USA Today Play, Vice President

Remote (United States)

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Gannett Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities.


We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a scalable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company.


We endeavor to deliver essential content, marketing solutions, and experiences for curated audiences, advertisers, consumers, and stakeholders by leveraging our diverse teams and suite of products to enrich the local communities and businesses we serve.


Our current portfolio of trusted media brands includes the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom.


Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, uses innovation and software to enable small and medium-sized businesses to grow, and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, our events division, creates impactful consumer engagements, promotions, and races. Gannett open roles are featured on various external job boards.


When applying to a position at Gannett, you should be completing an application on Gannett Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid.   To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com


Gannett is looking for a strategic, ambitious and creative business leader to direct USA TODAY’s rapidly growing Play portfolio of online puzzles and games along with other interactive experiences that create joy in the lives of our customers. 


 Gannett has become a leader in digital interactive gaming, building USA TODAY’s Play business with a growing, loyal audience to its popular daily crossword and other games.


The right person for this job will be overflowing with new ideas to elevate the experience of our product suite and add other online interactive engagement opportunities.


The aim is to innovate, expand audience, deepen engagement, and drive both ad revenue and subscriptions. 


 As the leader of this business unit, the Vice President of Play will craft our long-term growth strategy to optimize the interactive entertainment experience of our games, innovate and improve the current creative process, and drive revenue through multiple channels.


This includes supporting growth of audience engagement with other online interactive activity such as horoscopes, digital comics and other digital leisure experience. To do this, the Vice President will have the opportunity to build a cross-functional team that will source, integrate, or add new game products. 


The Play Vice President will become a member of an innovative, action-oriented Content team that is audience-led and digitally focused, reporting up through the Senior Vice President of USA TODAY. 


The successful candidate will work with partners in Product, Data, Content and Revenue to accelerate the development and implementation of an ever-more satisfying and craveable experience. 


We are seeking someone who will have fun in this job, someone passionate about crosswords and leisure gaming and a person who knows how to create a gaming experience that delights users and encourages engagement, subscriptions, and retention. 


This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska and Hawaii or based at our headquarters in Manhattan, NY or our Washington, DC office.

 

Responsibilities:  

  • Define the strategic vision, high-level milestones, and KPIs required to significantly grow the audience, as well as the subscription and advertising revenue, of the USA TODAY Play product portfolio.
  • Provide insight, direction, and leadership to help the team of product, design, analytics, marketing and developers to execute the USA TODAY Play strategic vision and create the best user experience possible. 
  • Manage the USA TODAY Play P&L guiding the business to achieve revenue, audience, and EBITDA targets.
  • Work across the organization to help Gannett sites and apps integrate the USA TODAY Play experience across multiple user journeys.
  • Own and execute any build/buy/partnership decisions around what, if any, additional games are needed to expand the appeal of our USA TODAY Play experience to a broader audience. 
  • Create a line of sight to the goals of the Play business, ensuring that the organization and internal teams understand the roadmap, deliverables and timeline to achieving goals. 
  • Coordinate with Product and other teams to create the right solutions, manage expectations, and keep strategies aligned. 
  • Provide regular, executive level briefings on strategy, tactics and results. 
  • Provide input and direction to the branding and marketing of USA TODAY Play to expand the appeal of the offering. 
  • Collaborate closely and openly with other business owners and other internal stakeholders. 
  • Manage relations with third-party partners and consultants supporting USA TODAY Play and represent the business in discussions with potential partners and other stakeholders.
  • Create an inclusive team culture, recruit for, and retain extraordinary talent.


Requirements:  

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience. (MBA or relevant advanced degree is a plus.)
  • 3-5 years of experience in managing the P&L of a digital business ideally in the gaming space. 
  • 7+ years of experience in the mobile and web gaming industry (casual gaming experiences is a plus.)
  • Demonstrated successes with defining and executing strategic goals. 
  • The ability to think critically and strategically solve complex business problems, interpret analyses, and present solutions that address business needs.
  • Experience identifying, analyzing, and using data to independently test theories, confirm assumptions, and measure success via iteration and with attention to detail. 
  • A passion for online leisure games, especially crosswords! 
  • A bias towards leading others into action. 
  • Excellent written and verbal skills.
  • Fantastic interpersonal skills. 
  • You are a team player, and people love to work with you. 


Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:   

  1. Your resume – one to two pages.
  2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.  


It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration. 


The annualized base salary for this role will range between $200,000 and $300,000. Variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, location, and union representation, if applicable. 


Gannett Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where Gannett employs employees.


In addition, Gannett Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with Gannett Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact Gannett Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at [email protected].

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