Chief Growth Officer (Must currently reside in or near Washington DC)

COMPANY OVERVIEWupNEXT is building America's leadership infrastructure for the 21st century—an invite-only platform where power, policy, and enterprise collide. We're not another media company. We're creating a new category: Industrial Patriotism—strengthening U.S. competitiveness by equipping leaders to navigate technological disruption, market velocity, and geopolitical complexity. The LeaderForce connects high-performers across government, business, and innovation through reels-based daily intelligence on AI, supply chains, defense, capital, and power dynamics; expert-led content that transforms complexity into competitive advantage; private roundtables and salons where C-suite, Capitol Hill, and Silicon Valley converge; and strategic partnerships linking corporate influence, policy outcomes, and technological breakthroughs. This is where America's next generation of executives, policymakers, and innovators comes to learn, lead, and shape what's next.POSITION OVERVIEWThe Chief Growth Officer will architect and own upNEXT's commercial engine—driving sponsorships, memberships, partnerships, and event revenue while establishing upNEXT as the premier platform for brands and institutions shaping American competitiveness. Reporting to the Founder & CEO, you'll blend strategic vision with sales execution: a closer who can build. You'll personally land the first wave of lighthouse sponsors, design the revenue model from scratch, and scale a high-performing commercial organization that generates predictable, repeatable growth.You won't just build a sales team. You'll define a market category—establishing the commercial model for how America's most consequential brands invest in leadership development, policy intelligence, and cross-sector influence. You'll personally recruit the founding sponsors who validate the vision. You'll design the experiences that become industry benchmarks. You'll own equity in a platform positioned at the center of American power and innovation. This is your chance to build something that outlasts you—while getting compensated like a founder for doing it.SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIESRevenue LeadershipArchitect and execute unified revenue strategy across sponsorships, memberships, branded content, partnerships, and live eventDesign pricing, packaging, and value propositions that scale revenue while protecting platform exclusivityPersonally close seven-figure, multi-year partnerships with Fortune 1000s, associations, and strategic institutionsBuild full-funnel commercial systems: pipeline, forecasting, conversion tracking, performance accountabilityMarket Positioning & RelationshipsEstablish upNEXT as the destination for brands investing in American leadership, policy influence, and executive engagementCultivate senior relationships with CMOs, Chief Communications Officers, Government Relations heads, and C-suite decision-makersCommand credibility in rooms of consequence—boardrooms, Capitol Hill, Davos, MilkenTeam & CultureAct as player-coach: carry the bag on anchor deals while recruiting and mentoring a world-class sales and partnerships teamBuild a culture of disciplined execution, intellectual rigor, and mission-driven excellenceScale from founder-led sales to institutional revenue engineCross-Functional AlignmentPartner with editorial, product, and community teams to ensure monetization enhances—not compromises—audience valueTranslate emerging client needs into innovative commercial offerings that strengthen competitive positioningCANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONSEducation: Bachelor's required; MBA or advanced degree preferred10+ years leading revenue, business development, or partnerships in media, strategic communications, or influence platforms—with direct B2B revenue ownership, not editorial, policy-only, or account management rolesProven seven-figure deal closer with track record of complex, multi-format partnerships spanning content, events, memberships, and sponsorships into Fortune 1000, U.S. agencies, and top associationsDeep D.C. network with operational relationships across Fortune 1000 executives, agencies, associations, and government relations leaders—ideally from high-value platforms like Politico Pro, Axios, The Information, Bloomberg Intelligence, Milken Institute, or Atlantic CouncilBuilder DNA: launched or rebuilt commercial functions, pricing models, or sales organizations from scratch—not just scaled existing engines—with expertise in high-touch, invitation-only events and salonsExecutive presence that commands rooms, tells compelling stories, and earns trust with CEOs and CMOs on first meetingEntrepreneurial wiring: thrives in ambiguity, creates playbooks instead of following them, non-partisan and pro-enterprise orientation credible across political and industry boundariesMission alignment with genuine belief in strengthening American competitiveness, innovation, and industrial leadership