Manager, Partner Management

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Sales and Partnerships team to strategically drive viewership and streaming growth on partner platforms across Versant’s content portfolio of linear, VOD/TVE, streaming and AVOD/FAST and to generally support partnership efforts with distribution partners, keeping partners updated on Versant priorities, upcoming programming beats and initiatives while developing a strong understanding of partner priorities to identify areas of mutual opportunity.
• Own and manage the day-to-day relationship with assigned distribution partners, serving as a primary point of contact and ensuring consistent, proactive communication, follow-through and relationship development.
• Develop and execute marketing strategies and initiatives with assigned partners that support Versant’s programming, viewership and business priorities while delivering value against partner objectives.
• Establish and maintain regular marketing and business meeting cadences with assigned partners to present Versant priorities, pitch programming and promotional opportunities, share performance insights and identify new areas for collaboration.
• Work closely with the Deal team to develop and execute partnership strategy. Once deals are signed with distribution partners, the Partner Management team is responsible for collaborating with those partners to execute against the agreed-upon strategy.
• Lead assigned partner marketing initiatives from development through execution, coordinating timelines, creative assets, approvals, deliverables and internal stakeholders to ensure campaigns are executed accurately and on schedule.
• Partner with other senior leaders throughout the organization in the implementation of sales and distribution strategies for accounts across all platforms (digital third-party platforms and MVPDs/vMVPDs), including working with Versant brands to create sales materials and presentations, preparing and presenting programming updates to clients, compiling research insights, maintaining account summaries, and helping to prepare for and develop “Keep Versant Media” campaigns in advance of deal renewals.
• Interact internally with other departments and develop strong relationships with the Deal Team, Finance/Strategy, Marketing, Product, Brands and Operations, while understanding and executing existing contractual marketing commitments and maintaining strong familiarity with industry trends and partner-specific data.
• Manage, oversee, track and measure the results of sales distribution efforts, contractual compliance and marketing partnerships, and assist in the overall tracking of partner reporting, data collection and analysis for key accounts.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of assigned accounts, including contractual marketing commitments, current and upcoming initiatives, performance, partner priorities, outstanding deliverables and opportunities for future growth.

Requirements

• College degree required, with an emphasis in marketing, business or economics preferred.
• 3+ years of prior experience working at the Manager level within media and entertainment, marketing, partnerships, distribution or a related field required.
• Demonstrated and relevant experience independently owning and managing day-to-day relationships with external partners or clients.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing marketing, partnership or promotional initiatives with external partners and cross-functional internal stakeholders.
• Strong project-management experience, including the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, timelines, approvals and deliverables from development through completion.
• Strong account-management skills with the ability to build trusted partner relationships, understand partner objectives and proactively identify opportunities that create mutual value.
• Experience mentoring, training or supporting more junior members of a team.
• Excellent presentation, written and oral communication skills to best represent Versant to a wide range of partners and internal leaders and stakeholders.
• Excellent knowledge of and demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint and Excel.
• Well organized and detail oriented.

Preferred

• Expert knowledge of the media ecosystem, platforms, distribution and advertising models.
• Strategic thinker with the business acumen to shape a world-class Partner Management operation.
• Strong industry relationships with major MVPDs, vMVPDs and OTT platforms.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with sound judgment and the ability to determine when to independently advance an initiative versus escalating an issue to management.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality and diplomacy.

Benefits

• - This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits and perks.