Associate Director, Content (Temp)

Horizon Media; New York (NY); On-site; USD 109,000 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

Horizon Futures seeks an Associate Director, Content to craft a storytelling strategy, edit and publish work that drives press coverage and new business inquiries. This role shapes thought leadership through data visualization, narrative design, and AI-enabled workflows, reporting to the VP, Cultural Intelligence.

The candidate will manage Horizons Futures site, expand marketable content, and oversee Substack publishing while maintaining a consistent voice across reports and POVs.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years’ experience in a relevant writing/editing/design role.
• Exceptional copywriting and editing skills with concise storytelling.
• Strong editorial judgment and visual storytelling across reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of thought leadership reports and research.
• Own visual storytelling across long‑form reports, data visualizations, and layouts.
• Collaborate with researchers and strategists to shape insights.
• Manage Futures public-facing site and Substack content.
• Ensure content is optimized for SEO and brand guidelines.
• Direct tech team on site enhancements and organization of content.
• Write and edit a range of content, including articles and POVs.

Skills

Storytelling

Editing

Writing

Design

Content strategy

SEO

Data visualization

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

WordPress

Substack

Job description

Job Description

About Horizon Media

Horizon Media , founded in 1989 by Bill Koenigsberg, is recognized as one of the most innovative marketing and advertising firms. We are headquartered in New York City, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. A leader in driving business solutions for marketers, Horizon is known for its highly personal approach to client service. Renowned for its incredible culture, Horizon is consistently named to all the prestigious annual Best Places to Work lists published by Fortune, AdAge, Crain’s New York Business and Los Angeles Business Journal. Together we are building a place of belonging.
At Horizon, we understand the value that different perspectives can bring to our clients and culture, so we strive for an environment where our employees feel welcomed, safe and empowered. We value YOU and believe that your authentic voice and unique perspective allows us to create a more rewarding culture, and experience, together.

Our simple recipe for success? We hire talented people (thinkers, doers, dreamers, makers), challenge them and give them every opportunity to grow.

Job Summary

As a member of Horizon Futures, the Associate Director, Content will be responsible for developing a storytelling strategy that elevates our practice and organization by editing and publishing work that generates press coverage and leads to new business inquiries or partnership opportunities. The Associate Director, Content plays a critical role in the management of communications and platforms that support Horizon’s thought leadership and market positioning. This role designs and delivers thought leadership by bringing research to life through sharp narrative, sophisticated data visualization, and strong visual systems, with fluency in advanced design tools and AI-enabled workflows. This person is a superb writer and digital content strategist/creator with a pulse on current technology and digital/social media best practices that drive innovative, modern corporate communications; also has an eye for the aesthetics of beautiful content creation/curation. He/she will report to the VP, Cultural Intelligence.

As a Center of Excellence within Horizon Media, the Futures Group is responsible for developing a deep understanding of people, brands and culture, diving in to determine the interaction between these three ‘worlds’ and what this means for marketing, communications, content and other brand experience strategies. With data underpinning much of what we do, we use a range of different datasets (behavioral, syndicated, spending, viewership, social, attitudinal and cultural) in creating strategic studies and thought pieces to gain understanding and inform business decision making for our clients, as well as to showcase to the industry at large.

The Associate Director, Content will manage the Futures public-facing site, publishing Horizon thought leadership reports as well as expanding the volume of marketable content from them to generate interest and site visitors. This role will also manage the implementation of Substack content to showcase the team’s abundance of rich content.

What You’ll Do

• Copyediting and Design (75%)
• Lead the design and execution of Horizon Futures’ thought leadership reports and flagship research—translating complex insights into clear, compelling, and visually sophisticated narratives.
• Own visual storytelling across long‑form reports, frameworks, and POVs, including data visualization, layouts, charts, diagrams, and modular visual systems.
• Partner closely with researchers and strategists to bring findings to life—shaping how insights are expressed, understood, and shared.
• Apply strong editorial judgment to determine what deserves visual emphasis, how stories unfold, and how reports are structured for impact and usability.
• Create a variety of compelling pieces on Substacks/LinkedIn from longer reports
• Apply a consistent tone of voice to various thought leadership pieces from across the agency. Pieces will range from full research reports to short‑form articles to agency POVs. Ensure proper and consistent grammar and formatting.
• Create and maintain a brand‑style guide that elevates the aesthetic of all Futures reports to better reflect the depth of our insights, foresight, and spirit of innovation.
• Edit and refine a wide range of content, including research reports, articles, case studies, frameworks, and agency POVs; some writing required.
• Work with members of the team to develop and hone writing skills
• Seek out and experiment with cutting‑edge tech (AI, motion graphics, etc.,) for more efficient and engaging copy and visualizations.
• Create banner images for website and substack posts
• Manage Website Futures.horizonmedia.com (Admin + Analytics) (15%)
• Write copy for and design to market content (e.g., teaser content, report outline/synopsis, etc.)
• Publish thought leadership to the site (familiarity with WordPress platform a plus)
• Ensure each piece of content is properly optimized for SEO best practices
• Develop and execute future site enhancements
• Direct tech team on site enhancements and organization/display of content
• Writing and Editorial (5%)
• Generate short‑form content (blog posts, POVs) for Horizon ‘s Substack
• Contribute design/visual POV to cultural intelligence reports, as needed.

• Agency Collaboration (5%)
• Work with legal on ensuring data/image sourcing is compliant.
• Ensure all projects are completed on time and to expectation.
• Maintain consistent communication with project researchers and project stakeholders.
• Bring new content ideas, initiatives, and projects to the table. Stay inspired, engaged, and always share your ideas.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• 7-10 years’ experience in a relevant writing/editing/design role (newsroom experience a plus)
• The successful candidate will be skilled across different content types, has a passion for storytelling, is a self‑starter, and a master at effective communication.
• Exceptional copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to distill nuanced ideas into concise, audience‑driven communication.
• Social/Digital expert with a passion for knowledge of the latest platforms, tools, best practices and demonstrated ability to drive innovative, engaging content that meets business needs
• Strong experience using digital communications in corporate environments, including content creation/curation and site management
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver in a fast‑paced, deadline‑oriented environment
• Self‑starter - driven and incredibly detail‑oriented; strong client focus, excellent team player, exceptional interpersonal communication skills
• Able to handle highly confidential information with sensitivity, integrity and good judgment
• Data‑minded with the ability to edit and write for research findings
• Self‑directed, strategic learner with the ability to work collaboratively and cross‑functionally.
• Strong project management, time management, and organizational skills with the ability to manage numerous competing priorities are required.
• Proven ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a high‑energy, fast‑paced environment

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

N/A

Physical Activity and Work Environment

N/A

Salary Range:

$2,403.84 to$2,692.30 a week. A successful applicant’s actual weekly or hourly rate may vary based upon, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training,licensure/certifications, and equity.

Base Pay

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Horizon Media is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.