Strategic Partnership Development Manager

LOCATION: 

The Strategic Partnerships Development Manager is a remote, work from home position, as are all positions at Acceleration Partners (a structure central to our culture and our vision to change the work/life paradigm). Some travel is required, for client meetings or other internal meetings, conferences, etc. Candidate's must reside in the Greater Los Angeles area as some client travel is required.

THE ROLE: 

Acceleration Partners is seeking an experienced Strategic Partnership Development Manager with business development/sales experience, to support the growth of an enterprise level client’s global B2B affiliate program. This person will be required to join client calls to pitch high value opportunities, to provide strategic insights, and their progress to goals. Thinking with a how not if mentality, maintaining an action-oriented approach, and effective questioning will be critical in this role.  

TOP 5 JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Client Revenue: 

• Publisher Performance: Contributes to overall revenue goal for Growth & Partnerships department, and the growth of managed clients, through creation of high potential relationships and optimization of publishers, which includes but is not limited to paid placements, CPA increases and products for reviews. 
• Performance and Placement Trackers: Consistently updates G&P department relationship tracker with details on the partnerships they facilitate; updates client-approved placement tracker. 
• SME in Client Verticals and Partner Relationships: Is a trusted and knowledgeable resource; is an expert in verticals of managed clients; proactively leads conversations to lend expertise and knowledge across the org. 

Business Development and Publisher Relationships: 

• Proactive Research: Identifies new, high-quality partnerships and/or areas of opportunity based on client needs, industry evolvement; utilizes resources such as the Pub Dev weekly roundup and SimilarWeb. 
• Persuasiveness: Successfully recruits high-potential partners to join client programs; explains the value of joining and promoting client programs and/or successfully negotiates paid placement terms and fees. 
• Relationship Fostering and Growth: Has best in class interactions and/or relationships with top performing publishers and has a trusted network of partners on behalf of managed clients. 
• Written and Verbal Communication: Is comfortable with cold emailing; communications are clear, informative, and engaging. Asks relevant questions when speaking to publishers to vet opportunities. Manages day-to-day communication with top publishers in program (when owning paid placements and optimization). Communication is managed independently 95% of the time. 
• Initiative: Has a proven track record of identifying and executing upon areas of opportunity and optimization across program to drive revenue growth. 

Strategy and Execution: 

• Alignment to Client Strategy and Goals: Participates in SPD engagement kickoff call with client and ongoing calls as needed; asks appropriate questions and has a clear understanding of client goals and KPIs. 
• Creation and Ongoing Ownership of Strategy: Creates plan for recruitment and/or paid placement initiatives that support the client’s program, including expected timeline for execution. Executes paid placement strategy, including negotiation of terms, campaign set-up, commission changes and coordinating communication with partners. Executes recruitment strategy, including list building, outreach template and tracker. Manages 95% of strategy without regular assistance from manager. 
• Strategy Pivots: Adapts to change and pivots strategies to reach client goals; sets expectations and projects new goals when not achievable. Consistently able to communicate and push back when client goals are unrealistic without damaging relationships. 

Pitching Opportunities: 

• Persuasiveness: Consistently demonstrates intellectual curiosity; challenges the status quo, regularly pitching and gaining approval on new, innovative and or out of box opportunities. Always showcases the “why” and benefit the partnership with bring to the client based on data and/or relevant metrics. 
• Publisher Vertical and Client Knowledge: Has a high level of knowledge across all publisher verticals; has a proven track record of addressing client questions and speaking to areas of opportunity from having a keen understanding of client and their competitors. 
• Tenacity: Digs into the why behind a no/rejection; pushes back and has a track record of successfully overcoming objections; provides suggestions or alternatives based on thorough knowledge of the publisher and overall portfolio. 
• Client Communication: Shares initial projections and paid media placement results with client to determine if the placement added value to the channel and/or performance of new publishers recruited into program. Can manage difficult conversations with minimal support from manager. 

Cross-Department Collaboration: 

• Sharing Best Practices: Has a track record of sharing new ideas and best practices with the Partnerships Team and Client Services to reach client goals more effectively. 
• Risk Ownership and Escalation: Knows which issues need to be escalated and when; digs into the root cause and provides recommendations for next steps when flagging to manager. 
• Partnerships Org Collaborator: Proactively shares ideas and issues across Partnerships org department and encourages others to do the same; provides upward feedback to appropriate leaders. 

QUALITIES OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: 

• Has strong aptitude for identifying digital strategies based on publisher business models. 
• Quickly develops new relationships who can recruit brand-to-brand and unique partners. 
• Self-starter with a strong internal motivation to hit targets. 
• Experience in commercial role at a technology-driven company, media sales role (at a digital media publisher/platform/agency) or brand 
• Experience working with SMBs with a deep understanding of their business and media challenges 
• Proven knowledge and understanding of performance and acquisition marketing 
• Demonstrated history of managing partnerships that require moving complex decisions through organizations successfully 
• Personal track record of commercial sales, success and ability to win the support of senior stakeholders 
• Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical thinking 
• Excellent communication skills to command an audience of senior stakeholders and bring partners and colleagues on your journey 
• High attention to detail and an ability to analyze data and identify insights to drive business performance 
• Proactive and collaborative attitude 
• Growth mindset and passion to drive client’s business forward 
• Passion for social media.
• Knows how to collaborate with team members in a remote environment and across various time zones. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS: 

• 5+ years business development or relevant work experience (including account management, contract negotiations, marketing). 
• B2B Knowledge and ability to recruit agencies or out of network publishers is preferred
• Expert knowledge of social media, mobile apps, and digital and mobile marketing. 
• Knowledge of the self-serve platform, auction, and biddable form of digital advertising buying. 
• Experience working in a sales or account management role with small businesses. 
• Proven track record of reaching and exceeding sales goals. 
• Experience in a business development/sales role. 
• Experience in Performance Marketing (particularly Affiliate Marketing) industry preferred. 
• Effective communication and negotiation skills with ability to push back without damaging relationships. Detail-oriented and persuasive. 
• Proven record of success in a goal-oriented, highly accountable, fast-paced environment. 
• Comfortable leading client-facing presentations. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, a natural communicator and influencer. 
• Work from home and corporate office experience, a plus.
• Self-motivated and self-directed creative problem solver who thrives when presented with a challenge.

 WHY ACCELERATION PARTNERS? 

Acceleration Partners is the world’s largest and first-to-market Partnership and Marketing Agency creating and nurturing partnerships that drive exceptional measurable outcomes for their clients. Managing clients in 40+ countries, their global team of 300+ focuses on data-driven strategies that help connect brands to the right consumers through performance partnerships, traditional affiliate, influencer, performance PR, content and B2B partnership marketing. Serving over 200 brands with household names like Amazon, Target, Google, Warby Parker, Crocs, Reebok (to name a few) their diversified staff is creating what’s next in the industry by building balanced portfolios of high-performing partnerships. As the only truly integrated global partnerships agency, Acceleration Partners prides themselves on being on the cutting edge of new industry developments, and leveraging their proven expertise to bring unique solutions to the most complex challenges for brands who aim for growth.

AP PERKS & BENEFITS - WHAT WE OFFER: 

• 100% remote work for everyone 
• Group medical, dental, and vision coverage insurance (with opt-out benefits) 
• 401K with matching 
• Open Paid Time Off 
• Summer & Holiday company-wide shut-down weeks in July and December 
• Volunteer and Birthday Time Off 
• Focus Fridays 
• Paid Parental Leave Benefits 
• Wellness, Technology & Education Allowances 
• Paid sabbatical leaves, donation matching, and more!! 
• Benefits may vary based on employment status or country location. 

Acceleration Partners is committed to a diverse workforce and we are an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. 

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