you to thrive both personally and professionally. We offer PMC-Paid Healthcare with no employee paycheck contributions on medical, dental, and vision for you and your family. PMC also offersFlexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care & Commuter), an Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability, Paid Parental Leave, and a 401(k) Retirement Plan with an Employer match. Employees are also eligible to take advantage of company discounts and perks including Pet Insurance, Home & Auto Insurance, Mortgage discounts, and a variety of other savings on wellness, lifestyle, and financial essentials. As part of PMC's dedication to consistently meet employee’s needs, we are currently launching a new Flexible Vacation Policy.

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At PMC, we believe working in a highly collaborative, office-first environment fosters real-time communication, spontaneous idea sharing, and stronger interpersonal relationships that drive innovation and team cohesion. PMC prioritizes in-person collaboration and does not offer remote-only roles.

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About Rolling Stone

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Rolling Stone, the number one brand in music publishing, has been the leading voice of music and popular culture for 50 years. The multi-media brand features the latest in music reviews, in-depth interviews, hard-hitting political commentary and award-winning journalism across many platforms including magazine, digital, mobile, social and event marketing. Rolling Stone provides “all the news that fits” to a global audience of approximately 60 million people every month and publishes over 100 pieces of content every day. Rolling Stone’s parent company, Penske Media Corporation (PMC), is a leading digital media company, publishing, and information Services Company founded in 2003.

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About PMC: 

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Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate audience of over 300 million globally. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Dick Clark Productions, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, TVLine, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, Vibe, IndieWire, Artforum, Gold Derby, and Luminate, the premier data and analytics company. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several vital cultural events such as SXSW, LA3C, and Latin Music Week. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, PMC believes companies should not only be profitable but also forces for good. PMC is committed to fostering a working environment that is inclusive and responsible, where we value a company culture built on all backgrounds, voices, and experiences. For more information on the company, please visit www.PMC.com