Motherly - Director, Brand Partnerships

About Us Founded in 2015, Motherly has been a destination for people on their pregnancy journey, first-time moms, and everything in between. In 2025, Motherly joined the ParentsTogether Media Network with a mission to inform, entertain, and engage Gen Z and millennial parents so that all parents and families thrive. Our strategy framework is based on lean startup principles: we try out ideas quickly, see what works, and iterate. We work collaboratively to solve challenges together, and we drive impact on high-stakes issues in a positive, low-ego, low-drama work environment. Motherly is revolutionizing parenting content, because nobody can do this alone. Being motherly takes a village - let's build it. Role Overview We're looking for an entrepreneurial, idea-first seller who is excited to transform Motherly's mission into multi-format, cross-platform content that reaches Gen Z and millennial parents at scale. The Director, Brand Partnerships (Finance + Insurance + CPG + Baby) is a senior individual-contributor role reporting to the Executive Director, Brand Partnerships. You'll open and grow relationships with brands and agencies in Finance, Insurance, and CPG - categories where Motherly has room to grow - while deepening our partnerships with endemic baby and parenting brands, the core of our audience's world. This is a hands-on, full-cycle role. You'll build your own decks, plans, and pitches, sell original IP and multi-platform programs rather than impressions, and own a book of business from first meeting to campaign wrap. If you're a closer who loves building a book from the ground up and sees parents as the most valuable - and most underserved - audience in media, this is the role for you. Key Responsibilities Drive revenue growth by selling advertising and branded content (social-first video, IG placements, custom podcasts, events, and creator collaborations) across Finance, Insurance, CPG, and endemic baby / parenting brands. Prospect and open new accounts, with a focus on bringing brands onto the roster that haven't partnered with Motherly before. Grow and retain existing baby and parenting accounts, expanding them into larger, multi-platform and multi-quarter programs. Translate each category's business problems into insight-led ideas - for example, how new parents rethink life insurance, savings, and budgeting, or how a CPG brand earns a place in a new family's routine. Build your own pitch decks, proposals, and media plans, partnering with content, creative, and marketing teams to bring big ideas to life. Manage the full sales process from prospecting through proposal, negotiation, close, and campaign completion. Partner with the Head of Content to shape content moments and franchises that are sellable from the start. Hold the line on rate cards and deal minimums, working with the Executive Director, Brand Partnerships on pricing and negotiation. Keep the CRM clean and current, and contribute accurate pipeline and forecast updates every week. Navigate category-specific requirements - including compliance and legal review common in Finance and Insurance - so campaigns launch smoothly and on time. Represent Motherly at client meetings, agency events, and industry conferences. You're an Ideal Candidate if You've built and closed new business from scratch, bringing in accounts and categories that didn't exist on the roster before. You have real relationships with marketers and agency teams in Finance, Insurance, Entertainment and CPG - and you know how those categories plan, buy, and approve. You know the endemic baby space - gear, diapering, feeding, health, and registry brands - or you're excited to learn it fast. You've sold brands as launch partners for new social video franchises, podcasts, live events, or other original IP. You build your own proposal decks and strategic plans independently, with minimal hand-holding. You're a creative, idea-first seller who pitches concepts and IP rather than impressions - someone who thinks beyond the standard media plan. You love being a player: you want to own a number and a book, and you're energized by building rather than managing an inherited list. You have a deep understanding of monetization metrics (e.g., lead generation, subscriptions, impressions vs. views, social engagement), know how to build and analyze media plans, and maintain meticulous attention to detail. Qualifications 10+ years of experience in digital media sales, with a strong track record selling into Finance, Insurance, and/or CPG. Demonstrated success building and managing an individual book of business generating $1.5M+ in annual revenue, with a strong emphasis on net-new business acquisition Proven track record of consistently exceeding sales targets and generating new business. Experience selling customized campaigns across platforms, with a focus on social-first video, podcasts, creator collaborations, and events. Deep understanding of video as a sales product - how to position it, price it, sell it in, and creatively execute it from concept to delivery. Extensive contacts with decision-makers at brands and agencies in your target categories. Experience working through compliance and legal approvals in regulated categories such as Finance and Insurance is a strong plus. An entrepreneurial spirit - experience at a startup or growth-stage media company is a plus. Familiarity with and strong enthusiasm for the brand, our content verticals and products, and the utility we offer our audience. Understanding of and empathy for the experiences of parents and caregivers; prior experience in parenting, lifestyle, or women-focused media is a plus. Strong communication skills, including clear written and verbal communication, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to give and receive constructive feedback. A willingness to travel as required for client meetings and industry events. Position Details This is a full-time role. Base salary: $150K - $170K, depending on experience, plus commission. Location: Remote, but Chicago, NY and LA preferred. This position reports to the Head of Brand Partnerships. Benefits include health insurance (with cost-share for dependents) for employees, three weeks of vacation (plus holidays and the last week of the calendar year off), paid family and sick leave, retirement match after six months on staff, and an FSA account. This position is considered exempt. #J-18808-Ljbffr