Chief Marketing Officer

About Chicago Public Media

Home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media is the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times serve more than 2 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to become the essential and most trusted news source that Chicago turns to each day for understanding the people, events, and ideas that shape our community.

WBEZ is home to local and national news programming as well as a growing portfolio of popular podcasts. WBEZ serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information, and its award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. WBEZ is supported by more than 86,000 members, hundreds of corporate sponsors and major donors. In 2022, WBEZ received more than 20 awards for its journalism, including two prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Chicago Sun-Times is Chicago’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper serving Chicago and is known for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, timely behind-the-scenes sports analysis, and insightful entertainment and cultural coverage. Chicago Sun-Times is the winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes and countless other awards.  In recent years, the Sun-Times has focused on a digital transformation to deliver its news and content to a growing digital audience. Most recently, the Sun-Times dropped the paywall on suntimes.com to expand access to its journalism, and shifted to a community-funded digital membership program supported by voluntary member donations. 

Chicago Public Media believes independent journalism is essential to a well-functioning democracy and access to fact-based, objective news and information is a right of every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse, compelling content that informs, inspires, and enriches. We connect diverse audiences and help them make a difference in the community, the region and the world.  And, we employ 300+ staff who want to belong to an organization that inspires, supports, and challenges them to do their best work.

For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.

The Opportunity

Chicago Public Media (CPM) is seeking an experienced and dynamic Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to lead and oversee the marketing, circulation, and membership efforts for the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. This role is pivotal in driving member and subscriber growth, retention, and engagement while managing a diverse marketing team and the head of internal and external communications.

Responsibilities

1. Circulation and Membership Oversight:
• Develop and execute strategies to increase and retain the Chicago Sun-Times circulation and WBEZ membership base, currently comprising 130,000 members and subscribers.
• Manage and optimize single-copy sales for the Chicago Sun-Times.
2. Subscriber Acquisition and Retention:
• Implement sophisticated subscription marketing and recurring revenue business models.
• Utilize direct mail, email marketing, paid media, and paid social channels for subscriber acquisition.
• Develop pricing and packaging strategies to enhance subscriber value and drive revenue growth.
3. Marketing Leadership:
• Oversee the marketing team, providing direction, mentorship, and support to achieve strategic goals.
• Guide brand building, brand identity, and strategic positioning initiatives to strengthen the CPM brand portfolio.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive and effective marketing campaigns.
4. Communication Management:
• Lead the head of internal and external communications to ensure clear, consistent, and compelling messaging across all platforms.
• Foster strong relationships with media, stakeholders, and the community to enhance CPM’s visibility and reputation.
5. Leadership
• Team-building: recruiting, training, managing, and nurturing marketing and comms staff through goal setting, mentorship, evaluation, and recognition. Deep experience as a visible and effective leader and the ability to recognize and nurture talent while building and retaining a successful team.
•  Advisor: acting as a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and contributing as a member of the leadership team on the development and implementation of strategic marketing and brand-building campaigns and membership growth

Desired Traits 

• Passion: a passion for public media and a commitment to the belief that a shared, independent, and trusted public media space remains central to an effective and informed democracy. 
• Marketing and Comms Leadership: Leading and thriving in all marketing, communications, and membership growth and sustainability.
• Vision: An ability to articulate and execute a marketing and comms vision for Chicago Public Media to internal and external stakeholders;   
• Communication: The ability to communicate clearly and effectively to diverse audiences internally and externally as an advocate for public media and Chicago Public Media’s objectives and goals.
• Cultural competency: A high level of cultural competency and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace expressed in both approach and experience.
• Collaborative: A desire to work as a team member, work across internal and external stakeholders, and strategically partner with and support the CEO, Board of Directors, other leaders, and the development team in identifying marketing opportunities and strategies.  
• Technology: A high level of competency with technology and an aptitude for mastering new technology.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior marketing role, preferably within the media or publishing industry.
• In-depth understanding of subscription marketing, recurring revenue business models, and subscriber acquisition methods.

• Demonstrated success in direct mail, email marketing, paid media, and paid social campaigns.
• Strong expertise in pricing and packaging strategies.
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Strategic thinker with a passion for brand building and market positioning.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

To apply for this position, visit: Chief Marketing Officer, Chicago Public Media. 

To nominate a candidate, please contact:  Leonor Ayala Polley: [email protected].

All inquiries will be held in confidence.

Working at Chicago Public Media

At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.  Our culture is one where collaboration, ideas, and innovation are encouraged.  We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, diverse experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

Chicago Public Media’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion is reflective across our brands, WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo 91.1 FM, in our staff and in our work.  We are fully focused on equality of opportunity and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, experience, and all other fascinating characteristics that make us different.

At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for you at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include:

• 6 weeks fully paid family leave
• High quality Medical, Dental, and Vision plans at an affordable cost
• A 403(b)retirement plan with a company match
• Generous paid time off, including starting with 3 weeks’ vacation and 4 personal days.

The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and may change periodically to meet the needs of Chicago Public Media (CPM). The information contained in this job description is not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.

Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.