ABOUT METRO MARKET MEDIA
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.
POSITION SUMMARY
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.
OUR CULTURE & CORE VALUES
At Metro Market Media, we hire, develop, and recognize team members against a clearly defined set of core values. These values are not aspirational language — they are the standard by which we evaluate fit, performance, and growth. The successful candidate for this role will demonstrate:
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Be Honest — Act with integrity and show authenticity — even when it’s hard.
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Stay Curious — Seek fresh thinking, ask smart questions, and pursue learning.
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All In, Every Time — Focus on details, take ownership, and go above and beyond.
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We Before Me — Work collaboratively, offer help, and lead with kindness.
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Win Together, Grow Together — Deliver results, put customers first, and fuel growth.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Success in this role is measured by the Manager's ability to independently drive measurable audience growth, stronger community engagement, and disciplined execution of brand-building strategy across all Metro Market Media properties. Specifically:
- Sustained growth in subscribers, followers, and digital audience engagement across all publications, driven by strategy the Manager owns.
- Consistently high-performing marketing and social campaigns that measurably advance readership, revenue, and brand awareness.
- A strong, on-brand, community-first presence across all digital and in-person touchpoints.
- Confident, autonomous representation of Metro Market Media in the community, including at events, partnerships, and public engagements.
- Clear, actionable data-informed reporting that enables leadership to make better strategic decisions.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Marketing & Audience Engagement Manager exercises discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance to the business, including strategic direction, campaign priorities, brand voice, and resource allocation. Responsibilities span three core areas: marketing strategy and analytics, audience growth and social media, and community engagement and brand presence.
Marketing Strategy & Analytics
- 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.
Audience Growth & Social Media
- 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.
Community Engagement & Brand Presence
- 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.
QUALIFICATIONS
What You'll Need
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Work is primarily performed in an office environment with frequent travel to community events and local offices, sometimes after normal business hours or on weekends.
- Regularly required to sit, stand, talk, hear, and use hands to operate standard office and multimedia equipment.
- May occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds (e.g., event materials, displays, or camera equipment).
- Exposure to a variety of indoor and outdoor environments during events and community activities.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must be available to work evenings and weekends as required by campaigns, events, and community activities.
- Must maintain a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation for travel to local events and office locations; mileage reimbursement provided.
- Must adhere to all Metro Market Media policies, including the Business Conduct Policy, Confidential Information Policy, and Equipment Use Policy as outlined in the MMM Employee Handbook.
- Employment is contingent upon successfully passing applicable background checks as required by MMM policy.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Metro Market Media offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k); paid time off and paid holidays; and mileage reimbursement for in-market travel. For full benefits details, please refer to the Metro Market 2026 Benefit Guide, which may be provided during the interview process.
WHY METRO MARKET MEDIA
We offer a competitive compensation package, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to contribute meaningful work to a values-driven organization that genuinely cares about the communities we serve. As our Marketing & Audience Engagement Manager, you will help shape how readers across Northeast Georgia discover, connect with, and engage with our brands and the local stories that matter most.
