Newsletters Director

Afar, the critically acclaimed travel media brand, is seeking a director of newsletters to lead growth, engagement, and monetization for Afar and its UK title, Suitcase. Reporting to the Editor in Chief, this senior leader will set the vision and strategy for our newsletter portfolio and drive success across established KPIs.

As Afar sharpens its newsletter strategy to deepen audience relationships, this role will be central in ensuring that newsletters reflect the ambition, voice, and values of Afar, while also aligning with business and product priorities to drive loyalty and regular readership from our growing audience. This role collaborates across teams, including sales and marketing, to cultivate new ideas, build new products, and deliver results.

The right candidate is a strong manager and a strategic thinker who views the work of audience-building as a creative challenge. Impeccable judgement, excellent writing and editing skills, an affinity for data-driven decisions, and agility are a must.

• Collaborate across teams with executive stakeholders in editorial, marketing, and sales to develop and execute data-driven newsletter growth strategies that are consistent with Afar’s editorial mission and excellence.
• Work closely with Editor in Chief and Editorial Director (Digital) to brainstorm ideas for our newsletters that help our daily content, tentpoles, and recurring franchises make a splash and have a strong reach and impact on readers.
• In collaboration with executive stakeholders, define our measurement and testing strategy.
• Oversee newsletter redesigns and strategy evaluations, keeping KPIs at the forefront of planning.
• Lead newsletter headline and subject line development to drive smart reader engagement (more consistent habit and repeat loyalty).
• In collaboration with the Editorial Director (Digital), sign off on monthly content lineups with an eye to newsletter performance.
• Work closely with business and sales teams to package and deliver against sponsor ships across newsletters.
• Identify new growth opportunities and best practices based on emerging digital trends, competitive business intelligence, and consumer insight.
• Own the editorial roadmap for newsletters: develop and execute a long-term vision for tone, voice, format innovation, and reader value.
• Ensure stylistic consistency across newsletters and maintain a high bar for quality.
• With stakeholders, shape ideas for new newsletters and refine existing products.
• Create must-read products and continually look for opportunities to better engage subscribers through testing compelling subject lines, packaging, and curation.
• Experiment with new formats, such as asynchronous and pop-up newsletters.
• Refine workflows and logistical processes and operations to ensure efficiency.

• 2-3 years experience as a newsletter director at a media company
• Exceptional editorial judgement
• Organized and deadline oriented
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach; the ability to build bridges across the organization
• Confidence and experience making data-informed editorial decisions. Comfortable with numbers and analysis as well as creating clear, clean, and lively copy.
• Deep interest in and commitment to the newsletter form
• In-depth knowledge of digital analytics tools and a keen understanding of email KPIs
• Ability to clearly articulate and present initiatives to cross-functional teams
• Visual instinct a great plus
• Deep experience in headline and display writing
• Story packaging
• Idea development
• Organizing and developing content calendars
• Attending industry events and meetings
• Sharp line editing, copywriting, story shaping, and packaging skills
• Meticulous attention to detail and grammar
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
• IS comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Ability to write clear, engaging copy and help others to do the same
• Excellent communication skills
• Must have a passion for travel, and be interested in conceptualizing new and interesting ways to create travel storytelling

$135,000 - $145,000 a year

Afar, which launched in 2009, is the most critically acclaimed travel media brand. It is B Corp Certified and makes a positive impact on the world through high-quality storytelling that inspires, enriches, and empowers Travelers Who Care. Through a growing portfolio of platforms—including digital, social, email, audio, a quarterly magazine, events, and the recent acquisition of UK-based Suitcase Magazine—Afar reaches the most affluent, influential, and discerning audience across all travel media.