Director, Growth

About Gist

Gist is a social media platform built for curious people who want real substance in their feed: practical, thoughtful content on the things that actually shape real life. No noise. Backed by AppLovin, one of the most powerful data and technology companies in mobile, Gist is building a new kind of lifestyle platform with the infrastructure and scale to win.

The Role

We're looking for a Director / Senior Director of Growth to own the strategy and execution of paid growth for Gist's consumer app. This is a foundational role. You'll build and lead the UA function from the ground up, shaping channel strategy, creative direction, and the measurement infrastructure that powers it all. You'll partner cross-functionally with product, data, and creative to drive scalable, efficient growth at pace. This is a hands-on role: we want a builder who's close to the work, not removed from it.

What You'll Own

Growth Strategy & Channel Leadership

• Own end-to-end paid UA across app install channels (Apple Search Ads, Google UAC/App Campaigns, Meta, TikTok, Snap, YouTube), programmatic, and emerging channels

• Define channel mix, budget allocation, and bidding strategies to hit CPI, CAC, and LTV targets, with a strong command of app store-native install dynamics

• Build a roadmap for scaling spend efficiently from early-stage to mass-market growth

Creative & Messaging

• Own performance creative end-to-end, building toward an in-house creative team (an agency covers it today), and iterate on performance-driven ad creative across formats

• Lead creative testing frameworks that are hypothesis-driven, high-velocity, and data-backed

• Identify winning hooks, formats, and narratives that resonate with Gist's lifestyle

audience

Measurement & Analytics

• Build and own the attribution and measurement stack (MMP oversight, SKAN/ATT framework, incrementality testing, MMM), with a clear point of view on app install measurement post-iOS 14

• Define KPIs and reporting cadences to surface actionable insights to leadership

• Partner with data science to develop LTV models and cohort-level optimization

frameworks

Team & Org Building

• Hire and develop a small but high-performing UA team as the function scales

• Build agency and vendor relationships; know when to keep in-house vs. outsource

• Operate with speed. This is a startup environment inside a scaled tech company

• Player-coach: as comfortable in the campaign manager and the spreadsheet as setting

the strategy

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years in performance/user acquisition marketing, with meaningful time in consumer mobile apps

• Track record of owning a meaningful UA budget; comfortable being hands-on and in the tools, not just directing

• Proven track record scaling a B2C app from growth stage to broad adoption

• Deep expertise in app install channels (Apple Search Ads, Google UAC, Meta, TikTok) and how each fits into a blended acquisition strategy

• Strong command of mobile measurement: MMPs (Adjust, AppsFlyer, Kochava), SKAN/ATT, incrementality, and probabilistic attribution in a post-iOS 14 environment

• Creative intuition: you understand what makes content stop the scroll and can brief/evaluate creative effectively

• Analytical rigor: comfortable owning dashboards, modeling scenarios, and presenting to leadership

• Experience building and managing small-to-mid UA teams

• App-install experience is what matters most: consumer finance, utility, marketplace, or gaming apps all translate well. Lifestyle, social, or content app experience is a plus but

not required

• Familiarity with AppLovin's ecosystem (MAX, AXON) is a plus but not required

Why Gist, Why Now

• AppLovin's data and technology infrastructure gives Gist an advantage in mobile growth

• Ground-floor opportunity to define the UA function for a platform still finding its ceiling

• Real budget, real backing, and a lean team that moves fast

• The autonomy of a founder with the data, capital, and distribution of a public company (NASDAQ: APP)

• Direct, visible impact: your work shapes whether a brand-new consumer platform breaks out

Gist is AppLovin's foray into owned consumer media. It's a lifestyle platform built on the same performance infrastructure that powers the world's top mobile advertisers. For a UA leader, that means access to proprietary data, tooling, and distribution advantages that no standalone startup can offer.

AppLovin provides a competitive total compensation package with a pay for performance rewards approach. Total compensation at AppLovin is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Depending on the position offered, equity, and other forms of incentive compensation (as applicable) may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to dental, vision, and other benefits.

Other Types of Pay: Equity eligible

Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability

Retirement Benefits: 401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off: Unlimited Discretionary Time Off

Paid Holidays: 10 paid holidays per year

Paid Sick Leave: 80 hours per year

Method of Application: Apply online

Application Window: The application window is expected to close within 30 days of the posting date.

All questions or concerns about this posting should be directed to peopleops@applovin.com.

CA Base Pay Range

$221,000—$362,000 USD