Manager, Channel Strategy - Kids & Family- The Orchard

About The Orchard

The Orchard is a leading full-service music distribution company operating in 48 markets worldwide and servicing top global independent artists and labels. With cutting-edge operations and an unparalleled global team, The Orchard partners with clients to provide full scale solutions across a variety of verticals. Championed by an exceptional community of music lovers and experts, The Orchard empowers creators to grow and evolve in the dynamic, global industry. 

The Orchard focuses on providing a comfortable, social, and engaging environment to encourage productivity and creativity.

We are seeking a motivated, forward-thinking and dynamic US-based YouTube channel strategist for kids and family content. This position reports to the VP, Content Strategy & Business Development for the Magic Star team (The Orchard’s kids and family division) and will have a dotted line reporting relationship with the Senior Director, Channel Strategy. This role will act as the dedicated manager for The Orchard’s roster of kids and family-themed YouTube Channel partners. The ideal candidate is relationship-driven with a creative and analytical mind, and the ability to work proactively and autonomously. The role requires working across multiple time zones based on business needs, supporting global partners and internal teams.

What You'll Do

• Office- first role, in office 4 days a week.
• Manage and oversee an assigned portfolio of global and multi-language kids and family YouTube channels partnered in The Orchard’s YouTube multi-channel network.
• Deliver ongoing, hands-on channel support, including programming, optimization, channel analysis, monthly reporting, content and video strategy, marketing support, and troubleshooting of partner issues across assigned kids/family YouTube channels.
• Conduct detailed channel and video audits, recommending and implementing actionable improvements, with a specific lens to Made for Kids-designated content.
• Track, analyze, and report on channel and children’s category performance using metrics such as CPM, viewership trends, and subscriber demographics.
• Execute strategic post-launch channel initiatives—covering marketing, optimization, and growth activities—to drive maximum reach, user retention, revenue, and overall client satisfaction within a high-touch service model.
• Provide exceptional support for MCN clients and internal teams (Magic Star, Relationship Managers, Rights Management, Operations, etc.) to ensure video-related issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of and expertise in Made For Kids and children’s genre-specific platform policies, restrictions, opportunities and trends on YouTube.
• Build and maintain relationships with the YouTube Kids programming and partnerships teams, including for managing editorial pitching for featured placement in the Kids app and identifying additional opportunities for collaboration and support.
• Create and provide best practice guides and strategic recommendation documentation for building and growing kids and family channels and content on YouTube.
• Provide basic video and image editing (e.g. creating clips or compilations from existing video content, creating video thumbnails) as needed and work closely with internal Design team or external partners for more complex content creation needs.
• Support internal Ad Sales team in identifying and crafting relevant ad sales service offerings and campaigns specific to Made for Kids channels and kids/family content.
• Collaborate with the Magic Star team along with Relationship Managers, Marketing, and Audience Development to leverage YouTube for key music release campaigns and develop YouTube-specific tentpole initiatives for priority labels and artists/acts.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records across internal systems, YouTube’s CMS, and YouTube.com.
• Identify opportunities to upsell Channel Strategy services to roster clients and support prospecting and pitching efforts to secure new clients and channel partners.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all YouTube-related inquiries from artists, labels, and Relationship Managers across assigned channel roster.

Who You Are

• 3+ years' experience managing, programming and optimizing Made for Kids-designated YouTube channels
• In-depth u