Business Development Intern

Pioneers; New York (NY); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

A digital media company is looking for a Strategic Operations Intern in New York. This role involves supporting marketing efforts to grow subscribers, managing partner outreach, and analyzing performance metrics for sponsors. Ideal candidates will be undergraduate students with strong organizational skills and a keen interest in media and startups. This internship offers hands-on experience with opportunity for professional development in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Currently a student in a relevant field.
• Strong interest in media and startups.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Support marketing initiatives to grow subscribers.
• Research potential partners and manage outreach.
• Compile performance metrics for sponsors.

Skills

Organizational skills

Excellent communication

Proactivity

Interest in media

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Media Studies

Tools

Substack

CRM tools

Project management tools (Notion, Asana, Trello)

Job description

We are posting this role on behalf of our client. You will be able to see more details about the hiring company once you start your application.

Wonder Tools is seeking a Strategic Operations Intern to support the publication’s day-to-day operations, subscriber communications, and business development efforts. This role is ideal for a detail‑oriented undergraduate who wants hands‑on experience in the business side of digital media—including customer relations, sponsor support, partnership outreach, and operational workflows. You’ll work closely with the founder. Join us to get experience at a fast‑growing entrepreneurial creator venture.

Responsibilities

Marketing & Growth

• Support and execute marketing initiatives to grow subscribers and engagement
• Assist with campaign planning, content promotion, and audience development
• Track performance metrics and help refine growth strategies

Partnerships & Business Development

• Research and identify potential partners, sponsors, and collaborators
• Support outreach, partnership discussions, and relationship management
• Help coordinate co‑marketing initiatives and strategic collaborations

Sponsor Support & Metrics

• Gather post‑campaign performance metrics for sponsors (open rates, click‑through rates, subscriber reach) from Substack’s analytics dashboard
• Compile metrics into clear, professional sponsor reports using established templates
• Send completed reports to sponsors and handle routine follow‑up communications
• Assist the Business Development lead with sponsor outreach: research prospective sponsors, gather contact information, and draft initial outreach emails for review
• Track sponsor pipeline activity and follow‑up status in a shared tracker
• Research potential collaborators: other Substack writers, podcasters, YouTube creators, and newsletter authors in adjacent spaces (productivity, AI, journalism, education)
• Draft outreach messages for cross‑promotions, guest collaborations, and Substack Live invitations (for founder’s review and approval)
• Send approved outreach messages and manage follow‑up communications
• Research potential group subscription targets: journalism schools, newsrooms, corporate training departments, nonprofit associations
• Assist with coordinating logistics for Substack Live conversations: scheduling, guest confirmations, and post‑event follow‑up

General Support

• Act as a thought partner and operational support to the founder
• Handle ad hoc projects related to growth, partnerships, and strategy
• Minor video or audio editing or social media producing

Qualifications

• Currently a student receiving a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Media Studies, or similar.
• Strong interest in media, startups, marketing, and partnerships
• Highly organized, proactive, and detail‑oriented
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with Substack, newsletter platforms, or email marketing tools
• Experience with customer service, sales support, or outreach in any context
• Exposure to CRM tools, project management tools (Notion, Asana, Trello), or basic data analytics
• Interest in productivity tools, AI, or journalism

What You’ll Gain

• Direct experience working with the founder of a fast‑growing, highly‑rated independent media publication
• Hands‑on exposure to business development, partnership outreach, and sponsor relations in digital media
• Experience with the operational side of scaling a newsletter with 84,000+ subscribers as it heads to the near‑term goal of 100,000 global subscribers
• Practical skills in professional communication, customer relations, and project coordination
• A portfolio of real outreach, research, and communications work

Hourly compensation during the internship: $15-$20.