Advertising Sales Assistant

Job Title: Advertising Sales Coordinator 

Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa 

Job Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Gazette Sales Support Supervisor

Compensation: Hourly

About Us

The Gazette is a trusted and award-winning newspaper media company with deep roots in the community and a strong commitment to journalistic integrity. We are proud to deliver relevant, impactful reporting while connecting readers and advertisers through thoughtful, community-driven content.

Position Overview

The Advertising & Content Sales Coordinator is a key member of the Sales Support team, providing exceptional customer service and coordinating advertising, Milestones, Obituaries, “In Memory Of,” and other designated content from initial customer contact through billing, production, and publication. This position ensures accurate, timely, and high-quality processing of advertising and content while maintaining company style, policies, deadlines, and revenue objectives.

The coordinator serves as a liaison between customers and internal teams, including sales, newsroom, production, pagination, photography, billing, and other departments. The position requires strong attention to detail, communication, organization, proofreading, and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to effectively manage competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide responsive, professional, and helpful customer service by phone, email, and in person.

• Advise customers on rates, deadlines, markets, specials, insertion options, and available services.

• Assist customers with advertising, Milestones, Obituaries, “In Memory Of,” and other designated content.

• Maintain knowledge of account contracts, goals, needs, products, and services.

• Identify opportunities to improve customer submissions and provide suggestions for effective copy, design, photos, and placement.

• Respond to customer questions, complaints, and objections promptly and tactfully while maintaining a positive customer experience.

• Provide assistance in coordinating ads by proofing, submitting edits, and follow through of ads to completion

• Balance competing customer and internal expectations by proactively communicating priorities, timelines, and solutions.

• Cover front desk and assist walk-in customer traffic during open office hours as needed

• Back up other positions of sales support team as needed

• Perform other duties as assigned/needed

Required Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills.

• Strong knowledge of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and proofreading.

• Ability to type 45–50 words per minute accurately.

• Ability to learn and effectively use CRM, advertising, billing, and production systems.

• Ability to understand and apply newspaper, advertising, and organizational style guidelines.

• Strong organizational, planning, time-management, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, competing expectations, and a variety of responsibilities.

• Some creative abilities related to advertising copy, content presentation, photography, and page layout.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment when reviewing customer-submitted content and materials.

• Professional, positive, and tactful approach when interacting with customers, the public, and coworkers.

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment.

• Maintain confidentiality of customer and internal information.

• Flexibility and willingness to learn new processes, systems, products, and responsibilities.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• One to three years of experience in sales, customer service, office administration, production, or a related field preferred.

• Experience working in a deadline-driven environment and/or with advertising, media, publishing, or content production is beneficial.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.