VP of AI Editorial Innovation

The VP of AI Editorial Innovation reports into the Head of Editorial, leading innovation across Business Operations and Royalties while partnering closely with Product Management and AI Editorial.

The core of this role is partnering closely with the Editorial Product and AI Editorial teams and their leaders to set the innovation agenda and drive how AI evolves editorial products, workflows, business models, and ways of working across the broader organization. Beyond that, the role brings an innovation lens to the operating rhythm and planning cadence for editorial leadership, oversees the Strategy & Business Operations function, and provides leadership oversight of the Royalties business.

Key Responsibilities

Partnering on Product and AI in Editorial

• Serve as a close, trusted partner to the Product Management (Editorial) and AI Editorial leadership in shaping direction for both functions
• Partner closely with these two leaders to define and drive the roadmap for how AI reshapes editorial products, content workflows, and ways of working
• Ensure the editorial product portfolio reflects a clear point of view on where and how AI should be applied across newsgathering, content production, and distribution
• Establish practical guardrails for AI use in editorial work, in partnership with legal and compliance, that protect editorial standards and trust
• Keep the organization ahead of changes in AI and editorial technology, partnering with those teams to adjust the roadmap and skills as needed

Strategy and Operating Leadership

• Set the planning, innovation, and operating cadence for the editorial leadership team, including goal-setting, prioritization, experimentation, and resource allocation across the portfolio
• Own the leadership team’s operating rhythm,leadership meetings, offsites, innovation reviews, business reviews, and executive communications
• Build reporting and dashboards that give the Head of Editorial and senior leadership clear visibility into progress, performance, innovation pipeline, adoption, and realized value across the portfolio
• Lead the Strategy & Business Operations function, using data, design thinking, and process innovation to resolve structural or resourcing issues that slow editorial teams down
• Incubate sensitive, cross-cutting, or high-potential innovation initiatives on behalf of the Head of Editorial as they arise

Royalties Oversight

• Provide innovative leadership oversight of the Royalties business, a revenue stream worth tens of millions of dollars annually, balancing performance of the core business with modernization and growth
• Work with the Director of Royalties on forecasting, tracking, commercial decisions, and experiments that improve data, processes, customer experience, and revenue performance
• Identify opportunities for new rights, licensing, data, and partnership models, assess associated risks, and represent the innovation pipeline and business performance to the Head of Editorial and other executives
• Partner with legal, finance, technology, and product teams to modernize rights and licensing capabilities and test new commercial approaches responsibly

People Leadership

• Lead and develop the Business Operations and Royalties functions, while building a close, collaborative partnership with the Product Management and AI Editorial leaders
• Build strong working relationships with editorial leadership, technology, finance, legal, external innovators, and research partners
• Provide steady, decisive leadership through periods of change or ambiguity, creating the psychological safety and clarity teams need to experiment and learn
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement across the portfolio
• Build innovation capability across teams through coaching, knowledge sharing, recognition, and access to relevant tools, methods, and expertise

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in product, technology, innovation, or operations leadership roles, ideally within media, publishing, content, or a similarly editorial environment
• Direct experience leading product management and/or AI teams, with a strong grasp of emerging technologies, responsible experimentation, and how AI is applied in practice
• Track record of building innovation portfolios and driving organizational or technology-led transformation from concept and pilot through scaled adoption and measurable value
• Experience leading through senior functional leaders, creating the conditions for cross-functional innovation rather than only managing individual contributors
• Strong executive communication and storytelling skills, including the ability to frame emerging opportunities, make evidence-based investment cases, and work effectively with senior leadership
• Based in or willing to relocate to Zug, Switzerland

Benefits

• Hybrid Work Model: flexible hybrid working environment
• Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: supportive workplace policies, including work from anywhere for up to 8 weeks per year
• Career Development and Growth: culture of continuous learning and skill development
• Industry Competitive Benefits: comprehensive benefit plans, including flexible vacation, Mental Health Days off, access to Headspace app, retirement savings, tuition reimbursement, and employee incentive programs
• Culture: globally recognized, award-winning reputation for inclusion and belonging, flexibility, work-life balance, and more
• Social Impact: opportunities to make an impact in the community, including two paid volunteer days off annually