Director of Newsletters & Emerging Media Strategy

About SJC

We create, publish and print best-in-class content. As Canada’s largest privately owned communications company, we partner with our clients to provide marketing solutions that inform, inspire, and empower audiences across every platform. Owner and publisher of Canada’s most iconic portfolio of media brands, including Toronto Life, FASHION, Chatelaine and Maclean’s, we provide incredible reach to an influential audience.

SJC Media is the largest producer of magazines in Canada, with award-winning titles such as Toronto Life, Maclean’s, HELLO! Canada, Chatelaine, Today’s Parent, Canadian Business, and many more. We’ve been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for over 20 years.

About the Job

This is a newly created, cross-portfolio role focused on accelerating audience and revenue growth through SJC Media’s newsletter ecosystem.

Newsletters represent one of the most immediate and scalable growth opportunities across our portfolio. This role will lead the strategy, development, and performance of newsletter products across all brands, with a clear mandate to grow the audience, deepen engagement, and unlock new revenue streams.

In addition to newsletters, this role will support select emerging media opportunities where audience growth and monetization potential align with broader business priorities.

This is a highly strategic and execution-focused role at the intersection of audience development, product, and revenue. You will work across editorial, marketing, and sales teams to build scalable growth systems, not one-off wins.

About You

You are an audience growth leader with a track record of scaling newsletter products into meaningful audience and revenue drivers.

You understand that newsletters are not just distribution channels, but high-value media products with direct relationships to audiences and advertisers. You know how to grow subscriber bases, increase engagement, and translate that into commercial opportunity.

You bring a product mindset and a bias for action. You test, iterate, and optimize constantly, using data to inform decisions and drive measurable outcomes.

You are also highly collaborative and know how to influence across editorial, marketing, and sales teams without direct authority.

You know and love our publications and are motivated to grow subscribers and increase engagement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Newsletter Growth & Audience Acquisition

Own the end-to-end growth strategy for SJC Media’s newsletter portfolio

Drive subscriber acquisition, engagement, and retention through clear, measurable growth plans

Identify and scale high-performing acquisition channels including on-site conversion, partnerships, paid acquisition, and cross-promotion

Optimize the full user journey from discovery to subscription to long-term loyalty

Establish and track core performance metrics including subscriber growth, open rates, click-through rates, and revenue contribution

Continuously test and refine content formats, frequency, segmentation, and personalization strategies

2. Newsletter Product & Monetization

Audit and evolve the current newsletter portfolio to improve quality, consistency, and distinct value propositions

Develop scalable newsletter formats and templates that balance efficiency with brand integrity

Partner with sales to define and grow newsletter revenue opportunities including sponsorships, integrated programs, and new ad products

Partner with external audience development services and monetization partners to grow followings across the portfolio

Support the development of audience segmentation strategies that increase monetization potential

3. Growth Systems & Enablement

Implement tools and workflows that support scalable audience growth, including automation, segmentation, and performance tracking

Identify opportunities to integrate AI and new technologies to improve efficiency and personalization

Build playbooks and best practices that can be deployed across brands

Act as a central resource for audience growth expertise across the organization

4. Emerging Media Opportunities

Support the evaluation and development of select emerging media opportunities including podcasts, video, and new content formats where there is clear audience and revenue potential

Bring forward strategic recommendations based on performance data, market trends, and business priorities

5. Cross-Portfolio Collaboration

Work across editorial, marketing, and sales teams to align on growth priorities and execution

Identify opportunities for cross-brand audience development and shared initiatives

Serve as a connector across teams to ensure consistent growth strategies and knowledge sharing

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of experience in media, digital publishing, audience development, or a related field

A strong track record of growing audiences and/or revenue for media products - newsletters, podcasts, video, or digital properties

Experience building or refining media products, with a genuine product-thinking mindset

Comfort working across editorial and commercial teams, with the ability to translate between both worlds

Proven experience developing sales materials, media kits, or sponsorship packages

Confident with AI tools for content production, personalization, or workflow optimization

Exceptional communication and presentation skills; you can articulate a strategy clearly to a leadership team and a sales rep with equal impact

Highly self-directed, organized, and effective working independently and cross-functionally

Deep curiosity about where media is headed and genuine enthusiasm for building something new

Why Join Us?

A high-impact, highly autonomous senior role with cross-portfolio scope across Canada’s most iconic media brands

The opportunity to shape entirely new revenue streams and media products at a company with a decades-long track record of excellence

Be part of a forward-thinking environment that values creativity, curiosity, and bold ideas

Access to a wide range of SJC perks, benefits, and professional development opportunities

Benefits at SJC:

SJC is committed to the well-being and professional development of its employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health and Dental Benefits

Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and access to online health & wellness resources through Homewood Health.

Scholarship program available for employees’ children.

Exclusive employee subscription rates for SJC publications.

A complimentary 1-year Toronto Life Insider membership.

Discounted annual GoodLife membership.

Participation in the Perkopolis Perk Program, offering employee pricing at a wide range of retailers.

A Workplace Built for Everyone:

SJC Values

Amaze our customers: We put our customers’ evolving needs at the heart of the business and inspire through our ideas, quality and service.

Be relentlessly curious: We take the initiative to learn, try new things and brainstorm the next big idea.

Respect every individual as equal: We value diversity as the means to creativity and cultivate a collaborative environment where everyone belongs.

Innovate and adapt with urgency: Forward-thinking and flexible, we react quickly and boldly to change.

Contribute to our community: We apply our resources and passions to make a difference – for people and our planet

Accommodations at SJC

SJC is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, where everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to thrive. We're committed to creating inclusive and barrier-free recruitment processes and work environments. If you're contacted for an interview and require any accommodations to ensure a fair and equitable experience, please let our Human Resources team know. We'll handle any information you share with complete confidentiality.

Inclusion at SJC

Equality and respect for all is one of our founding values and core beliefs at SJC. We are a diverse group with associates of all ages, orientations, races and talents. We celebrate this diversity and we draw strength from it. Inclusivity at SJC means fostering a culture that welcomes and respects each individual as equal – both inside our walls and within the larger community.