Director, Brand Partnerships

About SmoothSmooth Media is the talent management company for knowledge creators — the people teaching, explaining, and breaking down the world through smart, insightful content. We serve as a true strategic partner to our creators — an extension of their team that helps them run, grow, and professionalize their business.About the RoleReports to: Head of Brand PartnershipsSmooth is building the most commercially serious brand partnerships team in creator media, and we need a Sales Leader to help lead it.As Director, Brand Partnerships, you'll own the development and performance of a growing team of sellers. That means managing, coaching, and holding the team accountable to activity and revenue goals, while staying close enough to the work to review deals, sharpen pitches, and step in when something high-stakes needs your touch. You'll sit one layer below the Head of Brand Partnerships, with real influence over how the function is built and run.What You'll DoTeam LeadershipManage, coach, and develop a team of Brand Partnerships Associates by running regular 1:1s focused on pipeline health, skill development, and performanceSet clear expectations and hold the team accountable to activity and revenue targetsBuild a team culture that's sharp, collaborative, and commercially seriousPartner with the Head of Brand Partnerships on headcount planning, role design, and onboarding new sellersRevenue and PipelineOwn the team's revenue targets and pipeline reporting, tracking what's moving, what's stalled, and where to pushReview and support deals across the full sales cycle, from outreach and pitching through negotiating and closingIdentify patterns in wins and losses and use them to sharpen how the team sellsMaintain a personal book of strategic or high-value accounts where your direct relationships move the needleSales Strategy and PlaybookBuild and refine the sales playbook, including outreach templates, pitch frameworks, objection handling, and proposal standardsPartner with the Brand Partnerships team to ensure creator inventory is packaged and positioned effectivelyStay close to the market and know what brands are buying, what's resonating in creator and B2B media, and where Smooth has an edgeCross-Functional PartnershipWork closely with Creator Partnerships Managers to match the right creators to the right brand opportunitiesPartner with marketing on positioning, materials, and go-to-market supportBring a clear point of view to leadership on what the sales team needs to performWhat We're Looking For5-8 years of experience in media sales, brand partnerships, or advertising, ideally in creator economy, digital media, or agency environmentsProven experience managing or mentoring a sales team (you've coached people to perform and you take that seriously)A strong closer with a track record of hitting and exceeding revenue targetsComfortable being a player-coach: you can lead a team while staying hands-on in dealsSharp communicator, written and verbal, who can pitch credibly to senior brand marketers and simplify complexity under pressureUnderstands both the creator economy and B2B media and knows why knowledge creators are a different sell than lifestyle, and can hold their own in a conversation about B2B media ROIBased in NYC or open to being in NYC (our team is in-office Mon-Thurs)What We Can OfferStarting salary: $120,000, plus quarterly bonus On-target earnings: $175,000 in Year 1, $225,000 in Year 2 (your earning potential grows directly with the success of your entire sales team)Health, dental, and vision insuranceUnlimited PTO (mandatory 10 days per year minimum)Direct access to leadership and a real seat at the table as the revenue org growsA meaningful role in building something that matters, a serious, profitable media business in a space most people are still figuring outSmooth Media is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.