The Washington Post

Senior Engagement Lead

DC-Washington-TWP Headquarters Full time

Join the future of news

We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

About Our Team

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

Why This Role Matters

 

The Washington Post is seeking a seasoned and results-oriented Senior Engagement Lead to join our subscriptions marketing team. This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for leading strategy and execution across the subscriber lifecycle, with a clear focus on the first 100 days to drive product adoption, habit formation, and long-term retention.

 

This role operates with high autonomy and enterprise impact. You will shape lifecycle strategy, establish best practices, and influence cross-functional decision-making that directly impacts customer lifetime value and subscriber loyalty across our digital subscriber base.

 

Reporting to the Director of Engagement and Retention, you will partner closely with Product, Analytics, Revenue Science, Finance, Newsroom stakeholders, Brand Marketing, Acquisition, and Paid Media to design and scale integrated engagement strategies. You will combine strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and operational excellence to deliver personalized, high-impact experiences across email, push, onsite, and app channels.

 

What Motivates You

  • Contributing to The Post’s mission to become the world’s leading news organization.

  • Driving data-informed strategies that influence business growth and long-term subscriber value.

  • Leading complex, cross-functional initiatives that require strategic clarity and disciplined execution.

  • Elevating team capability through mentorship, knowledge sharing, and best-practice development.

  • Building scalable, measurable lifecycle programs that create meaningful customer experiences.

 

How You'll Support the Mission

  • Lead end-to-end lifecycle strategy and execution to increase engagement, strengthen retention, and grow customer lifetime value across subscriber segments.

  • Own and continuously evolve the onboarding experience, with particular focus on the first 100 days, driving clear value communication, benefit discovery, and habit formation across channels.

  • Establish lifecycle marketing frameworks, standards, and measurement approaches that scale across the organization.

  • Translate cohort, behavioral, and campaign insights into strategic recommendations that inform roadmap, prioritization, and investment decisions.

  • Design and optimize behavior-driven journeys, continuously testing messaging, cadence, audience segmentation, and channel mix to improve performance.

  • Lead disciplined experimentation strategies, including A/B and multivariate testing, ensuring learnings are documented and scaled.

  • Monitor lifecycle program performance and proactively identify trends, risks, and growth opportunities.

  • Partner closely with Product, Brand Marketing, Analytics, Newsroom, Acquisition, and Paid Media to align lifecycle initiatives with product launches, editorial priorities, promotional efforts, and integrated campaigns.

  • Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders, ensuring lifecycle strategy is embedded in broader business initiatives.

  • Champion subscriber benefit awareness, Premium Extra Accounts activation, and feature adoption across onsite and app experiences to deepen engagement and perceived value.

  • Mentor and guide junior team members and peers, providing thought partnership, technical guidance, and feedback to elevate overall team performance.

  • Contribute to a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement through knowledge sharing and best-practice development.

  • Lead by influence rather than authority, modeling strategic rigor and collaborative problem-solving.

 

Skills and Experience You Bring

  • Bachelor’s degree or at least 7+ years of professional experience in lifecycle marketing, engagement, or eCommerce, including experience in subscription-based business models.

  • Deep hands-on expertise in omni-channel marketing campaign execution, testing, and optimization (email, website, in-app, push notifications). Familiarity with Iterable strongly preferred.

  • Experience working with marketing technology tools (CDPs, ESPs, eCommerce systems) and applying best practices for campaign implementation and scalability.

  • Strong proficiency with analytics and BI tools (Tableau, Looker, Google Analytics) and the ability to translate data into strategic insights.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives independently and influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.

  • Proven experience mentoring or coaching junior employees and contributing to team capability development.

  • Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively and deliver high-quality work at pace.

  • Demonstrated ability to interpret testing results, synthesize insights, and drive continuous optimization.

  • Collaborative mindset, intellectual curiosity, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

 

Collaboration makes us stronger. That’s why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.

Compensation and Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

  • Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage

  • Company-paid pension and 401(k) match

  • Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave

  • Nine paid holidays and two personal days

  • 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent

  • Robust mental health resources

  • Backup care and caregiver concierge services

  • Gender affirming services

  • Pet insurance

  • Free Post digital subscription

  • Leadership and career development programs

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

The salary range for this position is:

$91,800 - $153,000 Annual

The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.