Marketing & Audience Engagement Manager

METRO MARKET MEDIA•Gainesville, GA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Metro Market Media is a leader in local media and marketing solutions, dedicated to helping our communities stay informed and connected. Our portfolio includes The Times of Gainesville, Forsyth County News, Dawson County News, specialty publications, and our popular “Best of” awards and events. We are proud of the role we play in our communities, and we are equally proud of the team culture we have built around a shared set of values. The Marketing & Audience Engagement Manager owns the marketing and audience engagement function for Metro Market Media's newspaper brands, setting direction across digital, print, and in-person platforms. This role independently develops and executes marketing strategy, determines campaign priorities, and makes discretionary decisions about brand voice, audience targeting, resource allocation, and community-engagement initiatives that drive readership, subscriber growth, and revenue outcomes. Working cross-functionally with editorial, sales, and creative teams, the Manager serves as the primary marketing voice for Metro Market Media publications and represents the organization externally at community events, industry engagements, and public-facing initiatives. This position reports to the Director of Revenue and travels regularly between Gainesville, Forsyth County, and other Metro Market Media locations as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in marketing, audience engagement, digital media, or a related field, with demonstrated ownership of strategy and results.
Demonstrated ability to independently develop, execute, and measure marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
Strong analytical skills and experience translating audience data and campaign metrics into strategic decisions.
Proven ability to make sound, autonomous decisions on matters affecting brand, audience, budget, and campaign direction.
Excellent written and verbal communication, storytelling, and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to represent the organization externally.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.
Proficiency with marketing tools and platforms (e.g., email marketing software, social media scheduling tools, Google Analytics, or similar).
Demonstrated alignment with our core values.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in media, publishing, or local journalism.
Prior experience mentoring or leading colleagues on marketing best practices, even without formal supervisory authority.
Photography and/or videography skills.
Familiarity with the principles and values of journalism and community engagement.

Responsibilities

Own the marketing strategy for Metro Market Media publications, including development of annual and quarterly marketing plans, go-to-market approaches, and audience-growth roadmaps.
Determine campaign priorities, target audiences, brand voice, channel mix, and resource allocation to advance readership, subscriber growth, and revenue outcomes.
Analyze audience data, engagement metrics, and campaign performance to identify growth opportunities and independently adjust strategy based on findings.
Develop and recommend audience-growth strategies, subscriber-acquisition initiatives, and digital engagement tactics across newsletters, websites, mobile apps, and social platforms.
Deliver clear, data-informed reporting to leadership that translates marketing performance into strategic business recommendations.
Stay current on marketing trends, audience-growth tools, and industry best practices, and apply that knowledge to continuously improve strategy and campaign effectiveness.
Direct the development, creation, and scheduling of branded social media content including posts, short-form video, and integrated marketing campaigns that promotes the value of local journalism, drives audience growth, and increases brand awareness.
Set standards for how Metro Market Media publications engage with audiences on social channels, including tone, response timing, and community-management approach.
Maintain a positive, professional, and responsive public presence for each publication, and ensure excellent customer service across all audience touchpoints.
Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and best-practice direction to newsroom staff on social media, content optimization, and audience engagement functioning as the organization's internal marketing subject-matter expert.
Plan, coordinate, and represent Metro Market Media at branded and community events such as expos, festivals, and award programs, including "Best of" events, to strengthen audience relationships and expand reach.
Serve as the primary marketing voice for Metro Market Media in the community, at industry engagements, and with partner organizations.
Collaborate with editorial, sales, and creative teams to align brand initiatives, cross-promotional campaigns, and community-engagement priorities.
Perform other duties as required to meet the ongoing strategic needs of the organization.