Chief Product & Technology Officer

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 158-year legacy. With seven Pulitzer Prizes and numerous other accolades, we stand as a beacon of journalistic excellence in Minnesota. We are the heart and voice of the North.

Our mission is to build a better Minnesota by connecting us with the people, ideas, and stories that strengthen our communities. We're seeking dynamic leaders who are passionate about journalism and democracy to help shape this future. If you are excited about reinventing one of our state's most trusted institutions and leading us into a new era of growth and excellence, we want to hear from you.

Job Summary: Chief Product & Technology Officer

As the Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), you will be the strategic and operational leader responsible for driving the Minnesota Star Tribune's digital product transformation. This role combines oversight of both product innovation and technology development & infrastructure, ensuring our platforms, tools, and experiences are world-class and future-ready. A strong executive leader with excellent management skills, you will lead a team that spans product management, engineering, design, and AI. You'll work with the newsroom, consumer growth, and business teams to deliver intuitive, seamless, engaging, and scalable digital experiences for audiences of our award-winning journalism.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, helping to define and execute the company's long-term strategy. As a purpose-driven leader, you'll be joining a team that's working to transform one of Minnesota's most trusted institutions into a modern digital media company that's relevant, impactful, and strengthens our state.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership:

• Define and execute a unified product and technology vision aligned with the company's mission and growth goals.

• Have technology foresight and champion a digital-first mindset across the organization, integrating technology into all aspects of the business.

• Manage relationships with external vendors and provide ongoing oversight to ensure they provide strategic value to the organization.

• Bring strong prioritization skills, driving focus and clarity within the product team and stakeholders on initiatives large and small.

• Team Building & Culture:

• Lead and grow high-performing, diverse teams across product, engineering, UX, design, and AI.

• Foster a culture of innovation, scrappiness, experimentation, continuous improvement and a bias towards action and results.

• Let data-driven insights be the basis for decision-making.

• Product & Platform Development:

• Oversee the full product lifecycle-from ideation to launch to iteration.

• Ensure products meet user needs, business objectives, and editorial standards, balancing both short and long-term needs.

• Drive the development of scalable, secure, flexible, and user-centric platforms.

• Look inside and outside the news industry for best-in-class subscription and membership product strategies to grow revenue, alongside consumer growth team.

• Technology Operations:

• Modernize and maintain the company's technology infrastructure, ensuring reliability, security, and performance.

• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including but not limited to AI/ML, personalization, and metadata strategies.

• Collaboration & Communication:

• Partner with newsroom, business, and revenue leaders to align product and tech initiatives with company-wide goals.

• Serve as a thought leader and advocate for digital transformation internally and externally.

Qualifications:

• Proven executive leadership experience in product and/or technology roles, ideally within platform-driven or content organizations. Media experience is a plus but is not required.
• Deep expertise in digital product strategy, software development, and technology operations.
• Demonstrated success in managing vendors, leading cross-functional teams, driving cultural change and delivering product rollouts or complex, enterprise digital initiatives.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML, data architecture, and emerging media technologies.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and strategic thinking skills.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in a related field is a plus.

Reports to: CEO/Publisher

Direct Reports: VP, Engineering; Head of Product; Head of Design; Artificial Intelligence Lab

More about The Minnesota Star Tribune

At The Minnesota Star Tribune, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to their happiness, growth, and well-being. Here's a snapshot of the exceptional benefits we offer:

• Modern Downtown Office: Enjoy a state-of-the-art workspace with a free fitness center, collaborative center, golf simulator, and a rooftop patio.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Includes commuting subsidy, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Wellness & Work-Life Balance: Participate in our wellness program with financial incentives, generous paid time off, flexible holidays, one volunteer day, and two wellness days.
• Financial & Family Support: Benefit from a 401(k) with company match, paid parental and caregiving leave, hybrid work arrangements, and tuition reimbursement.
• Additional Perks: Access to an employee assistance program, pet insurance, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts.

2025 award winner of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in Media and News and proud recipient of Newsweek's Greatest Midsize Workplaces 2025 recognition.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Even if you don't meet every single requirement for this role, we encourage you to apply. At The Minnesota Star Tribune, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Salary/Wage Range

$300,000+ / year

Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. The Minnesota Star Tribune offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401(K) match, healthcare coverage - medical, dental, and vision, life, disability, paid time off, and a broad range of other benefits. Learn more at benefits.startribunecompany.com.