Position Title: Director of Sales, NE Ohio
Work Location: Hybrid
Employment/FLSA Status: Full time/Exempt
Reports To: CEO
Range $85,000 – $95,000 and bonus opportunity


Signal Ohio, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of local newsrooms serving Ohio
communities, is looking for an experienced Director of Sales for Northeast Ohio, who
will bring freshness and creativity to developing our sponsorship and content
packages, fostering relationships with potential advertisers, and planning innovative
events to grow revenue.

Signal Ohio is among the most ambitious local news initiatives in the country with a
mandate to rapidly expand to fill local news gaps across Ohio, at both the statewide
and community levels. Signal Ohio’s mission is to become an indispensable, daily
source of news and information for the communities it serves. In pursuit of that
mission, we will need to reach and make an impact on over 11 million Ohio residents.
We are just getting started and need your help to ensure our critical reporting serves
our communities, finds its audience on multiple platforms, and engages the people of
Ohio as members of our journalism project. Signal Ohio has newsrooms in Cleveland
and Akron, Ohio, and recently launched Signal Statewide, a news bureau covering
policy and politics for all Ohioans. Signal also launched the first phase of Signal
Cincinnati by launching its Documenters program in Cincinnati this summer.

YOUR ROLE:
For the last two years, Signal has led the way in providing quality news and information for Ohioans. As we grow throughout the State of Ohio, we are hiring a Director of Sales for Northeast Ohio who can develop and transform our sales, advertising and sponsorships specifically for NE Ohio. This leadership role will work in close collaboration with the CEO and the Leadership Team ensuring that all operational facets are aligned for transformative impact.

In recent years, Signal has experienced significant growth: we have almost doubled our budget and our team size, and our community impact is achieving significant
milestones. As our organization evolves, the revenue strategy around sales and
sponsorships is likewise increasing, particularly in areas of strategy, execution, and
process optimization.

The Director of Sales is responsible for driving revenue growth and establishing
strategic partnerships within Northeast Ohio. This is an exciting opportunity to
significantly impact not only the future of local journalism in Ohio but civic and
community engagement in our local communities.


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Develop and implement sales strategies: Create and execute a
    comprehensive sales strategy to drive revenue growth and expand market
    share for Signal Ohio’s local news sites;
  • Prospect and secure brand partnerships: Identify and pitch prospective
    clients to develop long-term partnerships. Present Signal Ohio’s portfolio of
    local news sites and craft customized marketing, programs, and sponsorship
    offerings to meet client objectives;
  • Build and maintain client relationships: Establish strong relationships with
    decision-makers across various business categories within clients’ marketing
    departments or advertising agencies. Understand their needs and tailor sales
    pitches and proposals accordingly;
  • Lead contract negotiations: Structure, price, and successfully negotiate deals
    with clients, ensuring alignment with budgetary expectations. Oversee
    sponsor contracts, invoicing, and accounts receivable to ensure smooth
    execution and collections; and
  • Collaborate with internal teams: Work closely with the internal teams to ensure
    successful campaign development and execution. Provide creative briefs for
    production assets and review video cuts to meet client deliverables. Manage
    production operations, team members, and logistics for branded content
    productions.


IDEAL CANDIDATE:

  • Minimum of seven years of outside sales and sponsorship experience.
    Experience in the media industry or related fields preferred but not required;
  • Proven track record of driving revenue through prospecting, pitching,
    closing, and renewing business;
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to understand client
    business challenges;
  • Entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to embrace and thrive in a
    dynamic, growing company;
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and consultative selling skills;
  • Familiarity with digital marketing, social platforms, and the local news industry;
  • Curiosity, creativity, and a desire to adapt in an ever-changing industry;
  • Translate ideas into strategic plans, ensuring smooth functioning of the
    organization as it scales;
  • Innovate and update processes to enhance team alignment and strengthen our
    community impact;
  • Partner and lead the ELT team in assessing new opportunities and supporting
    the development and execution of strategies for these new initiatives;
  • Establish metrics and benchmarks that track organizational performance,
    identify trends, and use insights gained from data to optimize efficiency and
    effectiveness across all operational facets;
  • Foster a dynamic organizational culture that empowers our team members to
    excel and grow;
  • Undertake additional duties as assigned, contributing flexibly to the dynamic
    needs of the organization and furthering the overall mission of Signal Ohio;
  • 5+ years of senior leadership and management experience in a growth-driven,
    community- based organization;
  • A proven integrator with robust experience in managing operational growth within a $5M-$10M nonprofit or social enterprise business;
  • Exceptionally skilled in strategy execution, capable of ensuring that every
    operational facet is synchronized with the organization’s overarching goals;
  • Experience in evaluating new business opportunities and guiding strategic
    decision-making to maximize potential and alignment with organizational goals;
  • A staunch advocate for and background in team development, committed to
  • Investing in people and fostering an environment where staff can thrive;
  • Proficient in using tools & technology, including Canva, PowerPoint, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office.

POSITION DETAILS:

  • To succeed in this role, the individual must effectively perform each essential
  • duty. The physical demands and work environment outlined below are
  • representative of those encountered while fulfilling the essential functions of this
  • position. Reasonable accommodations can be arranged for individuals with
  • disabilities;
  • Regularly use of a computer and engage with co-workers in both office and
  • virtual environments;
  • Reliable transportation is required due to potential travel; and
  • Responsible for providing a telephone and ensuring an adequate workspace for
  • completing all work.


WHY SIGNAL:
At SIGNAL, our unwavering commitment to our mission is the heartbeat of our
organization. We hold these core values close to our hearts, and we seek team
members who share in this ethos:

  • Lead with Heart: We approach every situation with empathy, open hearts and open minds. We support our teammates internally as passionately as we support others externally. We empower each other to do good work and enthusiastically roll up our sleeves to dive in at any level needed;
  • Be Fearless: We think forward, welcome ideas, and remain solution-focused.
  • Driven by curiosity and independent thinking, we take risks and stay agile.
  • Accountability is key in our pursuit to innovate without fear of failure, as every setback teaches us something valuable, prompting necessary changes and growth;
  • Bring People Together: We value human connection and strive to strengthen and inspire it through people and technology. Our collaborative culture is driven by a strong sense of community, fostering open communication with love and respect.
  • We believe in the power of working together to achieve the greater good;
  • Serve with Kindness: We are present, actively listening, and genuinely caring in every interaction. By embracing our best, most authentic selves and providing a sense of purpose, we foster a positive environment. We do this with joy, striving daily to be the good – together, and inspiring others to join us in our mission.
  • Joining Signal means embracing these core values, contributing to a mission-driven environment, and being part of a team that seeks to make a positive impact on the world, one connection at a time.

WHAT WE OFFER:

  • Joining Signal comes with a range of benefits aimed at supporting your well-being, professional growth, and alignment with our mission:
  • Energetic and collaborative team environment passionately dedicated to our
  • mission to expand community service;
  • Award-winning entrepreneurial non-profit making a positive impact;
  • Headquartered in Columbus, within a collaborative and inspiring workspace:
  • A generous PTO policy and an additional 13 paid holidays;
  • Competitive medical, dental and vision benefits, along with retirement and short-
  • term and long- term disability benefits; and

Signal is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of
employment, ensuring a fair and inclusive workplace. While this job description is
designed to represent the job requirements, additional duties, responsibilities, and
activities may be assigned or changed at any time with or without notice. Candidates
must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship and will undergo a
background check prior to hire.

SUBMIT YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER HERE: