Agency Development Lead - Independent Agencies

AppLovin • New York, NY

10d • $202,500 - $247,500

About The Position

AppLovin is seeking an Agency Development Lead to build and own partnerships with independent agencies based in North America. This is a highly visible, externally facing, zero-to-one role on the Agency Partnerships team, focused on establishing AppLovin Ads as a core performance channel across agency client rosters. The role is responsible for winning new agency partnerships and expanding AppLovin’s presence within existing partners, turning relationships into measurable revenue growth for clients, agency partners, and AppLovin.

The Agency Development Lead will develop executive-level relationships with agency leadership and client teams, and build a deep understanding of each agency’s business, media strategy, and growth priorities. The role includes developing co-marketing, technology integration, enablement, and joint business planning programs; coordinating with Agency Success Managers on onboarding, spend growth, and retention; and representing agency perspectives internally to inform product and business priorities. The position also contributes to developing the Agency Partnerships team and its programs as the channel grows.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in digital advertising, including significant experience in agency development, agency sales, or agency partnerships at a leading ad tech, paid social, search, e-commerce, or technology company.
• A consistent track record of winning new agency business and expanding existing partnerships for performance-focused products or services.
• Deep understanding of agency operating models, economics, and how media planning and channel decisions are made across independent agencies of different sizes.
• Established network of senior relationships across North American independent agencies.
• Executive presence and strong communication, storytelling, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to build credibility from practitioner to C-suite.
• Strong prospecting and account-planning skills, including the judgment to prioritize opportunities, relationships, and actions most likely to create material growth.
• Analytical, data-driven operating style and ability to manage a high-volume, high-value portfolio of agency relationships.
• Builder mindset; ability to thrive in early-stage business settings, operate amid ambiguity and minimal direction, and establish programs from scratch.

Nice To Haves

• BA/BS degree preferred.
• Direct agency management experience at a performance advertising platform, such as a paid social, search, mobile, or programmatic company.
• Experience structuring and negotiating commercial agreements, joint business plans, or incentive programs with agency partners.
• Experience building scaled agency partnership, certification, and training programs from an early stage.
• Agency-side experience in media planning, investment, or performance marketing.
• Understanding of the mobile advertising ecosystem and performance advertising for e-commerce.
• Travel expected as and when possible.

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle sales opportunities across North American independent agency prospects and existing partners, building relationships with senior agency leadership, pod leads, and media buyers to drive multi-client activation and durable revenue growth.
• Build and manage a qualified agency partner pipeline through account planning, prospecting, executive referrals, inbound demand, industry events, and conferences.
• Lead joint business planning conversations to understand agency client portfolios, commercial priorities, media planning processes, and opportunities for AppLovin Ads.
• Work with Agency Success Managers and cross-functional teams to support successful agency and client launches on the platform.
• Expand agency partnerships by identifying and activating new clients within agency rosters, working alongside Agency Success Managers who own growth of clients already spending on the platform.
• Serve as the primary point of contact, escalation point, and thought leader for agency partners.
• Design and deliver scaled enablement programs, including trainings, workshops, certifications, and roadshows, covering AppLovin Ads and performance best practices for creative, measurement, and campaign setup.
• Partner with the Consumer Business Development team to connect agency relationships to direct brand opportunities and coordinate the experience for agency and brand partners.
• Drive co-marketing, thought leadership, and case study programs with agency partners to establish AppLovin as a full-funnel performance advertising channel opportunity.
• Translate agency feedback, competitive intelligence, and market trends into prioritized business cases that inform the product roadmap and agency offering.
• Represent AppLovin at industry events, agency summits, and executive briefings.
• Mentor and develop Agency Partnerships team members, improve best practices and playbooks, and help build the team as the channel grows.

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package with pay-for-performance rewards; equity and other incentive compensation may be provided depending on the position.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan.
• Unlimited Discretionary Time Off.
• 10 paid holidays per year.
• 80 hours of paid sick leave per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed