YouTube Strategy Manager – Idea Generation &Thumbnails
Job Description
- Experience in thumbnail or content A/B testing and interpreting results to optimize strategy.
- Background in illustration, graphic design, or creative direction for digital media.
- Familiarity with 3D tools (e.g., Blender, Maya, Blockbench) or asset pipelines.
- Passion for YouTube culture, gaming communities, and character-driven storytelling.
- Lead cross-functional creative strategy for idea generation and thumbnail creation for multiple high-performing YouTube channels.
- Drive ideation sessions that yield engaging, on-trend, and performance-driven video ideas.
- Oversee thumbnail strategy, ensuring every asset aligns with data insights and brand tone.
- Mentor and manage Idea Generation Specialists and Thumbnail Artists, offering feedback, structure, and leadership.
- Leverage data to guide creative strategy by tracking video and thumbnail performance metrics and analyzing audience behavior.
- Collaborate with Content Leadership to ensure alignment between concepts, storytelling, and final creative output.
- Ensure operational excellence, oversee workflows, maintain quality control, and meet fast-paced deadlines.
- Continuously research and apply YouTube best practices, emerging visual trends, and A/B testing strategies.
- 3+ years of experience in YouTube strategy, digital content ideation, creative research, or performance-focused content creation.
- 1+ years of experience in a leadership or strategic management role within a creative or media team.
- Proven track record of developing successful video concepts and high-performing thumbnails across YouTube or similar platforms.
- Strong understanding of YouTube algorithms, CTR drivers, A/B testing, and what makes content go viral.
- Visual literacy and ability to guide artists toward visual excellence (knowledge of color, composition, and visual storytelling required).
- Familiarity with gaming, animation, or youth entertainment content, especially in styles such as chibi/cute or gaming IPs like Minecraft or Roblox.
- Excellent communicator and facilitator with strong organizational skills.
- Must be based in the Austin, TX area or open to relocation.
- Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision health benefits
- 401(k) contribution
- Flexible time off
- Lunch, snacks and drinks provided in the office
- Pets in the office once a month
- Onsite fitness center
- Learning Stipend
- Relocation assistance for those coming from outside Austin.
CatFace is a YouTube entertainment company, home to a family of channels with over 25 million combined subscribers and an average of 300 million views per month. Our goal is to entertain our audience with fun, light-hearted narratives and entertaining content for general audiences. A vital component of our business is creating multiple unique stories every week in order to keep our audience engaged.
Visit our Youtube Channels:
https://www.youtube.com/@Aphmau
https://www.youtube.com/@AphmauShuki
Visit our websites:
www.aphmeow.com
www.catface.com
About the Role
We’re looking for a YouTube Strategy Manager to lead and evolve our growing team of Idea Generation Specialists and Thumbnail Artists. This strategic role is ideal for someone with a deep understanding of YouTube content performance, a strong creative vision, and a passion for ideation and visual storytelling.
You will be responsible for driving the strategy behind compelling YouTube video ideas and ensuring our thumbnails are not only visually engaging but optimized for maximum performance. With a unique blend of creative instinct and data literacy, you'll help guide the direction of multiple channels by marrying audience insight with bold, eye-catching content strategy.
This is a leadership role for someone who can think big-picture, facilitate high-level creative discussions, and roll up their sleeves to directly shape content that performs. If you’re fluent in YouTube trends, curious about what drives virality, and ready to push creative limits, this role is for you.
To apply, please submit your resume, a portfolio of high-performing thumbnails and/or creative content ideas, and be prepared to participate in a strategy-focused case study if shortlisted.
What You’ll Do
- Lead Cross-Functional Creative Strategy: Guide the end-to-end process of idea generation and thumbnail creation for multiple high-performing YouTube channels.
- Drive Ideation Sessions: Lead creative brainstorming workshops that yield engaging, on-trend, and performance-driven video ideas.
- Oversee Thumbnail Strategy: Direct the visual approach to thumbnail creation, ensuring every asset aligns with data insights and brand tone.
- Manage a Growing Team: Mentor and manage Idea Generation Specialists and Thumbnail Artists, offering feedback, structure, and leadership.
- Leverage Data to Guide Creative: Track video and thumbnail performance metrics, analyze audience behavior, and iterate on creative strategy based on those insights.
- Collaborate with Content Leadership: Work closely with the Director of Production, Lead Artists, Editors, and Writers to ensure alignment between concepts, storytelling, and final creative output.
- Ensure Operational Excellence: Oversee workflows, maintain quality control, and meet fast-paced deadlines through efficient team management.
- Stay Ahead of Trends: Continuously research and apply YouTube best practices, emerging visual trends, and A/B testing strategies to refine what makes content clickable.
What We’re Looking For
- 3+ years of experience in YouTube strategy, digital content ideation, creative research, or performance-focused content creation.
- 1+ years of experience in a leadership or strategic management role within a creative or media team.
- Proven track record of developing successful video concepts and high-performing thumbnails across YouTube or similar platforms.
- Strong understanding of YouTube algorithms, CTR drivers, A/B testing, and what makes content go viral.
- Visual literacy – while hands-on design is a plus, you must be able to guide artists toward visual excellence (knowledge of color, composition, and visual storytelling required).
- Familiarity with gaming, animation, or youth entertainment content, especially in styles such as chibi/cute or gaming IPs like Minecraft or Roblox.
- Excellent communicator and facilitator with strong organizational skills.
- Must be based in the Austin, TX area or open to relocation (relocation assistance available).
Bonus Points
- Experience in thumbnail or content A/B testing and interpreting results to optimize strategy.
- Background in illustration, graphic design, or creative direction for digital media.
- Familiarity with 3D tools (e.g., Blender, Maya, Blockbench) or asset pipelines.
- Passion for YouTube culture, gaming communities, and character-driven storytelling.
What We Offer
- Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision health benefits
- 401(k) contribution
- Flexible time off
- Lunch, snacks and drinks provided in the office
- Pets in the office once a month
- Onsite fitness center
- Learning Stipend
- Relocation assistance for those coming from outside Austin.
