Senior Staff Product Designer, Content Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Staff Product Designer, Content Design

Company: Warner Bros. Discovery

Location: New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; Washington, DC

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Content Design / Product Design

Date Posted: May 20, 2026

Experience Level: Senior Staff (10+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the user experience and product performance for CNN's digital platforms (mobile, web, CTV) through expert content design and strategy.

• Leverage data, experimentation, and audience insights to create compelling messaging and user flows that measurably enhance acquisition, activation, retention, and conversion.

• Lead the development and implementation of content standards, guidelines, and systems to ensure consistency and quality across all digital touchpoints.

• Partner closely with Growth, Product Marketing, Editorial, Design, and Engineering teams to champion content design best practices and their impact on business objectives.

• Mentor junior designers and educate cross-functional partners on the strategic value of content design in achieving user engagement and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Senior Staff" level, indicating a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and potential for leadership within the Product Design and Growth teams. The emphasis on "content design" combined with "product marketing" and "growth" strongly suggests a focus on data-driven user acquisition and engagement strategies, rather than purely editorial content. The required tools like Figma and the focus on "content systems" and "messaging frameworks" further reinforce this.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and refine messaging frameworks, value propositions, and content systems to enhance user comprehension, engagement, and conversion rates across CNN's digital products.

• Translate complex product requirements and business goals into clear, concise, and strategically aligned content that resonates with target audiences.

• Collaborate extensively with Product Design, Growth, Product Marketing, Editorial, and Engineering teams to ensure cohesive and effective messaging throughout the user journey.

• Lead brainstorming, naming, and ideation sessions to uncover new growth opportunities grounded in user needs and business objectives.

• Create and maintain scalable copy patterns, content guidelines, and design systems that enable consistent, high-quality user experiences across CNN's diverse digital platforms.

• Champion the discipline of content design by mentoring junior designers and fostering a deeper understanding of content's impact on user experience and product performance among cross-functional stakeholders.

• Manage content design projects from initial concept through final execution, ensuring timely delivery and seamless collaboration across teams.

• Utilize user insights, growth data, and A/B testing results to inform content strategy and drive continuous optimization of user-facing communication.

• Ensure all content aligns with CNN's brand voice, editorial standards, and overall business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: strategic content development for growth (acquisition, retention, conversion) and operationalizing content design through systems, guidelines, and mentorship. This is typical for senior roles in fast-paced digital product environments where content plays a critical role in user acquisition and retention metrics.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Communications, Marketing, English, or a related field is typically expected for this level. Advanced degrees or specialized certifications in UX/Content Design are a plus.

Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in content design, product marketing, and content strategy, with a focus on digital product development.

Required Skills:

• Content Design & Strategy: Deep expertise in crafting user-centered content for digital products, including UX writing, microcopy, and long-form content. Ability to develop comprehensive content strategies that align with business goals.

• Product Marketing & Growth: Proven experience in using content to drive acquisition, activation, retention, and conversion. Understanding of growth metrics and experimentation.

• Messaging Frameworks & Systems: Proficiency in developing and implementing messaging frameworks, value propositions, and scalable content systems.

• Strategic Thinking & Problem-Solving: Ability to independently make strategic content decisions based on business goals, user needs, and data insights. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership: Demonstrated success in partnering with and influencing design, product, engineering, marketing, and editorial teams.

• Figma Proficiency: Deep experience and expertise in using Figma for content creation, prototyping, and design system development.

• Mentorship & Guidance: Experience in mentoring junior designers and educating cross-functional partners on content design best practices.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and data analysis tools to inform content decisions.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) and their impact on content delivery.

• Understanding of SEO principles as they relate to content strategy.

• Experience in a media or news organization.

• Knowledge of user research methodologies and how to apply them to content design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Figma" as a required tool is significant. The emphasis on "growth data," "experimentation results," and "acquisition, activation, retention, and conversion" positions this as a product-focused role rather than a traditional editorial content role, requiring a blend of creative writing and analytical skills. The "Senior Staff" title implies a need for strategic leadership and mentorship capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your expertise in content design for digital products, with a strong emphasis on growth outcomes.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role and contributions, the strategic approach taken, the content solutions developed, and the measurable impact (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user engagement, reduced churn).

• Highlight examples of how you've used data, user insights, and experimentation to inform your content decisions and optimize user flows.

• Include examples of messaging frameworks, content systems, or style guides you have developed and implemented.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you've documented content processes, established content guidelines, or built scalable content systems.

• Showcase your ability to translate complex requirements into clear, actionable content deliverables.

• Illustrate your collaboration process with cross-functional teams, including how you handle feedback and iterative development.

• Demonstrate how you've mentored or guided other team members in content design practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Staff role, the portfolio is critical. It must go beyond simply showcasing design work to demonstrating a strategic, data-driven approach to content design that directly impacts business objectives like growth and user engagement. The ability to articulate process and impact is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $154,000 - $286,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.

• Employee wellness program.

• Life insurance.

• Disability insurance.

• Retirement savings plan.

• Paid holidays.

• Sick time.

• Vacation time.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (40 hours per week) are expected, with flexibility potentially available depending on project needs and team agreements, though the role is designated as on-site.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, reflecting the "Senior Staff" level and the potential for significant variation based on experience, location within the listed metro areas, and specific negotiation. The benefits package is standard for a large, established media and entertainment company like Warner Bros. Discovery. The designation as "On-site" implies that remote work is not the primary arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment, Digital Content, News. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is a global leader in creating and distributing premium content across all genres and platforms. The CNN division specifically focuses on delivering breaking news and in-depth analysis.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 10,000 employees globally). This implies a structured environment with established processes, extensive resources, and opportunities for specialized career development.

Founded: Warner Bros. Discovery was formed in April 2022 through the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. CNN itself has a long history dating back to 1980. This blend of established legacy and recent integration suggests a dynamic environment that values both tradition and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the Product Design team, with close partnerships with Growth and Product Marketing teams. This suggests a highly collaborative, cross-functional structure focused on driving product performance and user acquisition.

• The team is likely composed of various design disciplines (UX/UI, Content Design, Research) and marketing specialists, all working towards shared product and growth objectives.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong emphasis on using consumer insights, growth data, and experimentation results to inform product and content strategies.

• User-Centered Design: Focus on understanding user needs and translating them into intuitive and engaging digital experiences.

• Agile/Iterative Development: Likely follows agile methodologies, involving cross-functional teams working in sprints to develop and refine products, with content design being an integral part of this cycle.

• Content Systems & Standards: Commitment to establishing and maintaining consistent content guidelines and scalable systems to ensure brand integrity and user experience quality.

Company Website: https://www.wbd.com/ and https://www.cnn.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture at WBD, particularly within CNN, is likely fast-paced and focused on delivering high-quality, timely content. The integration of "Growth" and "Product Marketing" into the core responsibilities of a Product Designer signals a strong performance-oriented culture where design directly contributes to business metrics.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Staff Product Designer, Content Design. This level signifies a high degree of expertise, strategic influence, and leadership potential. The individual is expected to operate with significant autonomy, tackle complex challenges, and mentor others. In a "Growth" focused context, this means driving significant impact on key business metrics.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Product Design team, with a matrixed reporting or strong collaborative relationship with Growth and Product Marketing. This structure allows for deep product design expertise to be applied to specific growth initiatives.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on user acquisition, activation, retention, and conversion for CNN's digital products. By crafting effective messaging and user flows, the Senior Staff Content Designer directly influences user engagement, subscriber growth, and revenue generation. The role also impacts internal efficiency by developing scalable content systems and educating other teams.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in content strategy, growth design, or specific platform design (e.g., CTV).

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into Lead Content Designer, Group Product Design Manager, or similar leadership roles, managing teams and broader product portfolios.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to transition into Product Marketing, Growth Strategy, or senior editorial roles within WBD.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping content design best practices within the media industry.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership and coaching skills through mentoring junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Staff" designation implies a career path that emphasizes strategic contribution and influence rather than pure individual execution. Growth opportunities are likely to involve increasing scope of responsibility, leadership, and specialization within the high-impact areas of product growth and user engagement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. This role requires working from one of the specified WBD office locations (New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; or Washington, DC).

Office Location(s):

• New York, NY (30 Hudson Yards)

• Atlanta, GA

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: WBD offices are designed to foster collaboration, with open workspaces, meeting rooms, and common areas. The role's emphasis on partnering with multiple teams means frequent interaction with designers, product managers, marketers, and editorial staff.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), collaboration tools, and potentially WBD's proprietary systems. High-speed internet and modern office infrastructure are expected.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and project-specific syncs are integral to the workflow.

Work Schedule: Typically 40 hours per week, with standard business hours. However, given the nature of digital media and news, there may be occasional needs to respond to urgent product launches or critical events, requiring flexibility. The on-site requirement suggests a structured daily presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor. Candidates should be prepared for a traditional office-based work environment, which can facilitate spontaneous collaboration and team building but offers less flexibility than remote or hybrid arrangements.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Screening: Initial review of resume and portfolio for alignment with required skills and experience.

2. Recruiter Screen: A call with a recruiter to discuss your background, interest in the role, and basic qualifications.

3. Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely a Director or Senior Lead) focusing on your experience, strategic thinking, and fit with the team.

4. Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A session where you present your portfolio, detailing case studies and your approach. This may also include a take-home design challenge or an on-the-spot problem-solving exercise related to content design for growth. Expect questions about your process, decision-making, and impact.

5. Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product, Marketing, Editorial, and Engineering to assess collaboration skills and understanding of their perspectives.

6. Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., VP of Product or Design) for final evaluation and cultural fit assessment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly quantify the results of your content design work. Use metrics like conversion lift, engagement increase, or user satisfaction improvements.

• Showcase Strategy: Articulate the strategic thinking behind your design decisions. Explain why you chose a particular approach, messaging, or system.

• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with other teams, managed feedback, and integrated different perspectives.

• Detail Your Process: Explain your end-to-end process, from research and ideation to execution and iteration. Use tools like Figma to illustrate your workflow.

• Tailor to Growth: Emphasize how your content design directly contributed to growth objectives (acquisition, retention, conversion).

• Be Concise but Thorough: Present your best work, but be prepared to dive deep into any aspect of your projects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Familiarize yourself with CNN's digital products, target audience, and business goals, particularly in the news and content consumption space.

• Practice Growth Scenarios: Prepare to tackle challenges related to user acquisition, onboarding, engagement loops, or driving specific user actions.

• Articulate Your "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind every design decision, linking it back to user needs and business objectives.

• Figma Readiness: Ensure you are proficient and can quickly demonstrate your skills in Figma for prototyping and content implementation.

• Communication is Key: Practice clear, concise communication, especially when explaining complex ideas or defending your design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate not just design skills but also strategic thinking, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration, all critical for a Senior Staff role focused on growth. The portfolio presentation is a key component where candidates must prove their impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory for all aspects of design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to use it extensively for creating content layouts, flows, and contributing to design systems.

• Collaboration Suites: Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace for communication and team coordination.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking tasks, sprints, and project progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (or similar) for understanding user behavior, traffic sources, and conversion funnels.

• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize, or internal A/B testing frameworks for experimenting with content variations.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboards to analyze performance metrics and present findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM, understanding how content design impacts CRM data and user segmentation is beneficial. Experience with marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot) might be a plus for understanding user journey automation.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Familiarity with CMS platforms used for publishing digital content is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as a required tool is crucial. Proficiency in analytics and A/B testing platforms is also highly valued, underscoring the data-driven nature of this role. Familiarity with the broader MarTech stack, even if not directly hands-on, will be beneficial for understanding how content integrates into the user journey.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Storytelling: At the heart of CNN and WBD is a drive to innovate in how stories are told and consumed, blending editorial integrity with cutting-edge digital experiences.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A strong emphasis on working together across departments (Design, Product, Marketing, Editorial, Engineering) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Impact: Decisions are informed by data, user insights, and experimentation to ensure effectiveness and measurable results.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality content and user experiences that meet rigorous standards.

• User-Centricity: A deep understanding and focus on the needs and behaviors of the audience.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect to work closely with diverse teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate technical and creative concepts across disciplines.

• Feedback & Iteration: A culture that values constructive feedback and iterative development to continuously improve products and content.

• Shared Ownership: A sense of collective responsibility for product success, where everyone contributes to achieving growth and engagement targets.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Senior members are expected to guide and share their expertise, fostering a learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a blend of journalistic integrity from CNN with the innovation and performance-driven mindset of a large digital media company. Collaboration is key, and the expectation is that design directly contributes to business outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Editorial Excellence with Growth Metrics: Navigating the inherent tension between journalistic standards and the need to drive user acquisition and conversion through content.

• Scale and Complexity: Managing content design across multiple platforms (web, mobile, CTV) with diverse user bases and technical constraints.

• Rapidly Evolving Digital Landscape: Staying ahead of trends in content consumption, digital products, and user expectations.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent messaging and user experience across numerous teams with potentially competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Growth Design: Deepen expertise in growth methodologies, experimentation, and data analysis techniques specific to user acquisition and retention.

• Platform Specialization: Develop specialized skills in designing for emerging platforms like Connected TV (CTV).

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in managing projects, mentoring teams, and influencing product strategy at a senior level.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and engage with leaders in digital media and product design.

• Cross-Departmental Understanding: Gain a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of product marketing, editorial operations, and engineering within a large media organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers the chance to tackle complex challenges at the intersection of media, technology, and growth. The learning opportunities are geared towards developing into a seasoned leader within the product design and growth space.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used data and experimentation to significantly improve a product's key growth metrics through content design. What was your process?"

• "How would you approach developing a messaging framework for a new CNN digital feature aimed at increasing subscriber retention?"

• "Imagine we're launching a new interactive news format. How would you ensure the content design supports both user engagement and our business objectives?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Warner Bros. Discovery and CNN's mission? How do you see content design contributing to that mission?"

• "How do you approach collaborating with Product Marketing and Growth teams? What are the key communication strategies you employ?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly state the problem, your role, your strategic approach, the solution (content examples), and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use specific numbers and percentages to demonstrate the success of your work.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files to illustrate your design process, system thinking, and attention to detail.

• Connect to Growth: Explicitly link your design choices to the business and user growth objectives.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, trade-offs considered, and any challenges encountered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interview questions that probe your strategic thinking, data literacy, collaborative capabilities, and understanding of how content design drives business outcomes. Prepare specific examples from your portfolio that address these areas.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Staff Product Designer, Content Design position:

• Submit your application through the Warner Bros. Discovery careers portal using the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 3-5 case studies that directly showcase your experience in content design for growth, user acquisition, retention, and conversion. Highlight your strategic approach and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 10+ years of experience in content design, product marketing, and content strategy, using keywords from the job description (e.g., "messaging frameworks," "content systems," "Figma," "growth data," "experimentation"). Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your case studies, focusing on your process, strategic rationale, and the outcomes achieved. Prepare to answer questions about your experience with Figma, data-driven design, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's digital products, and their current business objectives. Understand their approach to content and growth to better tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.