Vacancy: What If Showrunner

This is a strategic and creative leadership role where you will own the entire editorial direction and run the What If show team. You are responsible for deciding what content is produced, how it is packaged, and continuously monitoring channel and content performance.

The role requires a deep understanding of YouTube as a medium, including its unique language, audience psychology, and mechanics of attention. You must balance the art and science of production, running the channel like a financially sustainable business without sacrificing creative quality.

Day-to-day, you will act as the creative engine and keeper of the channel’s voice, primarily managing the full production lifecycle: pre-production, ideation, packaging, production, and post-production workflows. This includes finding irresistible stories, framing them effectively, and ensuring your team executes quickly at the highest quality.

NOTE: This is a hybrid role, with 2-3 days a week in our Toronto studio and head office. It is only for permanent residents in Ontario, Canada. Applicants that don’t reside in Ontario won’t be considered.

Content Strategy & Channel Vision

• Define and maintain the curious, cinematic, and scientifically grounded editorial direction of What If while identifying new growth opportunities.
• Continuously experiment using audience data to increase watch time and reach.
• Manage the channel’s P&L and resourcing, balancing creative ambition with financial sustainability and budget targets.

Ideation & Packaging

• Lead the end-to-end ideation and packaging process, generating and ruthlessly filtering a high volume of concepts into irresistible titles, thumbnails, and hooks.
• Develop comprehensive episode briefs that provide the production team with a clear creative north star and narrative direction.

Editorial Oversight & Production Management

• Oversee all editorial and production execution by defining clear creative direction (visual style, tone), managing project timelines, resourcing, and scheduling, and ensuring narrative intent is maintained through clear briefs.
• Drive continuous improvement and profitability by running data-driven performance experiments, monitoring pacing and profitability, and overseeing branded content executions with external partners.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of producers, writers, editors and our VFX team. Set clear expectations, give actionable feedback, and create the conditions for your team to do their best work.
• Support team learning and career growth.

• Five or more years of experience in YouTube content creation, video production, digital media production, or content strategy.
• A demonstrated track record of contributing to high-performing YouTube content (share examples).
• Deep familiarity with YouTube’s mechanics: retention, CTR, packaging, algorithm dynamics.
• Strong writing and editorial instincts.
• Experience working across the full production pipeline from ideation to publication.
• Located in Ontario, Canada (required).
• Passion for science, technology, and speculative storytelling (bonus, but strongly preferred).
• Experience working with VFX teams is preferred.

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of your previous work, specifically highlighting your video creation work.

We are excited to welcome a new talent to our team who shares our passion for storytelling and is driven to capture viewers’ curiosity worldwide. If you’re ready to create content that educates, entertains, and inspires, we look forward to your application.