Your New Role...We are looking for a transformational leader to help define how a modern media organization works in the age of AI. This role will operate across the full business, from Product, Design, Engineering, and Data to Marketing, Revenue Operations, Finance, and the Newsroom, with a mandate to rethink workflows, unlock speed, and embed AI into the everyday rhythm of how teams operate.
This is not a traditional operations role. It is a systems-level leadership opportunity for someone who can see across functions, connect the dots, and turn emerging technology into meaningful, practical change. The goal is not simply to make existing processes more efficient, it is to redesign how work moves from idea to outcome in a world where AI is changing the pace, cost, and possibilities of execution.
The VP will be the architect of CNN's AI-enabled operating model, helping teams work with greater clarity, velocity, and impact while building new ways of operating that can scale across the organization.
Core Mandate- Redesign end-to-end workflows across the organization to dramatically improve speed, efficiency, and output
- Operationalize AI capabilities across all functions within the organization
- Drive adoption of AI tools and AI-native ways of working at scale
- Build a unified operating system that connects workflows across Product, Engineering, Design, Data, Marketing, Revenue, Finance, and Newsroom
Your Role Accountabilities...Redesign End-to-End Workflows Across Functions (AI-first) - Audit and re-architect core workflows across the organization (e.g., product development, marketing campaign execution, financial planning, reporting, content creation, and distribution)
- Move beyond optimizing individual steps to redesign entire processes for AI augmentation and automation
- Eliminate friction, unnecessary handoffs, and duplication across teams
- Establish standardized operating models that enable consistency while allowing flexibility by function
Build and Own the Company's AI-Enabled Operating System - Define the "operating system" for how work gets done across the company
- Own tooling and workflow strategy across all major functions
- Rationalize, integrate, and scale tools (e.g., AI copilots, automation platforms, analytics, planning tools, content systems)
- Ensure workflows are measurable, observable, and continuously improving
Accelerate Execution Velocity Across the Business - Identify systemic bottlenecks across workflows-not just within product development
- Redesign or eliminate processes to increase throughput and reduce cycle times
- Establish benchmarks and SLAs for key workflows (e.g., idea launch, campaign creation, reporting cycles, forecasting)
- Partner with leadership to prioritize high-impact work and reduce organizational drag
Drive AI Tool Adoption & Behavior Change at Scale - Lead rollout and integration of AI tools across all functions
- Build enablement programs (training, playbooks, embedded support) tailored to different teams (e.g., marketing, finance, editorial, product)
- Create feedback loops to refine tools and workflows based on real usage
- Ensure adoption results in measurable productivity and quality improvements-not just experimentation
Enable Function-Specific Transformation (Marketing, Revenue, Finance, Newsroom, etc.) Work closely with functional leadership to scale AI transformation plans across many functions:
- Marketing & Growth: accelerate campaign creation, personalization, targeting, and performance analysis
- Revenue Operations: improve pipeline management, forecasting, and sales productivity
- Finance: streamline planning, reporting, and decision support workflows
- Newsroom / Editorial: modernize content creation, editing, research, and distribution workflows
- Product / Design / Engineering / Data: continue evolving how teams prototype, build, test, and ship
Act as the bridge between functional needs and scalable AI-enabled solutions that improve outcomes across the business.
Establish Metrics & Continuous Improvement Systems - Define and track operational metrics across functions (e.g., cycle time, output per team, workflow efficiency, AI adoption, quality improvements)
- Build dashboards and visibility into how work is performed across the organization
- Create a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation in workflows
- Benchmark and evolve operating models over time
Success Metrics - Measurable adoption and impact of AI tools across the organization
- Significant reduction in time from idea to execution across multiple functions
- Increased output and quality per team without proportional headcount growth
- Improved cross-functional coordination and reduced workflow friction
- Increased efficiency in marketing, revenue operations, finance, and newsroom workflows
- Standardization of high-impact workflows and best practices
Qualifications & Experience... - 10+ years in operations, product, or systems leadership roles
- Experience driving cross-functional transformation across multiple business functions-not just product/engineering
- Proven track record of improving organizational productivity and workflow efficiency at scale
- Experience implementing AI, automation, or advanced tooling into real-world workflows
- Experience working with editorial/newsroom or content organizations is a strong plus
Skills Systems thinker: designs end-to-end workflows and operating models
Cross-functional operator: understands how different functions work and connects them effectively
Technically fluent: comfortable with AI, data, and modern tooling ecosystems
Change leader: drives behavioral change and adoption across large organizations
Operationally rigorous: uses metrics and data to continuously improve performance
Influential communicator: able to align diverse stakeholders and drive decisions
