Distribution Policy Lead

Patreon is a media and community platform where over 300,000 creators give their biggest fans access to exclusive work and experiences. We offer creators a variety of ways to engage with their fans and build a lasting business including: paid memberships, free memberships, community chats, live video, and selling to fans directly with one-time purchases.

Ultimately our goal is simple: fund the creative class. And we're leaders in that space, with:

• $10 billion+ generated by creators since Patreon's inception

• 100 million+ free memberships for fans who may not be ready to pay just yet, and

• 25 million+ paid memberships on Patreon today.

We're continuing to invest heavily in building the best creator products with the best team in the creator economy and are looking for a Distribution Policy Lead to support our mission of providing relevant recommendations for fans and creators.

This role is Remote friendly or could sit in our San Francisco or New York Offices. Our offices operate under a hybrid work model where teammates are expected to be in office 2 days a week at minimum.

About the Team

This role sits on Patreon’s Platform Policy team, the group of subject matter experts who develop and launch the rules that govern how creators and fans use Patreon. We cover a wide range of risk categories and serve as dedicated cross-functional partners to our product, engineering, operations, legal, marketing, and communications teams.

About the Role

As Patreon works to refine its network strategy, the Distribution Policy Lead, will work closely with key stakeholders across the company to define algorithmic safety and determine which eligible creators and content should be recommended. This role combines policy expertise, operational understanding, and cross-functional collaboration to address the nuanced challenges of modern algorithm-driven recommendations including: existing and emerging regulations, developments in state-of-the-art AI systems, and the complexities of a wide range of content types.

What You’ll Do:

1. Policy Development & Strategy

• We’re looking for a unicorn.

• Develop distribution policies that complement our editorial strategy and support creativity and expression while addressing content policy risks associated with user-generated content (both fan and creator). Beyond setting our distribution policies, this individual will also own several related content policy verticals which could include minor safety, harassment, hate speech, and inauthentic behavior.

• Look over the horizon for emerging trends, legal frameworks, and industry best practices to ensure our policies remain state-of-the-art.

2. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Product, Marketing, Partnerships, Operations, Engineering, and Design teams to ensure distribution policies are operationally feasible, user-friendly, and scalable.

• Get under the hood to understand how our algorithms function and their expected outcomes.

• Embody the core value to Win Together by fostering strong partnerships across teams and departments.

3. Risk Management & Escalation

• Own the policy perspective in escalations involving sensitive content.

• Work with partners to evaluate and refine appeal mechanisms, ensuring a fair and transparent process for creators impacted by distribution and recommendation policies.

4. Education & Communication

• Develop educational resources to help creators and fans understand our distribution policies and how they’re applied.

• Represent Patreon externally, collaborating with industry groups, regulators, and partners to share our unique approach to algorithmic-distribution.

• Act as a thought leader internally, building awareness of content safety challenges and opportunities across the company.

• Uphold the value of Be Curious by seeking innovative solutions and continuously learning from industry peers.

5. Data-Driven Approach

• Use insights from genre labeling, enforcement metrics, user feedback, and external benchmarks to continuously improve distribution effectiveness.

• Drive A/B testing and other experiments to measure the impact of policy updates on both safety outcomes and user experience.

• Reflect Patreon’s value to Build with Craft by leveraging data to create thoughtful, high-quality policies.

About You

• Experienced Policy Professional: 5+ years of experience in distribution, ranking, recommendation, or content policy, trust & safety, or legal roles at a tech or social media company.

• Strategic Thinker: Able to balance long-term vision with pragmatic solutions to address immediate challenges.

• Excellent Communicator: Skilled at articulating complex policy decisions to diverse audiences, from creators to executives to regulators.

• Cross-Functional Leader: Comfortable navigating the complexities of cross-team collaboration, especially in highly matrixed environments.

• Data-Informed: Proficient in leveraging metrics and insights to guide decision-making and policy refinement.

• Mission-Aligned: Passionate about supporting creators and fostering safe, inclusive online spaces.

• Adaptable: Thrives in fast-paced environments and can manage competing priorities effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with algorithmic-driven content distribution systems, content moderation tools and operational processes.

• Experience managing sensitive or high-profile escalations in a content moderation or risk management context.

• Knowledge of global regulatory frameworks, particularly those affecting user-generated content and recommendation systems.

• Background in the creator economy or deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by creators online.

About Patreon

Patreon powers creators to do what they love and get paid by the people who love what they do. Our team is passionate about making this mission and our core values come to life every day in our work. Through this work, our Patronauts:

• Put Creators First | They’re the reason we’re here. When creators win, we win.

• Build with Craft | We sign our name to every deliverable, just like the creators we serve.

• Make it Happen | We don’t quit. We learn and deliver.

• Win Together | We grow as individuals. We win as a team.

We hire talented and passionate people from different backgrounds because workplace diversity and inclusion is critical to our ability to serve creators worldwide. If you’re excited about a role but your past experience doesn’t match with every bullet point outlined above, we strongly encourage you to apply anyway. If you’re a creator at heart, are energized by our mission, and share our company values, we’d love to hear from you.

Patreon is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the interview process, please let us know via email at accommodations@patreon.

Patreon offers a competitive benefits package including and not limited to salary, equity plans, healthcare, flexible time off, company holidays and recharge days, commuter benefits, lifestyle stipends, learning and development stipends, patronage, parental leave, and 401k plan with matching.

Patreon operates under a hybrid work model, where employees based in office locations are expected to come into the office two days per week, excluding sick time and paid leave. The goal of this policy is to be intentional about the in-person time we spend together to strengthen the feeling of community at Patreon. Candidates hired into remote-eligible roles are not expected to meet the same requirements.

At Patreon, we believe in fair and transparent pay. In compliance with New York and California pay transparency laws, we are sharing the expected salary range for this role.

The posted salary range is dependent on the location and the level. This range may encompass multiple levels within the role’s job family. The final offer will be based on candidate’s experience, skills, competencies, and geographic location, aligning with the appropriate job level within Patreon’s leveling framework. For remote employees located outside CA and NY, salary may vary based on location and local market conditions.

Patreon reserves the right to modify or update compensation and benefits at any time.