National Account Executive – Entertainment, Gaming, Interactive

USA TODAY Co.

2d•$70,000 - $90,000•Remote

About The Position

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com We’re a major media organization operating a large network of news sites, including over 100 local newspapers, a unified national news platform, and a substantial sports and lifestyle network. Our multimedia group, anchored by a portfolio of series, special projects, and daily content in news, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and more, drives millions of views and listens every month across our O&Os, YouTube, social channels, streaming, podcast, and emerging platforms. We’re seeking an Interactive Sales Executive with a proven track record in closing high-value sponsorships and partnerships in entertainment and games to generate substantial revenue for our multimedia portfolio including our existing entertainment channel, puzzle site, and the broader PLAY experience. Creating and scaling successful brand partnerships across the entertainment and PLAY channels will be a key area of focus in this role. As well as driving significant revenue streams from direct-sold or programmatic campaigns across digital, print, social, and events. As our Interactive Account Executive, you will be responsible for driving significant net new revenue in your first by securing strategic brand deals, sponsorships, and custom advertising programs. You’ll collaborate and ideate with editorial and creative multimedia team leaders from Entertainment and PLAY and your success will directly impact the growth and profitability of our multimedia portfolio, a key pillar of long-term growth for our content division.

Requirements

Proven Sales Track Record: 2+ years in digital media sales, sponsorship sales, or partnership development with a consistent record of closing high-value deals.
Industry Relationships: Established network of brand and agency contacts across Financial Services, Entertainment, Gaming, CPG, Technology & Telecom (additional verticals a plus).
Strategic Selling & Negotiation: Demonstrated ability to build custom sponsorship solutions, negotiate large contracts, and influence C-level decision-makers.
Revenue Accountability: Comfortable owning a significant net new revenue responsibility.
Digital Media Expertise: Familiarity with branded content, native advertising, integrated sponsorship packages, and performance metrics (CPM, CPA, brand lift).
Strong Communication Skills: Exceptional presentation abilities, adept at creating proposals and delivering pitches.
Analytical & Results-Driven: Competent using CRM systems, with data-oriented approaches to pipeline management.
Team Player: Able to collaborate with internal product, editorial, and marketing teams to craft innovative solutions that delight advertisers and resonate with audiences. Bridges sales with product, editorial, and marketing teams to deliver advertiser solutions that align with audience engagement.
Willingness to Travel: Ability to meet clients and attend industry events as needed (estimated 20% travel).

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end sales cycle to achieve significant net new revenue goals.
Identify, prospect, and cultivate relationships with key decision-makers across multiple verticals such as Financial Services, Entertainment, Gaming, CPG, Technology & Telecom and others.
Build a robust pipeline of brand partnerships, premium sponsorships, and custom advertising packages for our multimedia portfolio.
Develop compelling sponsorship opportunities in partnership with Entertainment and PLAY leveraging the scale of our multimedia portfolio.
Collaborate with cross-functional content teams to craft integrated programs for both proactive, targeted pitches and RFP responses.
Serve as the primary point of contact for brand partners, nurturing long-term relationships and maximizing recurring revenue streams.
Conduct client-facing presentations, proposal development, and quarterly/annual business reviews to ensure partners see strong ROI.
Managing complex sales cycles, including presentations, negotiations, and contract closures.
Stay ahead of digital advertising trends, sponsor needs, and industry developments (especially in the digital video ecosystem as it pertains to entertainment and games) including social media and influencer-style content-creator approaches)
Develop data-motivated analysis and recommendations for quantifying opportunities.
Provide market intelligence to internal stakeholders, helping shape sponsorship packages, product enhancements, and editorial alignments.
Maintain accurate records of deal progress, revenue forecasts, and pipeline health in CRM systems.
Provide regular updates to senior leadership on sales progress, insights on market demand, and recommended strategies to reach revenue targets.
Work closely with Sales, Account Management, Sales Strategy, Editorial, and Ad Operations teams to execute sold campaigns seamlessly.
Understanding client needs while identifying and developing new business opportunities with major advertisers.