Why come build something with us?

Launching a newsroom from scratch is no small lift — but if you’re the right person, that challenge feels more like opportunity. Over the past 12 years, we’ve built three thriving local newsrooms that cover Richland, Ashland, and Knox counties

Now, we’re building a newsroom for and with Delaware, Ohio.

You might be the perfect Senior Account Executive if you believe that strong local journalism and strong local businesses rise together. If you understand that revenue isn’t just revenue — it’s what gives independent newsrooms the freedom to serve their communities without compromise.

This role is for someone who’s entrepreneurial, community-minded, curious, and energized by the idea of shaping a new market from the ground up.

Whether you’re a seasoned account executive ready for your next challenge or someone who knows Delaware County like the back of your hand and is ready to build something meaningful — this might be your moment.

Let’s be clear about who we are:

Trusted. Ninety-five percent of 4,000+ survey respondents said they trusted our reporting in 2024.

Entrepreneurial. You’ll experiment, think big, and call some of your own shots — with a team behind you.

Community-focused. You’ll see firsthand how membership, philanthropy, and advertising fuel a newsroom.

Solutions-minded. We believe journalism should help communities move forward, not just describe problems.

Engaged. We are a reader-driven newsroom — listening, answering, adapting.

Connected. We’re supported and trained by some of the most respected journalism and innovation organizations in the country.

Ambitious. We punch above our weight class, and we’re proud of it.

The Role

We’re hiring a Community Business Manager to lead business development for Delaware Source. This is the business face of a brand-new newsroom — the person who introduces us to Delaware County, builds trust, and forms marketing partnerships that help local businesses grow and generates real revenue to support our operations.

It’s a mix of sales, strategy, community building — and entirely entrepreneurial.

What You’ll Do

Drive revenue that sustains local journalism

• Prospect local businesses through cold calls, email outreach and drop-ins and identify real marketing needs.
• Listen deeply and develop thoughtful marketing and advertising proposals.
• Manage the entire sales process — from outreach to signed agreement to handoff.

Be Delaware Source’s business leader in the community

• Represent our mission and brand with confidence, clarity, and credibility.
• Build and deepen relationships with local businesses, organizations, and community leaders.

Show up where Delaware shows up

• Attend Chamber events, networking gatherings, coffees, ribbon cuttings, and civic events.
• Make sure Delaware Source is present, visible, and known in the community.

Collaborate like it’s a team sport

• Partner closely with the Client Success Manager to ensure campaigns deliver results.
• Share trends, insights, and community opportunities with the newsroom and leadership team.
• Support occasional sales efforts in Knox County as needed.

Build something real

• Maintain CRM documentation and pipeline health (HubSpot training provided).
• Help shape the future of Delaware Source’s business presence.
   

What Success Looks Like

• Delaware Source becomes a known and trusted brand in 6–12 months.
• You are exceeding revenue KPIs within 9-12 months, building a strong, sustainable pipeline of new partnerships and renewals
• You measure success through new business, strong retention, and community visibility.
• You become a trusted, recognizable presence in Delaware County civic and business life.
• Your work directly funds journalism that helps Delaware thrive.

Who You Are

• A genuine connector who listens deeply and builds trust quickly.
• A relationship-builder who understands real-world business challenges.
• Confident asking for the business and comfortable closing when the fit is right.
• A self-starter who thrives in environments where you help write the playbook.
• A strategic thinker who can match business needs to marketing solutions.
• Someone who sees possibility where others see limitations.
• Someone who believes local journalism is a public good.
• Ideally 3+ years of B2B or consultative sales experience (media a plus, not mandatory).
   

Don’t meet every single qualification? Tell us why your background still makes you a strong fit — we want to hear your story.

Salary & Benefits

• Base salary + commission + quarterly bonuses
• 401(k) with 100% employer match
• 3 weeks paid vacation + 1 week PTO
• Hybrid work environment with flexibility
• Mileage reimbursement for community travel
• Technology & mobile phone stipend
• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• HSA with employer contribution
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-paid emotional & mental health support / counseling
• 8 paid holidays, including MLK Day and Juneteenth
• A vibrant, collaborative team culture with real professional development opportunities

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

We believe the strongest organizations reflect the communities they serve.

People who thrive here love local news, believe in community, take ownership of their work, give and receive feedback with humility, and want to build something meaningful with others.

We come from farms, suburbs, and cities.

We vote differently, worship differently, live differently — and we like that.

Some of us have degrees in journalism; others never went to college.

We’re omnivores and vegetarians, gun owners and people who’ve never held one.

What matters is that we treat people with curiosity and respect — and we’re committed to creating a workplace where all kinds of people can belong.

If this sounds like a place where you can bring your whole self and do your best work — we want to hear from you.

How to Apply

Send your resume and a short note sharing why Delaware matters to you.