Director of Underwriting Partnerships

Director of Underwriting Partnerships

Who We Are

At Courier Newsroom, we empower individuals and communities through local reporting that helps people understand and affect the issues impacting their lives. We believe that by investing in the work of local journalists across the country we can positively impact civic participation and build a healthier democracy from the ground up. Through original reporting and human-focused storytelling, we highlight the issues and forces that shape our lives while calling attention to the impacts of policy-making and political action at the local level. We are a rapidly growing team with new ideas on how to change the landscape of this world.

Our mission is rooted in civic engagement and equity—and we’re growing fast.

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.

Position Overview:

The Director of Underwriting Partnerships is a senior leadership role responsible for driving impact revenue growth through strategic underwriting partnerships with mission-aligned organizations and foundations. This person will oversee the full lifecycle of underwriting relationships, from identifying potential partners to deepening long-term engagement, ensuring successful execution of creator content and impact programs, and expanding underwriting products that leverage the suite of products across the network.

The ideal candidate will be a strong leader and communicator with deep experience in managing underwriting relationships, tracking reporting and grants with related partners, and aligning partner objectives with COURIER’s mission-driven impact reporting. This position requires someone who has a passion for building partnerships and a proven ability to manage impact programs, strong understanding of impact measurement, and the skills to leverage research and insights to tell a cohesive narrative to partners, prospects, and other external audiences.

Responsibilities

• Underwriting Strategy, Growth & Product Expansion:
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive underwriting partnership strategy to achieve annual underwriting revenue and partnership goals, and drive long-term growth for the company. 
  • Identify new underwriting opportunities and develop compelling pitches and underwriting products or services to secure funding from mission-aligned organizations.
  • Work closely with the SVP of Development, the CEO and COO to refine COURIER’s underwriting value proposition.

• Client & Partner Relationship Management:
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with foundation and nonprofit partners, ensuring their objectives align with COURIER’s impact-driven journalism.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for high-value underwriting partners, ensuring ongoing engagement and retention.
  • Work with partners to explore new funding opportunities and expand underwriting commitments over time.
• Grant & Reporting Management:
  • Closely Collaborate with our Senior Advisor of Impact Measurement to develop  narratives of impact measurement for our partners, leveraging qualitative and quantitative research
  • Develop and implement systems to track underwriting agreements, deliverables, and performance metrics.
  • Ensure all funding agreements comply with reporting requirements and deadlines for grants and sponsorships.
  • Provide regular reports on underwriting revenue performance and impact to the executive team.
• Team Leadership & Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with senior leadership, and other cross-functional teams, such as marketing, editorial, and social, to maximize the impact of underwriting

Candidate Profile:

• 6+ years of experience in underwriting, sponsorship sales, nonprofit development, or a related field.
• Proven success in securing and growing major underwriting or sponsorship deals.
• Strong leadership experience, managing teams and driving revenue-focused strategies.
• Expertise in tracking, reporting, and managing grants or sponsorship agreements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• A deep understanding of the media and political landscape and impact-driven funding models.

Salary: $125,000-$145,000

Courier Newsroom offers the following benefits:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), 11 paid holidays a year
• Full suite of health benefits
• Flexible working arrangements

Courier Newsroom is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, those with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly urged to apply. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions.

Compensation$125,000-$145,000