Summary
Description
Help Build the Future of Local News in Colorado
The Colorado Press Association is hiring a Director of Business Development, Advertising & Partnerships to build the next phase of advertising and sponsorship growth for the Colorado Press Network (CPN), a statewide network that helps businesses reach highly engaged audiences through trusted local news outlets.
This role sits at the intersection of business growth and community impact. By helping organizations connect with engaged local audiences, you also support the sustainability of independent journalism and stronger, more informed communities.
This is not a traditional media sales role focused on managing existing accounts.
Instead, we are looking for a builder — someone who thrives on prospecting, opening doors, developing relationships, and creating partnerships from the ground up. You will be expected to actively prospect, open new relationships, and build a book of business in a role that requires initiative, persistence and creativity.
Working directly with the CEO and leadership team, the Director will help expand a statewide network of offerings that combine traditional advertising with newer, integrated marketing approaches designed to reach audiences across multiple communities:
- digital media
- sponsored content
- multi-publication campaigns
- advertising, sponsorships and marketing partnerships
- events and community initiatives
- print and digital placements across Colorado news outlets
This role combines entrepreneurial business development, consultative selling, and mission-driven storytelling.
If you enjoy creating opportunities, building relationships, and helping organizations connect with communities in meaningful ways, this role offers a rare chance to help shape a growing media network.
What You’ll Do
Build New Business
- Pursue opportunities with Colorado-based and regional organizations that benefit from reaching audiences across multiple communities throughout Colorado and beyond
- Identify decision-makers and open conversations with marketing leaders, agencies, and brand executives
- Generate and manage a strong pipeline of new advertising and sponsorship opportunities
- Conduct consistent outreach, follow-up and in-person meetings to build and maintain a strong pipeline
- Close new business and build a long-term book of clients
- Manage the full sales cycle, from initial outreach through proposal development, closing and ongoing relationship growth
Sell Modern Media Partnerships
Develop and sell integrated advertising, sponsorships, and marketing programs that may include:
- Sponsored content and storytelling
- Digital advertising across local news websites
- Multi-market campaigns across Colorado publications
- Community sponsorships and event partnerships
- Targeted audience campaigns
- Print placements within trusted local publications
- Custom packages that combine multiple channels, markets and storytelling formats
Act as a Strategic Advisor to Clients
- Understand business marketing goals and recommend effective campaigns
- Present creative ideas for reaching engaged local audiences
- Demonstrate the value of advertising within trusted local media environments
- Help clients understand how trusted local media can support both marketing performance and community connection
Help Shape the Sales Strategy
- Work with leadership to refine products, packages, and sales materials to make offerings clear, compelling and easy to buy
- Identify new opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships, and marketing programs
- Contribute ideas that expand revenue and strengthen the network
- Help refine proposals, pitches and positioning as offerings evolve
What Success Looks Like
In this role you will:
- Build a new portfolio of advertising, sponsorship and partnership revenue across Colorado from the ground up
- Develop a scalable book of business that supports both client success and local journalism
- Create innovative marketing programs across local news outlets
- Help grow a statewide revenue program that delivers results for businesses while supporting independent local journalism
Who You Are
This role is ideal for someone who loves prospecting and building relationships.
You are comfortable starting conversations, identifying opportunities, and helping organizations see the value in new ideas.
You bring experience in business development, partnerships, sponsorships, or advertising sales.
You are comfortable working in an evolving environment where products, messaging, and strategy continue to develop.
Most importantly, you are motivated by the opportunity to build something meaningful that contributes to business growth and community well-being.
Ideal Experience
We welcome candidates from multiple backgrounds, including:
- Media or advertising sales
- Digital marketing partnerships
- Corporate sponsorship sales
- Nonprofit development and fundraising
- Agency business development
- Strategic partnerships roles
You should bring a track record of meeting or exceeding revenue, sponsorship or fundraising goals. Experience developing new business through prospecting and relationship-building is especially valuable. A history of working in media, managing a sales pipeline, and using CRM tools such as HubSpot is helpful, but not required.
What matters most is your ability to build relationships, open doors, and close deals.
You Might Currently Be
- A media sales executive ready to build something new
- A nonprofit development director selling corporate sponsorships
- A partnerships or sponsorship sales professional
- A business development manager in marketing or media
- An entrepreneurial seller who enjoys creating opportunities
- A business development or corporate partnerships professional in a mission-driven organization
Compensation
This role offers a competitive base salary and strong upside through performance-based commissions with uncapped earning potential.
- Base Salary: $60,000 – $75,000
- Uncapped commission structure
- Monthly, quarterly, and annual bonuses
We provide strong support during the ramp-up period as you build your book of business, including clear goals and ongoing collaboration.
- Typical first-year earnings: $85,000 – $110,000
- Longer-term on-target earnings: $110,000 – $150,000+
Additionally, we offer the following benefits.
- Simple IRA with company match
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Flexible remote work environment
- Access to downtown Denver office space
- Collaborative, mission-driven culture
Why This Role Matters
Local journalism plays a vital role in communities across Colorado. It helps residents stay informed, strengthens civic life, and connects people with the issues, institutions and businesses that shape their daily lives.
Through Colorado Press Network, we help businesses reach highly engaged audiences in trusted local media environments while generating revenue that supports independent news organizations. That means this role is about more than traditional advertising. It is about building partnerships that help businesses grow, help communities stay connected, and help local journalism remain strong.
This role offers the opportunity to build meaningful, mission-aligned revenue partnerships that strengthen businesses, communities and local news.
About the Colorado Press Association
Founded in 1878, the nonprofit Colorado Press Association supports and defends local journalism across the state. We champion the First Amendment, promote government transparency, and work to strengthen the sustainability of local news organizations.
Through the Colorado Press Network, our revenue-generating media sales arm, we help businesses reach highly engaged local audiences across Colorado while supporting the long-term vitality of independent newsrooms across the state.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Colorado Press Association is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.
How to Apply
If you’re excited about building relationships, creating partnerships, and helping sustain local journalism, we would love to hear from you.
Please submit a resume and brief cover letter highlighting your relevant revenue experience and interest in supporting local journalism.
