Director of Brand Partnerships

Director of Brand Partnerships - audiochuck is seeking a Director of Brand Partnerships to join our team. This is a full-time, in person position located in Indianapolis, IN.

About us:
audiochuck is an Indianapolis-based media company focused on bringing our fans edge-of-your-seat storytelling audiochuck is a fast-growing, dynamic company that is driven by our mission to tell the right stories, in the right ways, for the right reasons. Our team is made up of immensely passionate people who love what we do and don’t stop until we’re proud. Excellence is required at audiochuck – we have a responsibility (and privilege) to honor the voices of those whose stories we tell. We approach our content with empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Advocacy is an essential
part of the audiochuck culture as we strive to positively impact victims and their families through use of our time, money, and resources.

Committed to developing our people and fostering a long-term team of talented media professionals, we are seeking motivated top talent to join our amazing team. If you’re exceptional at what you do, possess an innate desire to work hard alongside a team in creating something meaningful, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, then audiochuck may be a good fit for you.

About the Role:
audiochuck is seeking a Director of Brand Partnerships to build and support our strategic partnerships. This role will be responsible for proactively driving and maintaining strong relationships with brand partners, scouting and developing new partnerships, and closing high-value deals. This position will elevate the way we create and maintain authentic, mission-aligned collaborations, ensuring that our partnerships drive significant value for both our brand and our listeners.

What You’ll Do:

• Proactively Drive & Cultivate Partnerships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with
  strategic brand partners, establishing long-term collaborations that align with our mission.
• Engage Key Partners: Hold regular meetings with our top 20 brand partners to understand their advertising goals and help them achieve these objectives.
• Market Analysis: Conduct ongoing analysis of the marketplace to identify potential partnerships and maintain an active list of “dream brands” for outreach.
• Strategic Outreach: Identify and establish relationships with potential strategic brand partners, introducing them to audiochuck and positioning our company as a high-value partner.
• Gatekeeping: Ensure intentionality in selecting partners, maintaining the integrity of our platform and mission.
• Liaison Role: Serve as the primary point of contact between audiochuck and potential partners, coordinating effective communication and goal alignment.
• Brand Visibility: Inform strategic partnerships to enhance brand visibility and collaborate with the marketing team on brand positioning initiatives.
• Internal Expertise: Stay at the forefront of industry trends through self-led research and training, continuously developing our value proposition and industry knowledge.
• SXM Collaboration: Drive and maintain relationships with SXM, ensuring effective
  communication, goal alignment, and optimized collaboration.
• Ad Inventory Management: Create and manage an ad inventory portfolio that maximizes revenue and optimizes brand and performance ad spend.
• Revenue Strategy: Develop and implement strategic, mission-aligned revenue strategies to maximize revenue, drive CPM above industry standards, and enhance the listener experience.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Collaborate with teams across departments to ensure strategic alignment and maintain a focus on listener experience.
• Custom Campaigns: Drive SXM to grow direct ad revenue and close effective custom campaigns, serving as a liaison between SXM, UTA, and the organization for custom ad partnerships.
• Proactively manage and oversee contract renewal processes: Anticipate contract expiration dates, initiate renewal discussions in advance, negotiate terms, and ensure timely execution to maintain continuous service and compliance.

What You’ll Bring to the Table:

• Strategic Leadership: Proactively develops and maintains high-value, mission-aligned partnerships.
• Industry Expertise: Stays at the forefront of industry trends and continuously enhances our value
  proposition.
• Relationship Management: Builds and nurtures long-term relationships with key brand partners.
• Revenue Growth: Implements innovative strategies to maximize CPM, drive direct ad revenue,
  and optimize ad spend.
• Collaborative Approach: Works seamlessly with internal teams to ensure strategic alignment and
  enhance the listener experience.
• Market Insight: Identifies and cultivates new partnerships to drive growth and expand brand
  reach.
• Operational Excellence: Ensures efficient execution of tasks and maintains high standards of
  quality.
• Vision and Innovation: Brings fresh ideas and innovative solutions to elevate partnerships and
  drive success.
• Listener-Centric Focus: Keeps the listener experience at the heart of our strategy and initiatives.

What audiochuck will bring to the table:

• Commitment to intentional leadership development for all employees
• Dedication to company culture and promoting mental health
• A talented team of collaborative and passionate employees to support your work
• An appreciation for diverse work experience and backgrounds
• A chance to work on shows from a leading network for true crime podcasts
• Competitive base salary and bonus incentives
• Benefits contribution
• 401(k) retirement plan with a match
• Paid time off
• Team events and activities