Description

Title of Position: Audience Growth Manager
Reports To: General Manager
Position Type: 1-year Full-Time Contract Employee with Potential to Extend
Location: Remote; Word In Black works on Eastern Time; 4-6 weeks of travel Compensation: $75,000-$85,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Health, dental, generous PTO, 401K, technology stipend
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Audience Growth Manager will be instrumental in scaling Word In Black and WIB’s ten publishers’ first-party data ecosystem while amplifying our brand reach and deepening community connections with organizations serving Black audiences nationwide. This role is ideal for an audience development strategist with proven expertise in newsletter growth, membership programs, and sophisticated engagement tactics that convert audiences into loyal community members while capturing valuable first-party data. You’ll collaborate directly with publisher partners to launch innovative, values-driven initiatives that resonate with Black communities, establishing measurable growth benchmarks and KPIs. We’re seeking a relationship-building strategist with deep audience development experience who thrives on community empowerment and data-driven innovation.

 
Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive audience development strategies at the market level, leveraging proven newsletter optimization, membership growth tactics, and engagement frameworks in partnership with Word In Black publishers.
• Build strategic partnerships with mission-aligned community organizations, nonprofits, and influencers that authentically serve Black communities.
• Drive exponential first-party data growth through sophisticated audience development methods including newsletter conversion funnels, tiered membership models, lead magnets, community activations, event-driven sign-ups, contests, surveys and co-branded content strategies.
• Execute market-specific travel to build authentic relationships with local partners and identify high-impact engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with the Audience Data Analyst to optimize market-level audience KPIs, develop advanced segmentation strategies, and create comprehensive performance reporting frameworks.
• Spearhead market-specific campaigns that capitalize on cultural moments, community priorities, and local engagement opportunities using audience development best practices.
• Enhance branded partnerships and advertiser initiatives by connecting them to robust audience engagement metrics, membership data insights, and demonstrated local impact.
• Create and deliver strategic progress reports featuring audience growth insights, engagement learnings, and data-driven recommendations for internal teams and external stakeholders.

Impact & Measurement

• Strategically map markets and establish high-value partnerships with community-based organizations
• Achieve significant increases in market-level newsletter subscribers, membership sign-ups, event RSVPs, and diverse first-party data collection points
• Drive measurable growth in audience engagement metrics including newsletter open rates, click-through rates, membership retention, and conversion funnels
• Generate compelling local activation success stories and quantifiable brand awareness gains across target markets
• Establish and exceed quarterly KPIs and growth benchmarks directly tied to comprehensive audience development objectives

Requirements

Must-Have Skills & Strengths

• Proven audience development expertise with demonstrated success in newsletter growth, membership program development, and first-party data collection strategies
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills that build trust, inspire action, and convert audiences into engaged community members
• Strong relationship-building abilities with publishers, community partners, brands, and diverse stakeholder groups
• Deep understanding of audience engagement tactics specifically effective for Black communities, including culturally relevant content strategies and community-building approaches
• Entrepreneurial mindset with passion for innovative problem-solving and audience growth experimentation
• Hands-on experience managing market-level outreach, audience development campaigns, and measurable audience growth initiatives
• Analytical expertise and collaborative approach to working with data analysts for performance tracking and optimization

Preferred Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years in audience development, newsletter growth, membership programs, or community engagement with quantifiable results in growing and retaining audiences
• Experience working with newsrooms, media startups, nonprofit organizations, or mission-driven brands focused on audience development
• Proficiency with CRM systems, email marketing platforms, audience segmentation tools, and growth marketing tactics including A/B testing and conversion optimization
• Prior experience with Black-led organizations, Black culture-focused media initiatives, or culturally-specific audience development strategies
• Demonstrated success with membership models, subscription growth, or community-building programs that generate first-party data
• Comfort with travel and in-person engagement across multiple U.S. markets to build authentic community connections