Colorado Community Media is hiring a Director of Audience Development to lead digital content and amplification strategy and execution. The ideal candidate ensures that we deliver first-rate and innovative storytelling through proven digital techniques and that we use analytics to inform content and deepen engagement. This is a leadership role that blends journalism with marketing and development efforts; you must be comfortable working through traditional walls. Works with our Circulation Department to attract a targeted audience through search, social, email and emerging direct digital reach efforts. Engages and converts online readers to newsletter / email subscribers, social fans / followers or ad buyers. Maximizes audience retention rate for newsletters, social communities, strong website metrics.

We’re a small news organization, but we have mighty aspirations and we’re looking for folks who want to grow along with us. Here’s what we’re hoping you’ll do — or learn to do: 

• Content Strategy: Coordinates with Editorial Department on setting the editorial direction for digital products with a specific content plan. The digital editorial direction should blend optimized online-only content with traditional news/feature stories — in short, a content mix that meets the preferences of our communities. 
• SEO: Ensures content is optimized for organic search, through own efforts as well as in mentoring the staff on best practices. 
• Journalism: Demonstrates sound editorial judgment, including an understanding of institutional guidelines on ethics, tone and subject matter. 
• Social: Ensures content is optimized for social and mentors the staff on social best practices. 
• Direct Digital Reach: Plans and executes on plans to launch email newsletters, text message campaigns, and tests new ways to reach readers and customers directly. 
• Data analysis: Lives and breathes metrics or is excited to learn how to use data to guide decision making. 
• Product Innovation: Stays in tune with emerging digital trends and experiments rapidly in the digital space. Shares findings with others through staff messaging, meetings and webinars.
• Sales Support: Collaborates with the sales team to ensure nontraditional sales opportunities and native content opportunities are maximized to benefit the online audiences and the clients. Helps identify new sales opportunities in the digital space as needed. 
• Marketing Support: Collaborates on branding / circulation / event efforts to ensure these efforts meet the needs of the online community and maximize the property’s value. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in interactive media, journalism, communications or marketing, with a passion to bring good storytelling to a digital audience.
• Experience with digital strategy, including search, email marketing, digital content publishing and social media.
• Experience using tools such as Parse.ly and Google Analytics to make content decisions.
• Ability to communicate quickly, with excellent writing and message development skills.
• Must have strong attention to detail.
• Experience training colleagues on digital skills and techniques.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We’re committed to building an inclusive organization that represents the people and communities we serve. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply through LinkedIn Jobs with a packet that includes a cover letter, resume and three references. Or, you can email your application packet to lshapley (at) coloradocommunitymedia.com using “Director of Audience Development” in the subject line. Phone or in-person applications will not be accepted. The application deadline for this position is one month after the posting date of this announcement.