Manager, Awards - CNN
Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.
Who We Are…
When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
We are the now and the next. The power behind the people building the future. We are born from the spirit of innovation. We are created from the idea that people around the world want more, need more, deserve more. We are the home of the global digital revolution. We are CNN.
To see what it’s like to work at CNN, follow @WBDLife on Instagram and X!
Your New Role…
The Awards Manager oversees CNN Worldwide's awards program from strategy through execution, managing approximately 150 annual submissions across high-profile journalism, documentary, digital and industry competitions, including the News & Documentary Emmys, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards, Peabody Awards, George Polk Awards, Webbys, Overseas Press Club Awards and more. This role partners across CNN Worldwide (including News-gathering, U.S. Programming on TV and Streaming, CNN International, CNN Digital Products & Services, CNN Originals and CNN PR) to develop competitive submissions, manage award campaigns and represent CNN with major awards organizations.
Your Role Accountabilities…
Lead CNN's annual awards strategy and execution across approximately 150 competitions, managing the process from eligibility review and submission through nominations, ceremonies and post-awards communications.
Partner with editorial leadership to develop submission strategies, recommend competitive categories and identify the strongest entries across CNN Worldwide programming.
Develop expertise in awards rules, eligibility requirements and category strategy to ensure submissions are competitive, accurate and compliant, serving as a trusted resource on awards strategy across CNN Worldwide.
Manage all aspects of the submission process, including entry forms, editorial materials, video clips, photography, supporting documentation and required assets while meeting firm external deadlines.
Partner with editorial, production and communications teams to identify competitive submissions and gather supporting materials.
Exercise strong judgment in evaluating eligibility, interpreting competition rules and making recommendations on submission and crediting decisions in consultation with editorial, production, communications and legal partners.
Complete accurate submissions in accordance with eligibility requirements and manage all supporting materials, including video clips, photography, production credits, and required documentation while meeting firm external deadlines.
Gather, organize and produce nomination and submission materials, including editing clip packages and coordinating supporting assets.
Serve as CNN's primary liaison with awards organizations, maintaining strong relationships and resolving eligibility, credit and submission questions.
Manage and maintain the awards budget tracker across all projects, ensuring accurate and up-to-date visibility into project costs, commitments and overall budget status.
Lead ceremony logistics, including nominee communications, executive attendance, publicist coordination, credentials and red-carpet planning.
Partner with Communications, Marketing and Production teams to support awards events, including talent participation, promotional materials and industry outreach.
Create and maintain awards calendars, submission trackers, voter databases and historical records to support long-term planning and campaign execution.
Draft and distribute timely, accurate communications announcing nominations, wins and awards-related updates for internal and external audiences.
Maintain comprehensive programming calendars and production records to support eligibility tracking and future submissions.
Collaborate with the Warner Bros. Discovery Awards team to align on enterprise initiatives, best practices and corporate opportunities.
Your Qualifications & Experience…
5+ years experience
Exceptionally organized, thorough and detail-oriented, with a commitment to accuracy and quality.
Proven ability to manage a high volume of concurrent projects while balancing competing priorities and meeting hard external deadlines.
Self-motivated and dependable, with the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams and departments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with senior executives, editorial leaders, external partners and awards organizations.
Highly adaptable and comfortable navigating evolving programming priorities, awards criteria and submission requirements.
Demonstrated ability to remain calm under pressure, manage sensitive situations with discretion and build productive relationships across a variety of personalities.
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and holidays on a seasonal basis to support submission deadlines, nominations and awards ceremonies.
Experience in the entertainment, news or media industry is required; experience managing awards programs or campaigns is strongly preferred.
How We Get Things Done…
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.
In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $74,986.00 - $139,260.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.