VP Sales and Partnership (Digital)

The Role
The Vice President of Sales & Partnership is responsible for driving revenue across partnerships, sponsorships, experiential activations, digital content programs, and branded initiatives. This VP owns the sales strategy, manages the full pipeline, and personally closes high‑value deals. This is a hands‑on, revenue‑producing role requiring a proactive, relationship‑driven sales leader with deep client connections and the ability to open doors at major brands.
This dynamic, results‑driven sales leader thrives in a lean, entrepreneurial environment and brings deep cultural fluency, sharp commercial instincts, and the ability to articulate EBONY’s value with authenticity. They have a proven track record of cultivating high‑performing teams and building strategic partnerships that expand market presence and drive meaningful growth.
In the current phase of EBONY’s growth, the VP is fully accountable for achieving an individual revenue target while laying the foundation for a scalable sales organization. As the company expands, this leader will help shape the future sales team, establish processes, and contribute to long‑term revenue strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Sales Leadership and Revenue Ownership

Own individual annual revenue targets across partnerships, sponsorships, experiential activations, and digital programs.
Define and manage weekly KPIs for pipeline generation, outreach volume, proposal activity, and deal progression.
Track revenue by category and vertical to identify growth opportunities and inform sales strategy.
Lead high‑level sales conversations with CMOs, brand leaders, and senior decision makers.
Establish pipeline discipline and forecasting rigor.
Ensure full adherence to EBONY’s sales operations process, including mandatory documentation of all sales activity, pipelines, and deals in Boostr.
Build the foundation for future team expansion, including process development and talent planning.
Direct‑to‑Brand Selling

Build and maintain strong, direct relationships with decision makers at leading consumer brands.
Pitch and close multi‑channel partnership programs across digital, social, video, experiential, and editorial.
Develop multi‑platform partnership programs that integrate digital, social, video, experiential, and editorial components.
Leverage data, audience insights, and platform capabilities to position EBONY’s offerings competitively.
Respond quickly and strategically to inbound requests, RFPs, and time‑sensitive opportunities.
Develop revenue packages for both large‑scale events and smaller activations.
Expand EBONY’s sponsorship base beyond legacy media buyers.
Partnership Development

Identify and pursue new categories and brand opportunities to expand market reach and drive revenue growth.
Develop and present customized partnership proposals aligned with client objectives.
Strengthen and retain existing accounts through exceptional client service, persuasive storytelling, and innovative solutions.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Integrated Marketing, Production, Experiential, Editorial, and Creative leadership to ensure all programs are fully sponsor‑ready and aligned with client objectives.
Collaborate with People Ops & Culture on future talent and leadership needs within the sales organization.
Work closely with Finance to maintain accurate forecasting and revenue reporting.
Align with internal teams to ensure cohesive delivery of multi‑platform programs.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Experience

10+ years in sales, business development, sponsorship, or brand partnerships.
Direct‑to‑brand selling experience required.
Proven track record of exceeding revenue targets.
Experience selling across a range of activation sizes, from flagship events to targeted engagements.
Experience contributing to or building a sales team in a growth‑stage environment.
Leadership and Skills

Player‑coach who leads from the front and closes deals personally.
Strong negotiator with high executive presence.
Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and able to thrive in a lean, fast‑moving environment.
Exceptional pipeline management and CRM discipline (Boostr required).
Collaborative communicator who can influence and align internal teams.
Personal Attributes

Driven, accountable, and revenue‑obsessed.
Comfortable operating in a small company where agility matters.
High integrity, strong follow‑through, and aligned with EBONY’s mission.
Confident enough to lead, humble enough to roll up their sleeves.