Business Development Director (Growth)

The Trade Desk • Los Angeles, CA

1d • $146,000 - $267,700 • Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Business Development – Growth (Acquire) is a senior, strategic sales role focused on acquiring and unlocking high-impact, net new brand partnerships for The Trade Desk. This individual will lead complex, high-value engagements with global brands and agencies, owning the end-to-end sales cycle from initial engagement through first scaled investment. This role is designed for experienced sellers who excel in navigating ambiguity, shaping opportunities, and closing sophisticated deals that often require custom solutions, multi-stakeholder alignment, and long-term commercial frameworks.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in digital advertising or ad tech sales, with a strong track record in net new business acquisition and strategic deal execution
• Proven success closing complex, high-value deals involving multiple stakeholders, long sales cycles, and customized commercial structures
• Deep experience in programmatic advertising or advertising technology (DSP experience strongly preferred)
• Skilled in leading consultative, solution-oriented sales engagements, translating business challenges into differentiated strategies
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and align C-level stakeholders across organizations
• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and shape opportunities, not just respond to them
• Highly sophisticated commercial acumen, with strong negotiation and deal structuring capabilities
• Experience building and maintaining long-term, strategic client relationships
• Collaborative leader who can mobilize cross-functional teams to drive outcomes
• Self-starter with a strong bias for action and a passion for building new business from the ground up
• Naturally curious, with a desire to continuously learn and evolve
• High emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal instincts

Responsibilities

• Drive acquisition of strategic, net new business opportunities, focusing on high-value brands with complex needs and significant growth potential
• Own the full sales cycle end-to-end, from initial engagement through contract execution and initial scaled spend
• Lead complex, consultative discovery processes, uncovering nuanced business challenges and translating them into tailored solutions on The Trade Desk platform
• Build and cultivate executive-level relationships with senior decision-makers across brands, agencies, and partner ecosystems
• Develop and present customized, outcome-based proposals and frameworks, including bespoke deal structures, joint business plans, and long-term partnership strategies
• Orchestrate internal and external stakeholders across sales, trading, client services, marketing, product, and legal to advance and close opportunities
• Lead competitive deal strategy, positioning The Trade Desk’s differentiation in complex, multi-vendor environments
• Negotiate and close sophisticated commercial agreements, including MSAs, multi-market investments, and strategic partnerships
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure successful onboarding and a strong initial ramp, setting the foundation for long-term success
• Maintain clear visibility into pipeline health, deal progression, and forecast accuracy for strategic opportunities
• Leverage deep market, vertical, and competitive insight to refine messaging and inform go-to-market strategies
• Mentor and support team members, sharing best practices on complex deal navigation and strategic selling
• Contribute to The Trade Desk culture by bringing your full self

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare (medical, dental, and vision) with premiums paid in full for employees and dependents
• 401k plan and company match
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Basic life insurance
• Well-being benefits
• Reimbursement for certain tuition expenses
• Parental leave
• Sick time of 1 hour per 30 hours worked
• Vacation time for full-time employees up to 120 hours thru the first year and 160 hours thereafter
• Around 13 paid holidays per year
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

What This Job Offers

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