Chief Marketing Officer

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 Team 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.
6. 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.
7. Vision:
   An ability to articulate and execute a marketing and comms vision for Chicago Public Media to internal and external stakeholders.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Technology:
    A high level of competency with technology and an aptitude for mastering new technology.

Qualifications

1. Proven experience in a senior marketing role, preferably within the media or publishing industry.
2. In-depth understanding of subscription marketing, recurring revenue business models, and subscriber acquisition methods.
3. Demonstrated success in direct mail, email marketing, paid media, and paid social campaigns.
4. Strong expertise in pricing and packaging strategies.
5. Exceptional leadership and team management skills.
6. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
7. Strategic thinker with a passion for brand building and market positioning.

All inquiries will be held in confidence.

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