Sr. Business Development Director, POLITICO Live

Politico•Arlington, VA

About The Position

POLITICO seeks an experienced Sr. Business Development Director to join our dynamic and growing Media Solutions team, with an exclusive focus on driving revenue and partnerships for POLITICO Live. POLITICO Live brings together the most influential leaders shaping politics, policy, business and society for consequential conversations around the issues that matter most. The Sr. Business Development Director will be responsible for developing and growing partnerships around POLITICO’s expanding portfolio of live events, including major summits, forums, receptions, dinners, roundtables and other custom experiences. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, entrepreneurial seller who understands the unique value of live experiences and knows how to translate a client’s business and public affairs priorities into meaningful event partnerships. This individual will build relationships with brands, associations, agencies and other organizations while working closely with POLITICO’s broader Business Development team to identify, develop and close opportunities. This role requires someone who can move seamlessly between proactive prospecting, strategic relationship development and closing complex partnerships. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the public affairs ecosystem, experiential and event sponsorship sales, and the issues driving conversations in Washington and across the country. As POLITICO’s Business Development team grows, we have re-envisioned the way our sales organization engages with clients and agencies. We embrace individuals from immensely diverse professional and personal backgrounds in an ongoing effort to create a comprehensive and collaborative team driven to support not only our clients, but one another.

Requirements

7-10 years of experience in sales, event sponsorships, experiential marketing, digital advertising, media or a related field
Passion for journalism: An individual who reveres and respects the art, science and creativity involved in journalism and understands its importance to our democracy
Live and experiential sales expertise: A strong understanding of event sponsorships, experiential marketing and how brands use live experiences to reach influential audiences
Knowledge of the political influencer market: An understanding of the dynamic and complex ecosystem that drives public affairs and business decisions
Proven sales ability: A track record of developing relationships, building pipeline and closing significant, complex partnerships
Entrepreneurial mindset: Someone who is energized by creating opportunities, opening doors and building business rather than waiting for opportunities to arrive
Creativity: An individual who wants to go beyond turnkey sponsorship packages, understand a client’s priorities and KPIs, and develop partnerships that deliver meaningful value
Initiative: A self-starter with the desire to grow within the role, take ownership and continually identify new opportunities for POLITICO Live
Collaboration: The ability to work across departments and alongside POLITICO’s sales, Live, marketing, product and editorial-adjacent teams while maintaining the appropriate separation between POLITICO’s editorial independence and client objectives
Communication skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to confidently lead client meetings, pitches, presentations and negotiations
BA/BS degree required
Experience with Keynote and Microsoft Suite, especially PowerPoint, for client presentations and written materials.

Responsibilities

Drive revenue across POLITICO’s portfolio of live events and experiences, with responsibility for identifying, developing and closing event sponsorship opportunities
Build and grow relationships with corporations, associations, agencies and other organizations that align with POLITICO Live programming and audiences
Partner closely with POLITICO’s broader Business Development team to uncover Live opportunities within existing client relationships and develop new prospects
Proactively identify potential partners based on POLITICO’s upcoming editorial and event calendar, client priorities and relevant policy and industry conversations
Develop thoughtful, creative sponsorship solutions that connect a client’s objectives with POLITICO’s journalism, audiences and convening power
Lead client conversations and presentations from initial outreach through proposal development, negotiation and close
Respond to RFPs and inbound opportunities with strategic and creative Live solutions
Maintain a strong pipeline of event opportunities and accurately manage revenue forecasts, opportunities and client activity
Collaborate closely with POLITICO Live, Marketing, Business Development, Account Management and other internal teams to develop compelling partnership opportunities and ensure successful execution
Develop deep knowledge of POLITICO’s Live portfolio and clearly articulate the value, audience and differentiation of individual events and the broader POLITICO brand
Identify emerging client needs, market trends and new revenue opportunities that can help inform the continued growth of POLITICO Live
Continue to embody and strengthen POLITICO’s brand presence with clients, agencies and the broader marketplace