Director of Lifecycle – Retention

Chicago Sun-Times

. Lead Chicago Public Media’s enterprise lifecycle strategy across brands, platforms, and audience touchpoints .

Posted 9/21/2026full-timeChicago • Illinois • United StatesLead💰 $118,000 - $147,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading lifecycle strategy, retention frameworks, and audience engagement across multiple channels. Proficient in establishing KPIs, performance reporting, and translating data into actionable strategies for long-term supporter value.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Lifecycle Strategy LeadershipRetention Strategy DevelopmentKPI Establishment and Performance ReportingCross-Functional Initiative ManagementData-Driven Audience Strategy

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Lifecycle Framework DesignCohort AnalysisChurn ReductionSegmentationLifetime Value OptimizationPerformance FrameworksExperimentation ProgramsPersonalization StrategiesAudience SegmentationEngagement Data Translation

Soft Skills

People LeadershipStrategic CommunicationOrganizational Planning

Industry Keywords

Audience Relationship StrategySubscription ManagementMembership EngagementCRMLoyalty ProgramsRetention ModelsEngagement StrategiesLifecycle MessagingCross-Functional CollaborationTeam Development

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead Chicago Public Media’s enterprise lifecycle strategy across brands, platforms, and audience touchpoints
Design systems, frameworks, and strategies that strengthen retention, loyalty, participation, and long-term supporter value following acquisition
Establish lifecycle architecture, audience segmentation, performance goals, and optimization priorities
Guide onboarding, engagement, renewal, sustainer conversion, upgrades, reactivation, advocacy, and long-term relationship development
Design and continually improve scalable lifecycle systems
Develop retention, churn, and lifetime value models
Establish lifecycle KPIs, dashboards, performance reporting, and experimentation roadmaps
Translate behavioral, transactional, and engagement data into strategic recommendations
Define engagement, loyalty, retention, renewal, upgrade, philanthropic progression, and reactivation strategies
Establish lifecycle messaging frameworks across email, direct mail, digital, events, and other audience experiences
Lead cross-functional lifecycle strategy across Product, Marketing, Insights, Editorial, Development, Revenue Operations, and technology teams
Manage and develop team members responsible for specialized Lifecycle & Retention functions
Build team capabilities and identify capability, resource, technology, and process gaps

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience leading lifecycle, retention, subscription, membership, CRM, loyalty, or audience relationship strategy
Demonstrated ability to design lifecycle frameworks across multiple audience segments, products, channels, or brands
Strong understanding of retention strategy, cohort analysis, churn reduction, segmentation, and lifetime value optimization
Experience translating behavioral, transactional, and engagement data into audience strategies and organizational decisions
Experience establishing KPIs, performance frameworks, experimentation programs, and optimization roadmaps
Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives across Product, Marketing, Insights, Development, Editorial, technology, or comparable functions
Ability to move between enterprise strategy, analytical insight, and implementation through specialized teams
Experience building personalization, loyalty, engagement, or member experience strategies
Strong people leadership, strategic communication, and organizational planning skills
Demonstrated ability to build new capabilities, systems, or operating models rather than solely manage established programs

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Vacation
Holidays
Life insurance
Disability coverage
Retirement savings
Commuter benefits plan
Competitive salary and benefits package