Arena Careers

Director of Product Growth & Partnerships

Who We Are

At Courier Newsroom, we empower individuals and communities through local reporting that helps people understand and affect the issues impacting their lives. We believe that by investing in the work of local journalists across the country, we can positively impact civic participation and build a healthier democracy from the ground up. Through original reporting and human-focused storytelling, we highlight the issues and forces that shape our lives while calling attention to the impacts of policy-making and political action at the local level.

COURIER Newsroom is committed to building an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We strongly encourage women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those from all backgrounds to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to break down barriers and ensure every team member feels seen, heard, and supported.

Position Overview

The Director of Product Growth & Partnerships is a senior leader responsible for scaling Courier’s audience reach, deepening mission-aligned partnerships, and strengthening the performance of our state-based products. This role combines product innovation, and data-driven insights to grow Courier’s impact and sustainability.

The Director will lead cross-functional collaboration between editorial, product, marketing, and partnerships teams, ensuring that Courier’s journalism is amplified, accessible, and influential. This role requires strong strategic vision, operational rigor, and a passion for leveraging local news to strengthen democracy.

Key Responsibilities

Product Leadership & Growth

• Oversee the development, launch, and growth of state newsroom products from pilot to execution.
• Build and maintain growth and engagement trackers for all new products, providing data-driven insights to guide decision-making.
• Lead keyword research, audience sizing, and market analysis to support new product pitches.
  Partner with marketing and product teams to build newsletter infrastructure (landing pages, gates, welcome emails).
• Ensure op-eds and partner content are properly integrated, tagged, and promoted across products.
  Drive cross-channel performance reporting and deliver regular product check-ins and strategic updates for leadership.
• Map user journeys across platforms to improve audience experience and retention.
  
  

Strategic Leadership

• Set clear goals and KPIs, ensuring alignment with Courier’s editorial, product, and growth strategies.
• Facilitate skill-building in product data analysis, audience insights, and partnership strategy across organizers.
• Champion innovation by piloting new tactics with in-state partners, measuring outcomes, and scaling successes.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the bridge between product teams, and HQ leadership to ensure cohesion and efficiency.
• Partner with social and marketing teams to drive growth through paid, owned, and earned channels.
• Oversee collaborative systems (calendars, trackers, Asana boards) to ensure smooth operations and reporting.
• Support content sourcing and distribution strategies that tie together partnerships, products, and audience growth.
  
  

Impact Tracking & Insights

• Develop systems to track and document Courier’s impact, including:
  • Policy changes influenced by coverage.
  • Community actions sparked by reporting.
  • Narrative shifts in other media following Courier’s reporting.
• Provide weekly and quarterly insights decks that surface growth opportunities and product learnings.
• Proactively gather and share audience insights across teams to inform content and growth strategies.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in product growth, audience development, or partnerships—ideally in media, journalism, or mission-driven digital organizations.
• Proven track record launching and scaling digital products or audience initiatives using data and performance insights.
• Strong understanding of analytics and reporting tools (e.g., GA4, Looker Studio, or similar).
  Skilled at cross-functional collaboration across editorial, marketing, and tech teams.
• Excellent communicator and project manager with the ability to turn strategy into execution.
• Deep commitment to Courier’s mission and a passion for using local news to strengthen democracy.