YouTube Strategist- Contract

This is a remote contract role.

We are seeking a self motivated, curious, and capable individual to join our Audience Development team as a YouTube Strategist. This position will play a key role in shaping the content and growth strategy across Crunchyroll's global YouTube network, which has over 18M subscribers.

If you have a strong understanding of content strategy, audience behavior, and a passion for anime, this might be the job for you! This role will partner closely with internal teams and external agency partners to define how we show up on YouTube and drive audience growth and engagement.

The YouTube Strategist should have a strong point of view on what makes content resonate with anime audiences and how to translate that into scalable programming strategies. This includes identifying high-impact moments, guiding content packaging (titles, thumbnails, formats), and continuously optimizing based on performance insights.

Above all, we're looking for someone who is deeply in tune with fandom culture, understands the nuances of anime storytelling, and is excited to shape how millions of fans discover and engage with content on YouTube.

A Day in the Life of a YouTube Strategist (Responsibilities)

• Define and evolve the content strategy for Crunchyroll's global YouTube ecosystem, including the main channel and affinity channels.
• Provide creative direction for clips, Shorts, and channel programming
• Provide input on affinity channel strategy and positioning to ensure clear audience targeting and differentiation
• Partner with agency teams to guide content selection, packaging, and publishing approach
• Curate and guide the selection of compelling and timely clip content for YouTube and broader social channels, balancing hands-on execution with strategic oversight
• Write, optimize, and refine video title best practices, maintaining Crunchyroll's authentic tone and improving performance across regions
• Analyze YouTube performance data and deliver actionable insights and recommendations to improve content performance
• Identify audience trends, content opportunities, and emerging formats to drive growth and engagement
• Develop and refine testing frameworks (titles, thumbnails, formats, cadence) to optimize performance
• Ensure alignment with marketing priorities, seasonal titles, and franchise strategies
• Partner with internal teams to support content monetization, ensuring alignment with platform policies and revenue opportunities

About You (Requirements & Skills):

• 2+ years of experience in content strategy, social media, or YouTube-focused roles
• Experience working with high-volume content workflows or publishing cadences
• Strong understanding of YouTube platform dynamics, content optimization, and audience growth strategies
• Proven ability to translate data into clear, actionable content recommendations
• Experience working with external partners or agencies
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear, creative direction and feedback
• Strong understanding of internet culture, fandom communities, and content trends
• Passion for anime and familiarity with the anime industry and audience behavior
• Demonstrates a proactive, growth-oriented mindset, continuously identifying opportunities to optimize content strategy and performance

Bonus Points for:

• Experience working in the anime, animation, or gaming industry
• Familiarity with YouTube analytics tools (YouTube Studio, Tubular, etc.)
• Experience developing multi-channel content strategies
• Understanding of YouTube SEO and content packaging best practices
• Experience with Shorts or vertical video strategy
• Working knowledge of video editing or design tools (e.g., Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop)