Head of Marketing

ABOUT US

Haystack News is the leading news streaming platform, connecting 40+ million viewers to local, national, and world news. We’re redefining how people consume news—personalized, free, and on-demand—across mobile, web, and connected TVs. We partner with hundreds of broadcasters and are expanding into premium experiences that combine innovation, trust, and convenience.

We’re looking for a Head of Marketing to lead Haystack’s next phase of growth—building awareness, deepening engagement, growing our new subscription business, and shaping our story across platforms.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role for a creative and analytical marketer who thrives in startup environments. You’ll define and drive Haystack’s marketing strategy across performance, brand, lifecycle, partnerships, and PR. You’ll lead a small but mighty team to develop campaigns that attract new audiences, scale our Premium subscription business, and strengthen loyalty among millions of viewers.

This is a player-coach, hands-on role. You’ll own everything from paid acquisition and lifecycle marketing to messaging, creative, and comms. You’ll shape our story, measure what matters, and move fast.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Marketing Strategy & Leadership: Develop and execute a holistic data-driven marketing strategy that integrates awareness, performance, and retention channels across mobile, CTV, and web.

- Brand & Consumer Marketing: Build and evolve Haystack’s brand identity as the most trusted and personalized way to watch the news. Oversee storytelling across all touchpoints, from social to product messaging.

- Performance & Growth Marketing: Lead campaigns to drive installs, engagement, and subscriptions on web and mobile using paid, organic, and partnership channels.

- Affiliate & Influencer Programs: Launch and scale a creator-driven affiliate program that engages journalists, podcasters, and news influencers.

- Public Relations & Thought Leadership: Shape Haystack’s industry voice through earned media, events, and thought leadership around FAST, local news innovation, and AI personalization.

- Data & Insights: Partner with analytics and product teams to define marketing KPIs, optimize creative performance, and measure LTV across campaigns.

- Team Development: Build and mentor a small, nimble marketing team capable of executing across creative, performance, and comms.

QUALIFICATIONS

- 8+ years of marketing experience, including leadership in consumer growth, performance, or brand marketing (preferably in streaming, media, or DTC).

- Proven experience building campaigns from 0→1 reaching millions of users with limited resources and high creativity.

- Strong analytical skills with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding CAC and RoAS targets.

- Strong understanding of both brand storytelling and data-driven marketing.

- Experience with mobile attribution tools (MMPs) and analytics platforms.

- Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with experience pitching and managing press or agencies.

- Startup or small-team background highly preferred; thrives in hands-on environments.

WHY JOIN HAYSTACK

- Lead marketing at a top-ranked streaming app transforming how people consume news and information.

- Build and scale the team and playbook from the ground up.

- Work with an experienced leadership team that values experimentation, autonomy, and creativity.

- Be part of a mission-driven company championing trusted journalism and smarter news consumption.

WHO SHOULD NOT APPLY

- Big-Company Marketers: If you need large teams, big budgets, agencies on speed dial, or six-month approval cycles to get anything done.

- Brand-Only Storytellers: If you focus solely on storytelling without grounding your strategy in metrics, payback periods, and performance insights.

- Hands-Off: If your default mode is delegation over doing, and you’re not excited to roll up your sleeves.