Director of Strategic Partnerships
Religion News Service
Remote, United States
See other jobs from this company| Date Posted | June 02, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital Media |
| Specialty | Other |
| Remote / Telecommute | Telecommute |
| Job Status | Full-time |
| Salary | $105,000–$115,000 |
Description:
About Religion News Service (RNS)
Religion News Service is the only independent newsroom in America covering religion across every faith tradition—and the leading nonprofit news organization on one of the most complex and consequential forces shaping our world.
We're not a religious organization—we're a newsroom. One with sharp elbows for fairness, a strong sense of mission, and a beat that sits at the intersection of faith, politics, culture, and society. We cover everything from the role of faith in the AI ethics debate to the religion angles of the war in Iran to the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope.
We're a team of 30+, fully remote, and building something ambitious: a newsroom based in journalistic rigor and powered by modern tools. Our journalism reaches over a million readers, listeners, and viewers a month via syndication partnerships with NPR and the AP, podcasts, newsletters, social platforms, and RNS.org.
As a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, we're backed by deep audience trust and strong institutional support. We draw on more than 90 years of religion journalism, one of the deepest single-subject editorial legacies in American media.
At RNS, we value curiosity, kindness, and the belief that great journalism lives wherever people are—in a newsletter over morning coffee, a vertical video on a commute, a podcast on a long walk, or a deep investigation on the web.
About This Role
We seek a dynamic and results-driven Director of Strategic Partnerships to build and scale RNS's growing earned revenue streams, including event sponsorships, sponsored content, podcast and newsletter advertising, and branded campaigns with civic institutions, nonprofit and corporate partners. This is a new and pivotal role for our organization as we expand and develop creative ways to leverage our engaged audience and new products for sustainable financial growth.
The Director of Strategic Partnerships will be the key driver of earned revenue growth, moving our pilot sponsorships and advertising program to the next level and working collaboratively across the leadership team to identify, structure and secure high-value partnerships to meet revenue goals. This role will help build long-term value across our high-quality news products and popular events, podcasts and more.
This position is both strategic and hands-on. The Director will serve as a strategic partner to the Chief Development Officer in shaping a broad-based revenue strategy for RNS, including assessing how earned revenue integrates with philanthropic and reader revenue streams. As the organization grows, this role has the potential to expand in scope and leadership responsibility. The Director will also have regular opportunities to interact with the CEO, Chief Content Officer and Chief Product Officer to understand new editorial projects, events and products in the earliest stages of development to identify key sponsors.
Key Responsibilities
Sponsorship & Advertising Sales
Lead planning and execution of all corporate sponsorships and advertising sales campaigns across digital products, newsletters, podcasts and events.
Own the full sales cycle—from prospecting through renewal—personally driving sales efforts and managing advertiser relationships to ensure long-term partnerships.
Identify, cultivate and maintain a pipeline of high-value strategic partnerships with corporate, nonprofit and civic partners.
Create and deliver compelling sponsorship packages that leverage our products, align with our mission and complement our journalism.
Develop and maintain pricing frameworks and rate cards.
With the Chief Development Officer, manage sponsorship sales for virtual and in-person events.
Provide hands-on management of sales fulfillment, quality control and reporting through collaboration with the Operations team and Development & Business Projects team.
Lead planning and execution of all corporate sponsorships and advertising sales campaigns across digital products, newsletters, podcasts and events.
Own the full sales cycle—from prospecting through renewal—personally driving sales efforts and managing advertiser relationships to ensure long-term partnerships.
Identify, cultivate and maintain a pipeline of high-value strategic partnerships with corporate, nonprofit and civic partners.
Create and deliver compelling sponsorship packages that leverage our products, align with our mission and complement our journalism.
Develop and maintain pricing frameworks and rate cards.
With the Chief Development Officer, manage sponsorship sales for virtual and in-person events.
Provide hands-on management of sales fulfillment, quality control and reporting through collaboration with the Operations team and Development & Business Projects team.
Revenue Strategy & Product Development
Identify and develop new earned revenue opportunities across underutilized channels, including career/job boards, games channels, sponsored content, expert bureaus, paid partnerships, and other emerging digital products.
Expand and refine RNS's sponsored content program.
Test and refine monetization models for new initiatives, adjusting pricing and packaging based on performance.
Utilize data and analytics to refine strategies and maximize impact.
Identify and develop new earned revenue opportunities across underutilized channels, including career/job boards, games channels, sponsored content, expert bureaus, paid partnerships, and other emerging digital products.
Expand and refine RNS's sponsored content program.
Test and refine monetization models for new initiatives, adjusting pricing and packaging based on performance.
Utilize data and analytics to refine strategies and maximize impact.
Systems & Pipeline Management
Develop and manage a disciplined pipeline using CRM tools.
Forecast revenue and provide regular reporting to leadership.
Collaborate across departments to develop and refine systems, specs, and SOPs for ad fulfillment and sponsorship management.
Partner with the business manager on quality control of deliverables for campaigns, events and digital sponsorships.
Develop and manage a disciplined pipeline using CRM tools.
Forecast revenue and provide regular reporting to leadership.
Collaborate across departments to develop and refine systems, specs, and SOPs for ad fulfillment and sponsorship management.
Partner with the business manager on quality control of deliverables for campaigns, events and digital sponsorships.
Cross-Team Collaboration
Partner with editorial leadership to ensure sponsorships align with newsroom standards and protect editorial integrity.
Collaborate with audience, events, product and operations teams to maximize inventory value and deliver sponsor value.
Support broader development strategy alongside the Chief Development Officer.
Partner with editorial leadership to ensure sponsorships align with newsroom standards and protect editorial integrity.
Collaborate with audience, events, product and operations teams to maximize inventory value and deliver sponsor value.
Support broader development strategy alongside the Chief Development Officer.
Qualifications
Required
5+ years of experience in sponsorship sales, advertising sales, or revenue development, including leadership responsibility.
Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding revenue targets and closing and renewing multi-channel sponsorship deals.
Experience pricing and packaging digital advertising and sponsorship products.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills; consultative seller rather than high-pressure ad salesperson.
Creative, strategic thinker with the ability to design and execute innovative revenue initiatives.
Data-driven approach to decision-making and performance measurement.
Experience with CRM systems and revenue forecasting.
Comfort operating in a nonprofit or mission-driven newsroom environment, with strong alignment to the mission and values of nonprofit journalism.
Comfort working in a lean organization where roles are broad, priorities evolve, and success requires initiative, creativity, and hands-on execution.
Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
5+ years of experience in sponsorship sales, advertising sales, or revenue development, including leadership responsibility.
Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding revenue targets and closing and renewing multi-channel sponsorship deals.
Experience pricing and packaging digital advertising and sponsorship products.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills; consultative seller rather than high-pressure ad salesperson.
Creative, strategic thinker with the ability to design and execute innovative revenue initiatives.
Data-driven approach to decision-making and performance measurement.
Experience with CRM systems and revenue forecasting.
Comfort operating in a nonprofit or mission-driven newsroom environment, with strong alignment to the mission and values of nonprofit journalism.
Comfort working in a lean organization where roles are broad, priorities evolve, and success requires initiative, creativity, and hands-on execution.
Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
Preferred
Experience in nonprofit journalism or digital media.
Experience building and managing high-value sponsorship programs and/or sponsored content initiatives.
Experience launching new revenue channels or products.
Familiarity with podcast and newsletter advertising models.
Familiarity with CRM and EMS tools and digital advertising platforms such as Google Ad Manager.
Experience in nonprofit journalism or digital media.
Experience building and managing high-value sponsorship programs and/or sponsored content initiatives.
Experience launching new revenue channels or products.
Familiarity with podcast and newsletter advertising models.
Familiarity with CRM and EMS tools and digital advertising platforms such as Google Ad Manager.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range: $105,000–$115,000 annually, depending on experience.
Performance-based bonus opportunity tied to revenue growth and the development and expansion of new revenue channels.
Full-time employees are also eligible for:
Health, dental and vision insurance
401(k) with employer contribution
Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays
Cell phone reimbursement
Remote work environment
Professional development opportunities
To Apply
If this role speaks to your experience and interests, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply.
RNS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
Salary range: $105,000–$115,000 annually, depending on experience.
Performance-based bonus opportunity tied to revenue growth and the development and expansion of new revenue channels.
Health, dental and vision insurance
401(k) with employer contribution
Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays
Cell phone reimbursement
Remote work environment
Professional development opportunities
Apply
https://form.jotform.com/261514704565154
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