Xpod Studio Director

About the role

You will lead the in-house Xpod Studio team, defining and driving the creative vision and execution for HelloFresh's performance content engine. You will own the end-to-end quality, consistency, and operational discipline of video production across the HelloFresh Group. This role requires you to inspire and develop a high-performing studio team while managing complex relationships with internal Growth and Brand partners. You will be accountable for ensuring every asset meets the highest creative and strategic standards as the Xpod Studio scales. You will champion the integration of AI-assisted workflows to increase efficiency without compromising brand integrity. You will translate channel strategies into compelling, data-informed video content that resonates across diverse markets.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Provide strategic studio leadership by setting performance expectations, developing growth plans, and maintaining a high-performance culture through regular 1:1s and proactive feedback.
• Lead, inspire, and develop the in-house Xpod Studio team of operations, production, and content strategy professionals while managing direct relationships with the Growth team.
• Ensure every asset produced from the Xpod Studio across all channels meets the highest standard and reflects the evolving HelloFresh brands visual identities.
• Drive operational rigour through efficient production planning, in-house content generation, and AI-assisted workflows to meet growing volume and speed demands.
• Deliver Paid Social content that performs to brief, is prioritised by Channel Managers, and meets channel-specific requirements across markets.
• Build and lead a fast, efficient Lean Creative Strategy team focused on Growth initiatives and brand recognition.
• Manage end-to-end production projects across brands and markets, overseeing creative briefing, casting, production directing, and final delivery.
• Establish and continuously improve production workflows, post-shoot assessment processes, and briefing standards to embed operational learning.
• Lead weekly Studio meetings to align on priorities, surface and resolve issues, and maintain clear communication of schedules, resourcing, and budgets.
• Attend weekly Growth meetings to align on performance localisation, track results, and iterate based on channel insights.
• Partner closely with Growth and Brand teams to ensure creative output supports strategic business and campaign objectives.
• Act as the operational backbone for the Xpod performance engine, balancing creative ambition with cost efficiency and brand integrity.
• Champion the adoption of AI-assisted workflows to streamline processes and scale content production responsibly.
• Collaborate internally to align photo and video projects with broader content goals and market-specific needs.
• Ensure the Xpod Studio operates as a high-value, cost-efficient asset that meets increasing content demands across HelloFresh brands.

Requirements

• You are eligible to work in the United States and have the right to work in New York, NY without sponsorship.
• You must reside in New York, NY, or be willing to relocate to New York, NY immediately for this role.
• You must have at least 7 years of relevant experience in video content production, creative direction, or studio leadership.
• You must have direct team management experience leading at least 5 professionals in a creative or production environment.
• You must demonstrate a proven track record of delivering high-quality video content at scale under tight deadlines.
• You must have strong knowledge of Paid Social content performance and channel-specific best practices.
• You must be fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• You must have experience working with global brands and adapting content for multiple markets.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI-assisted video and content production workflows.
• Background in performance marketing and data-driven creative decision-making.
• Familiarity with meal kit, food, or consumer packaged goods categories.
• Experience managing cross-functional partnerships with Growth and Brand teams.

Practical notes

This role is based in New York, NY, and requires physical presence in the office. Travel is not expected as part of this role. The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Hiring decisions will be made on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly encouraged.