JOB
Audience Engagement Strategist
Job Type: Full-time
Reports to: Managing Editor
Compensation: $80,000-$100,000
About Vital City
Vital City is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help New York and other cities thrive, becoming safer, healthier and more vital. We publish original commentary, data, research and policy recommendations on a wide variety of topics, including public safety, governance, housing and public space. We’re looking for an Audience Engagement Strategist to help us expand our readership and deepen our relationship with readers — online, on social media and in person.
About the Role
We’re seeking an entrepreneurial Audience Engagement Strategist to lead strategy and execution for audience growth and engagement. This person will shape and execute audience growth and engagement strategies, using audience insights to make strategic recommendations that lead to increased readership and engagement. Necessarily, this person will work closely with the editorial and business sides of Vital City to grow our newsletter subscriber base, increase website traffic, shape our presence on social platforms, and design and support live and virtual events. This position will also help us explore reader revenue opportunities and build a vibrant, mission-aligned community around our work.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage Vital City’s audience growth and loyalty strategy
- Manage and grow Vital City’s flagship newsletter, using a range of innovative methods that may include evolving our current newsletter, launching additional email products
- Improve newsletter open rates and click-through rates
- Lead strategy for increasing traffic to our website, including optimizing our content for search and discovery across platforms.
- Run Vital City’s social media accounts, with an eye toward growing engaged audiences, and make recommendations to leadership on which platforms to focus on
- Create and share content for Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Reddit and other platforms.
- Identify opportunities for cross-promotion, partnerships, and republication that will grow our traffic and audience.
- Track and analyze audience data to help inform editorial strategy, and make data-informed recommendations.
- Explore and test ideas to deepen reader loyalty and support, such as working with leadership to build an online community of regular readers, writers and contributors.
- Help to devise and publicize live and virtual events that bring our audience together.
- Work with leadership to pilot and assess reader revenue strategies such as donations, memberships or paid products.
Qualifications
- 3+ years experience in audience development, digital publishing or related fields.
- Familiarity with email platforms (we currently use Mailchimp and will likely soon transition to Ghost), Google Analytics, and social media management tools.
- Strong writing and editing skills, with an instinct for what resonates with readers.
- Event planning or event promotion experience a plus.
- Familiarity with the New York City political, policy and media landscape a plus (but not essential).
- Self-starter who thrives in a cooperative, small-team environment.
To Apply
Please send a resume, brief cover letter, and samples of or links to relevant work (newsletters, social posts, events, etc.) to info@vitalcitynyc.org with the subject line “Audience Engagement Specialist.”.
