State Expansion Director

STATE EXPANSION DIRECTOR

📍 Remote (U.S.-based) | 💼 Full-Time | 💰 $115K - $125K

WHO WE ARE

COURIER is building the future of state-based, digital-first journalism—rapid, accurate, people-centered reporting and storytelling that helps communities understand what’s at stake and how power works locally. We’re expanding into nine states in 2026 to scale our reach, deepen civic impact, and build durable infrastructure for local audiences.

COURIER Newsroom is committed to building an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We strongly encourage women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those from all backgrounds to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to break down barriers and ensure every team member feels seen, heard, and supported.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role combines state expansion leadership with external affairs and strategic growth initiatives. You’ll be a front-facing representative for Courier focused on building high-trust relationships with funders, underwriters, sponsors, and political/civic leaders while also owning the operational execution of Courier’s 2026 expansion.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Lead the State Expansion Strategy

• Own execution of Courier’s multi-state expansion plan (launch readiness, milestones, staffing coordination with Ops, and go-to-market sequencing).
• Translate high-level goals into a cross-functional operating plan across growth, newsletters, social, partnerships, and operations.
• Build systems that keep multiple states moving in lockstep (weekly check-ins, templates, playbooks, dashboards, launch retros).

Drive Strategic Partnerships & External Relations (Front-Facing)

• Serve as the external point person for key aligned partners expansion states (state-based orgs, coalitions, advocacy groups, research partners, civic engagement orgs).
• Identify, pitch, and structure partnership opportunities that unlock audience growth, distribution, revenue, and measurable impact.
• Create partner integration workflows that align internal teams with external commitments (clear deliverables, timelines, handoffs, and accountability).
• Navigate politically sensitive environments with discretion and strong judgment.

Represent Courier Publicly (External Affairs)

• Represent Courier at state and national events and convenings, always aligned to strategic objectives and positioning.
• Act as a connector: introduce department leads to relationships that support revenue, marketing, events, and growth goals.
• Organize and execute relationship-building gatherings (e.g., political/media/advocacy meetups in DC and/or expansion states) to expand Courier’s network and partnership pipeline.

Track Performance, Communicate Progress, and Reduce Chaos

• Define and report success metrics across expansion and initiatives: partnership outputs, revenue pipeline progress, launch readiness, distribution wins, and impact indicators.
• Produce clear weekly updates for leadership and key partners; flag risks early with solutions attached.
• Use data to iterate week-over-week 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 8+ years in partnerships, political/civic engagement, fundraising, media strategy, campaigns, advocacy ecosystems, or adjacent fields.
• Proven experience building and stewarding high-trust relationships with senior stakeholders (funders, advocates, political leaders, sponsors, underwriters).
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional programs across distributed teams and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (clear, persuasive, human).
• Excellent judgment in politically adjacent environments and comfort operating with ambiguity.

Preferred

• Experience launching new markets, scaling multi-site networks, or running complex multi-state programs.
• Familiarity with progressive movement infrastructure and state-based partner landscapes.
• Comfort with performance analytics and dashboards (pipeline, growth, distribution, impact metrics).
• Experience creating playbooks, templates, operating rhythms, and systems that reduce chaos.

Compensation & Benefits

• The annual salary for this role will be between $115,000 - $125,000, depending on background and experience
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), 11 paid holidays a year
• Full suite of health benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• $500 home office reimbursement

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