General Manager, City Cast DC

Role overview

City Cast DC is developing a new kind of local newsroom for Washington, combining the depth and rigor of a strong newspaper with the close, conversational feel of a trusted friend in the city. The organization is expanding its editorial operation, subscription business, and overall position as a must-read source for local news in DC.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who can guide a semi-independent local media business that includes editorial, sales, and marketing functions, while operating within a well-supported national network. The General Manager will own the profit and loss statement, shape the strategy, and be responsible for the company’s success as both a journalism outlet and a business. The role reports directly to the CEO of City Cast.

Key responsibilities

The role combines business leadership, people management, editorial partnership, brand building, and market strategy. The General Manager is expected to set direction, drive growth, and keep the organization competitive in the DC media landscape.

Business leadership

• Take full ownership of City Cast DC’s financial performance, including revenue, expenses, and operating results.
• Create and execute the yearly business plan covering subscription growth, advertising income, and budget management.
• Grow audiences and subscribers through strong editorial quality, product thinking, smart marketing, and active community engagement.
• Coordinate with City Cast headquarters on strategy, capital decisions, and performance targets.

Team leadership

• Directly oversee and develop the DC leadership group, including the Executive Producer and Sales Director.
• Manage and coach a mission-driven, high-performing team spanning reporting, editing, sales, and audience development; the current team size is 15 full-time employees and is expected to grow.
• Build a culture centered on editorial ambition, ownership, and experimentation.
• Act as the link between the local team and the wider City Cast organization by sharing learnings, useful practices, and wins across the network.

Editorial direction

• Work closely with the Executive Producer to ensure the journalism is distinctive, essential, and trusted by the audience.
• Protect and elevate editorial standards while keeping the City Cast voice consistent across podcast, newsletter, web, video, and social channels.
• Represent the organization as a visible and credible figure in Washington’s media and civic environment.

Brand, partnerships, and growth

• Lead local marketing planning in partnership with the national marketing team.
• Create partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, and community relationships that broaden reach and build trust locally.
• Shape and execute a membership and subscription strategy that converts engaged audiences into paying supporters.

Market strategy

• Build a competitive plan for challenging established DC media brands and attracting their audiences and advertisers.
• Spot gaps in the local news ecosystem and develop coverage and products that address them.
• Stay closely connected to the Washington, DC market, including its politics, neighborhoods, personalities, and local needs.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in media, journalism, or a related field, with substantial leadership responsibility in business or operations.
• Proven ability to own a P&L or run a business unit, preferably in local media, digital media, or news.
• Strong understanding of Washington, DC, including its political environment, neighborhoods, media culture, and audience dynamics.
• Experience leading and developing cross-functional teams across editorial, sales, and/or marketing.
• History of increasing audience and revenue in a competitive media setting.
• Solid judgment on editorial quality paired with working knowledge of media business models such as subscriptions, advertising, sponsorships, and audience growth.
• Entrepreneurial approach and comfort working in fast-paced, resource-limited settings.
• An established network within DC media, civic, and political circles.
• Strong commitment to local journalism and recognition of its civic importance.

Compensation and benefits

The base salary for this position is between $160,000 and $190,000 per year.

• Performance bonus linked to business outcomes such as revenue growth, subscription goals, and audience milestones.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Pension coverage, consistent with the benefits available across Graham Holdings affiliates.

Additional information

City Cast is an equal opportunity employer and values excellence through diversity. The company encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

City Cast is affiliated with Graham Holdings.

Application deadline: July 8, 2026.