Audience Booker - Private Roundtables (Contract)

Who we are

Semafor is a global news platform for an increasingly complex world in which consumers are overwhelmed by too many news sources and unsure what to trust. We are building Semafor to enable world-class journalists to deliver reporting and insights with rigor in journalistic forms that ensure a new level of transparency. Our editors and reporters distill the most important stories from all over in formats that uncover the forces shaping the stories, explain the interests behind polarizing narratives, and replenish the stock of shared facts. As a global platform, Semafor recognizes that smart people can disagree and that informed readers need to understand alternative points of view from competing centers of power and culture in a multi-polar world. Want to join us? Read on. 

About this Role

Semafor is seeking an experienced Contract Audience Booker to lead audience curation, recruitment, and booking for a portfolio of invitation-only executive roundtables.

This role requires a combination of editorial judgment, audience development expertise, and strong operational discipline. The successful candidate will be responsible for assembling high-quality, relevant groups of senior executives aligned with each roundtable's editorial theme and the objectives of its underwriting partner.

The role requires independent ownership of the booking process, close cross-functional coordination, and the ability to deliver a carefully curated audience against defined participation targets.

Key Responsibilities

Audience Strategy & Curation

• Develop targeted invitation lists for private executive roundtables based on editorial themes, audience briefs, and partner objectives.
• Identify and prioritize relevant senior executives, decision-makers, and industry leaders.
• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure the proposed audience meets both editorial standards and partner expectations.
• Maintain a balanced, high-quality audience mix that supports meaningful discussion and engagement.

Audience Recruitment & Booking

• Own the invitation and booking process from initial outreach through confirmed attendance.
• Draft and execute personalized invitations and follow-up communications.
• Track outreach, responses, confirmed attendees, and declines, maintaining accurate booking records.
• Proactively manage the recruitment pipeline to meet audience targets and address gaps in representation.
• Manage substitutions, cancellations, and last-minute changes.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as a key audience contact for internal editorial, events, and partner management teams.
• Work closely with Partner Management Leads to understand partner priorities, provide booking updates, and manage expectations.
• Maintain clear, timely communication on booking progress, audience composition, and potential challenges.
• Ensure all stakeholders have accurate and up-to-date information ahead of each event.

Event Readiness & On-Site Handoff

• Prepare and finalize attendee lists, briefing documents, and relevant participant information.
• Coordinate with event operations teams on check-in, seating, and attendee management requirements.
• Ensure a clear and accurate handoff to on-site teams, including last-minute updates and special considerations.
• Support final attendance reconciliation and post-event reporting.

What makes you qualified

• Demonstrated experience in senior-level audience recruitment, executive event booking, or high-touch invitation-only events.
• Strong research skills and sound judgment in identifying relevant executives and organizations.
• Excellent written communication and professional outreach skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple booking pipelines and deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience working across editorial, commercial, and events teams.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to maintain tight operational processes.
• Comfort engaging with senior executives and their offices.

Additional Job Details

This position is ideally based out of either our New York, NY or Washington, DC or Fully Remote.

Salary Range: $1,700 per week flat project rate. 

Additional job details

Semafor offers a Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy to our full-time, salaried employees who may take paid time off as-needed without a prescribed limit or defined balance.

Semafor, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Semafor, Inc. will consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.