📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Subscriber Acquisition Marketing
🔹 Company: The Washington Post
🔹 Location: DC-Washington-TWP Headquarters, Washington, DC
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: July 4, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing global subscriber acquisition strategies
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize growth efforts
- Managing acquisition forecasts and budgets
- Leading and developing a team of performance marketing managers and specialists
- Driving data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and proven leadership experience in performance marketing to drive substantial growth in the subscriber base.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the development and execution of comprehensive strategies to enhance brand awareness, increase customer consideration, and drive global subscriber acquisition, ensuring alignment with performance metrics and exceeding budget targets.
✅ Manage acquisition forecasts and achieve set budgets for registrations, starts, terminations, and revenue, leveraging data insights to optimize growth efforts.
✅ Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering to develop and own a robust testing roadmap aimed at optimizing acquisition growth and customer engagement.
✅ Direct the management of biddable media campaigns and ad accounts across multiple platforms, ensuring maximum ROI and efficient budget allocation.
✅ Refine A/B testing strategies to continuously optimize messaging, channel selection, and offer personalization, driving higher conversion rates.
✅ Partner with Product teams on enhancing registration products, dynamic wall strategies, and global pricing initiatives to support strategic goals and customer engagement.
✅ Oversee marketing processes, timelines, and creative development, ensuring all campaigns adhere to governance standards and deliver on strategic objectives.
✅ Execute strategic acquisitions, informed by analysis, ensuring alignment with performance metrics and exceeding targets.
✅ Lead the launch of digital marketing campaigns across various channels (email, app, onsite), in collaboration with editorial and cross-functional stakeholders.
✅ Lead and develop a team of 8+ performance marketing managers and specialists, providing guidance, mentorship, and regular feedback to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration, requiring strong communication and influencing skills to align marketing strategies with broader business objectives.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree or equivalent experience
Experience: 8+ years of hands-on experience in performance marketing, with at least 5 years of people management experience
Required Skills:
- Proven track record in translating performance data and business objectives into actionable strategic roadmaps
- Deep passion for performance marketing and data-driven insights
- Strong analytical skills and quantitative capabilities
- Proven ability to recruit, lead, and retain high-performing teams
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Familiarity with media attribution, conversion rate optimization, and CRM planning
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in promoting products within a recurring revenue or subscription business model
- Hands-on experience in in-housing media functions
- Fluency in Spanish or other languages
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, experience in the media or publishing industry may be beneficial for understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in driving subscriber acquisition for a news organization.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $130,300 - $242,100 Annual
Benefits:
- Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
- Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
- Nine paid holidays and two personal days
- 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
- Robust mental health resources
- Backup care and caregiver concierge services
- Gender affirming services
- Pet insurance
- Free Post digital subscription
- Leadership and career development programs
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with the expectation of working on-site five days a week, with certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a director-level role in performance marketing, with adjustments for the location and experience level required.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Newspaper Publishing
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees
Founded: The Washington Post was founded in 1877 and has a rich history in journalism and news reporting.
Company Description:
- The Washington Post is an award-winning news leader committed to connecting, informing, and enlightening local, national, and global readers with trustworthy reporting, in-depth analysis, and engaging opinions.
- The Post combines world-class journalism with the latest technology and tools to deliver news to readers anytime, anywhere.
- The Post's approach is centered around shaping ideas, redefining speed, taking ownership, and leading in all aspects of its operations.
Company Specialties:
- Media
- Newspaper
- Online
- Digital
- Mobile
- Publishing
- And content
Company Website: washingtonpost.com
ASSUMPTION: The Washington Post is a well-established and respected news organization with a strong commitment to journalistic integrity and innovation in digital media.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Director-level role, reporting directly to the Head of Subscriptions
Reporting Structure: This role will oversee a team of 8+ performance marketing managers and specialists
Work Arrangement: On-site, with the expectation of working on-site five days a week, with certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to influence the overall direction of the company's subscriber acquisition strategies
- Opportunities to collaborate with various teams, expanding professional networks and skillsets
- Potential to mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of growth and innovation
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a substantial impact on the company's subscriber base and overall success.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, open-layout offices with easy access to transportation
Office Location(s): 1301 K St NW, Washington, DC 20071, US
Geographic Context:
- The Washington, DC area offers a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, theaters, and historical sites
- The DC area is also home to a diverse range of industries, providing ample networking and professional development opportunities
- The DC area experiences all four seasons, with mild winters and warm, humid summers
Work Schedule: Standard business hours, with the expectation of working on-site five days a week, with certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel
ASSUMPTION: The Washington Post's offices are designed to foster collaboration and innovation, with a focus on providing employees with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screen with a member of the Talent Acquisition team
- In-depth behavioral and skills-based interview with the hiring manager
- Final interview with the Head of Subscriptions or another senior leader
- Background check and reference check
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Analytical skills and data-driven decision-making
- Leadership and team management skills
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with the company's mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Be prepared to discuss your approach to performance marketing, data analysis, and team leadership
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding of the organization's mission and goals
ATS Keywords: Performance Marketing, Subscriber Acquisition, Data-Driven Insights, Team Leadership, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Analytical Skills, Budget Management, Digital Marketing, A/B Testing, Customer Engagement, Strategic Focus, Innovation, Recruiting, Talent Nurturing, Campaign Execution, Media Strategy
ASSUMPTION: The Washington Post's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best fit for both the candidate and the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Analytics
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
- Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the candidate's areas of expertise and the team's current tech stack.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Journalistic integrity and excellence
- Innovation and continuous learning
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Customer focus and reader-centric approach
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Data-driven and analytical mindset
- Strong focus on cross-functional collaboration and communication
- Results-oriented and goal-driven approach
- Adaptability and flexibility in response to changing conditions
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach driving strategic growth in a competitive market, and how do you measure success?
- Can you describe a time when you had to pivot your marketing strategy in response to changing conditions? How did you approach this challenge, and what was the outcome?
- How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your team, and how do you ensure that everyone has the opportunity to grow and develop professionally?
ASSUMPTION: The Washington Post values candidates who are passionate about journalism, committed to innovation, and dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team of 8+ performance marketing managers and specialists, requiring strong leadership and mentoring skills
- Driving global subscriber acquisition strategies, requiring a deep understanding of diverse markets and cultural nuances
- Balancing the need for innovation and experimentation with the need to maintain consistent performance and results
- Navigating a fast-paced, dynamic work environment, with the potential for sudden changes in priorities or direction
ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inherent to a role of this nature and can be overcome with strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other director-level marketing roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to drive subscriber acquisition strategies for a renowned news organization
- Unlike other roles in the media industry, this position requires a deep understanding of performance marketing, data-driven insights, and team leadership
- Career progression in this role may lead to senior leadership positions within the company or other prominent news organizations
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of strategic, analytical, and leadership responsibilities, with the potential for significant impact on the company's overall success and growth.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive subscriber acquisition campaign, targeting a specific demographic or geographic region
- Conducting a thorough analysis of the company's current subscriber acquisition strategies and identifying opportunities for optimization and improvement
- Leading a team in the development and launch of a new digital marketing campaign, aimed at driving subscriber engagement and retention
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are intended to illustrate the types of responsibilities and initiatives that the successful candidate may undertake in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the company's approach to subscriber acquisition and retention, and how this role fits into that strategy?
- How does the company support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- Can you provide an example of a time when the company successfully pivoted its subscriber acquisition strategy in response to changing market conditions? What was the outcome, and what lessons were learned?
- How does the company measure the success of its subscriber acquisition campaigns, and how are those metrics used to inform future strategies?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does that manifest in the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to provide insight into the company's culture, values, and approach to subscriber acquisition, as well as the specific responsibilities and expectations of this role.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and skills-based interviews by reflecting on your past experiences and accomplishments in performance marketing, team leadership, and data-driven decision-making
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding of the organization's mission and goals
- Follow up with the hiring manager or a member of the Talent Acquisition team one week after submitting your application, inquiring about the status of your application and expressing your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
