Senior Direct IO Manager

• Lead end-to-end strategy, planning, and activation across direct digital partnerships
• Lead always-on, seasonal, and high-profile campaigns
• Develop digital-first sponsorships, tentpoles, and custom content integrations
• Plan 360 activations spanning digital, physical, and experiential touchpoints
• Identify non-standard digital opportunities including custom content, creator tie-ins, experiential extensions, and emerging formats
• Bring forward new publisher, data, and measurement solutions that elevate client growth
• Champion advanced measurement adoption across digital partner programs
• Build deep understanding of client business goals, audiences, and KPIs
• Ensure Direct IO activations ladder into unified, integrated media strategies
• Lead the full RFP process from brief development through vendor evaluation, negotiation, and final client presentation
• Improve workflows across planning, trafficking, reporting, and ad operations
• Develop negotiation best practices and upskill the team
• Identify incremental partnership opportunities and secure added value
• Partner with Programmatic and Integrated Media leaders to deliver a cohesive Display & Video ecosystem
• Leverage traditional media knowledge (Linear, OOH, Audio) as value-add expertise complementing digital programs
• Serve as the day-to-day client lead and oversee innovative digital activations, partnerships, and custom content programs
• Cultivate talent and modern media craft

Requirements

• 3+ years of media planning & buying experience, with a strong emphasis on premium digital partnerships, sponsorships, and custom activations
• Proven ability to build and execute large-scale, publisher-direct programs including brief development, partner vetting, negotiation, and storytelling through recommendations
• Strong understanding of digital media channels across display, video, social, and branded content
• Familiarity with programmatic and how direct and programmatic strategies intersect to create a unified media approach
• Experience overseeing or supporting traditional media (Linear TV, Radio, OOH)—not required but a meaningful plus
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously and deliver high‑quality work in compressed timelines
• Strong relationship‑building skills with publishers, vendors, and internal partners
• Experience developing processes and elevating operational efficiencies
• A future‑focused, inquisitive mindset with a natural inclination to reimagine and improve
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in leading digital media strategy and execution, with a focus on premium partnerships, sponsorships, and custom content integrations. Proven ability to enhance operational efficiencies and cultivate strong relationships with clients and media partners.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Media Planning & Buying Experience
• Digital Partnerships & Sponsorships
• Negotiation & RFP Process Management
• Digital Media Channel Expertise
• Operational Efficiency Development

Hard Skills

• Digital Media Strategy
• Campaign Activation
• Custom Content Development
• Measurement Solutions
• Project Management
• Negotiation Best Practices
• Programmatic Media Knowledge
• Display & Video Ecosystem Management
• Audience Understanding
• KPI Development

Soft Skills

• Relationship‑Building
• Leadership
• Inquisitive Mindset
• Team Development
• Creative Problem‑Solving

Industry Keywords

• Direct Digital Partnerships
• 360 Activations
• Emerging Formats
• Integrated Media Strategies
• Traditional Media Knowledge
• Branded Content
• Client Growth
• Ad Operations
• Trafficking
• Vendor Evaluation