Head of Audience Strategy Job at Star Tribune in Minneapolis

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 157-year legacy. With seven Pulitzer Prizes and numerous other accolades, we stand as a beacon of journalistic excellence in Minnesota. Together, we are the heart and voice of the North.

Our mission is to build a better Minnesota by connecting us with the people, ideas, and stories that strengthen our communities. We're seeking dynamic leaders who are passionate about journalism and democracy to help shape this future. If you are excited about reinventing one of our state's most trusted institutions and leading us into a new era of growth and excellence, we want to hear from you.

Job Summary :

The Minnesota Star Tribune is seeking a collaborative, digital visionary to expand and lead a new Audience department to help drive our newsroom and company to build the leading model for local news in America. This executive leader will oversee a talented and creative group of journalists and audience experts dedicated to growing our subscriber base and deepening engagement with our audience. The team sits at the center of our organization's most exciting ambitions. Every day, it ensures our essential journalism, distinctive stories and projects are showcased, elevated and distributed across our platforms in formats that resonate with and delight our audience.

The role is also deep in the data, using analytics to drive new strategies and uncover new opportunities to expand our reach. That work is cross-functional, at times partnering with consumer growth, brand marketing, and product in search of new ways to expand our audience.

This leader will serve on the newsroom's senior leadership team, reporting directly to the editor.

Beyond advising on mobile and desktop programming and promotion, the audience team also oversees community engagement strategy, including newsletters and social media, SEO, analytics and more. It champions digital- and audience-focused storytelling, helping lead our newsroom's work in such areas as audio and video, service journalism and nontraditional story forms. The team also trains the company in digital and audience development best practices and will partner with content teams to support and optimize journalism for our audience.

The right leader for our team might come from any number of backgrounds, but will possess a mix of these skills and attributes :

• Experience building, leading and mentoring talented and motivated teams.
• Demonstrated understanding of modern audience development best practices, both on- and off-platform. This includes SEO, social promotion, newsletters and alerts, etc.
• Experience using audience data from tools like Google Analytics and Chartbeat to inform strategic decisions.
• Strong news judgment with the skill and confidence to make smart decisions in line with our standards in a host of settings, including breaking news.
• A demonstrated ability to build consensus and bring others along in service of a shared vision in a cross-functional environment with varying levels of understanding and expertise.
• A track record of innovation around digital storytelling and audience growth.
• Enthusiasm for ensuring the sustainability of local news, and an ability to collaborate with departments including product, technology and advertising - areas where our commercial and journalistic interests align.
• A positive attitude, and optimism that the best days for our organization are ahead.

As with most local news organizations, we know our future depends on our ability to grow and serve our digital subscribers. As a key member of our leadership team, this leader will be a critical voice in those efforts, both in the newsroom and across the company.

Key Responsibilities :

To Apply :

Please submit your resume along with a letter or memo outlining a vision for how you would approach this role, including any ideas, priorities and questions you might have. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom, and we encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.

Salary / Wage Range :

$130,000 - $150,000 / year

Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. The Minnesota Star Tribune offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401(K) match, healthcare coverage - medical, dental, and vision, life, disability, paid time off, and a broad range of other benefits. Learn more at benefits.startribunecompany.com

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.