Director, Media and Partnerships Strategy

PartnerCentric, Inc.

9h•Remote

About The Position

Director, Media and Partnerships Strategy plays a pivotal role within PartnerCentric’s paid media organization, reporting to the SVP of Applied AI & Vertical Strategy. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution to design, grow, and optimize high-value paid media programs that drive measurable client revenue. This individual will help shape the future of performance-based marketing by blending intellectual curiosity, commercial acumen, and a forward-thinking approach to media investment across emerging ecosystems, including Paid Social, Expert Authority Media, Retail Media Networks, and AI-led advertising environments. This includes identifying, developing, and activating AI-generated influencers and creator ecosystems as part of innovative media and partnership strategies. We support remote work styles for anyone legally authorized to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship. You’re a strategic connector who thrives at the intersection of media, relationships, influencer, data, and innovation. You see the potential in new ecosystems, whether AI-native ad placements, Expert Authority platforms like Reddit or Quora, creator-driven video environments like YouTube, or retail media partners, and can translate that vision into actionable growth strategies. You are comfortable building and leading a team while remaining hands-on with planning, optimization, and partner management for priority clients. You’re naturally curious, commercially sharp, and motivated by the challenge of building what’s next in performance media. You’re also excited by the evolution of creator ecosystems, including the opportunity to conceptualize and create AI-driven influencers and integrate them into performance strategies. Director, Media and Partnerships Strategy, you will report to the SVP of Applied AI & Vertical Strategy and be responsible for building out PartnerCentric’s paid media team. You will support the company’s paid media and publisher ecosystem strategy while actively collaborating with key clients on planning, optimization, and strategic initiatives. You will cultivate and manage strategic relationships across a broad and constantly evolving media and partner landscape, while coaching and developing team members.

Requirements

5–8 years of experience in paid media, partnerships, influencer, or performance marketing, including a minimum of 3 years working directly in digital media planning, buying, or partner development.
Strong understanding of the digital media ecosystem, including Paid Social, content and creator-driven media, Expert Authority platforms, retail media, and emerging AI-led advertising environments.
Demonstrated experience operating as a player/coach: leading or managing others while owning strategy and execution for key accounts.
Highly curious, forward-thinking, and motivated to shape the future of performance and partnership-driven media.
Proven ability to manage media and platform relationships, negotiate agreements, and drive measurable results.
Experience managing or mentoring team members, including involvement in hiring, training, or process development.
Excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills; comfortable representing PartnerCentric to senior-level stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Retail Media Networks (e.g., Criteo, Koddi, CitrusAds), Programmatic Platforms (e.g., TradeDesk, DV360), Expert Authority Media (e.g., Reddit, Quora, YouTube), and AI-led partner strategies to create visibility and ranking in Answer Engines is a plus.
Experience with affiliate or partnership platforms such as Impact, CJ, Partnerize, or Rakuten is a plus, especially where they intersect with paid media partnerships.

Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership & Media Development
Identify and cultivate relationships with high-value paid media partners across Paid Social (e.g., Meta, TikTok), Expert Authority Media (e.g., Reddit, Quora, YouTube), Retail Media Networks, and AI-driven advertising platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity).
Explore and evaluate emerging media and partner categories, including AI-powered commerce, GEO/AEO partner targets, and new paid formats, for client fit and innovation potential.
Translate client objectives into integrated paid media strategies and partnership plans that align with their performance goals and drive incremental revenue.
Collaborate with the SVP of Influencer and VP of Growth Marketing to evolve PartnerCentric’s paid media and partnership roadmap in line with market trends and client needs.
Lifecycle Marketing
Analyze customer data, segments, and create targeted campaigns to improve customer retention.
Proactively identify new leads from various sources.
Evaluate lead IDC fit and insights intel.
Use marketing assets and follow up sequences to maintain interest and trust overtime.
CRM management.
Relationship Management & Growth
Own and manage a portfolio of strategic media and platform relationships; serve as the key point of contact for performance growth, co-marketing, and innovation discussions for select high-priority accounts.
Negotiate commercial agreements, media investment terms, and revenue share models with partners in alignment with client and agency objectives.
Act as an advocate for partners internally, ensuring their capabilities and value propositions are understood and leveraged across client teams.
Continuously test, measure, and refine paid media tactics to improve efficiency, scale, and incrementality, setting best practices the broader media team can follow.
Standardization & Process
Partner with the SVP of Applied AI & Vertical Strategy to build scalable systems, processes, and documentation across media partner sourcing, enablement, trafficking, optimization, and performance tracking
Establish standardized workflows and reporting frameworks to drive consistency, efficiency, and visibility across the media team
Lead technical execution of media operations, including partner setup and digital ad trafficking across platforms
Continuously test, measure, and refine paid media strategies to improve efficiency, scalability, and incrementality
Ensure clear, consistent performance tracking and actionable insights across all media initiatives
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner cross-functionally with Influencer, Client Services, Data & Insights, Growth Marketing, and Partnerships teams to ensure cohesive storytelling, aligned media strategies, consistent testing frameworks, and performance measurement tied to client goals and FUSE innovation priorities
Contribute to thought leadership, partner education sessions, and case studies highlighting success stories and innovations across Paid Social, Expert Authority Media, Retail Media, and AI advertising.
Leverage AI-powered tools and PartnerCentric’s proprietary FUSE technology to surface insights, assess performance, and identify areas of opportunity across channels and partners.
Identify opportunities to develop and scale AI-generated influencers and virtual creator partnerships, including ideation, creation, and integration into paid and partnership-driven campaigns.