Director of Digital Sales

The Director of Digital Sales is responsible for accelerating digital revenue growth and new-client acquisition, with a primary focus on the New Orleans market. The director will develop and execute a digital-first sales strategy for Times-Picayune/NOLA.com and Gambit while also supporting revenue growth in other assigned markets. This is a hands-on sales leadership role. The director will lead, recruit, coach, and develop a team of account executives focused on new-business development and increased market penetration. The director will also personally secure and manage strategic accounts, build relationships with community leaders and senior executives, and assist sales teams with key opportunities. Working closely with advertising, digital marketing, brand marketing, news, and finance, the director will help create effective, audience-based solutions across the company’s portfolio of digital display, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, social media, video, email, print, and events. Success in this role requires strong digital marketing expertise, strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and the ability to build lasting relationships with clients and colleagues. The key metrics of success for this position will be: Digital revenue growth for Times-Picayune/NOLA.com, The Gambit, and other markets assigned to this position. Growth in the total number of active accounts on contract for Times-Picayune/NOLA.com and The Gambit resulting from the new-business development efforts of the director and the account executive team. Average digital ad spend by customer for the above-mentioned teams. Primary Responsibilities and Essential Duties Provide leadership and day-to-day management of account executives focused on new business development and digitally-focused new client acquisition. Serve as digital marketing strategist / champion within the company, assisting account executives and sales leaders in securing new and incremental digital revenue for the company. Analyzes marketplace and competition to determine effective sales strategies for increasing advertising revenue across multiple platforms. Develops creative strategies to maximize sales resources and optimize revenue development, including multi-platform product positioning and pricing for clients of all sizes. Works with key advertisers, which includes a large base of local and locally controlled small businesses, to develop successful relationships; makes sales calls; develop digital marketing strategies, and attends community and client events to further build customer partnerships and market growth. Join account executives on discovery calls, sales presentations and reporting calls routinely to assist in closing sales pitches and upselling current customers through identifying greater digital opportunities. Build digital sales presentations for key opportunity prospects as needed. Provides ongoing digital product and sales training and support to sales and management teams to ensure advertising sales success and development of staff. As requested by the CRO, work with sales leadership, digital marketing team, and marketing to develop strategies to increase digital revenue and to implement programs, packages, new product offerings, etc. to increase digital revenue. Closely track and provide insights on digital advertising revenue to budget and prior year/period; support in flashing digital advertising revenue. Recruits, motivates and develops sales staff. Maintains open communication with all employees to maximize morale and performance. Education, Experience, and Knowledge Requirements Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising/Marketing 5+ years of experience in advertising/media sales, digital marketing, agency environments, or similar 3+ years of sales management experience, specifically in the media sales field Proven track record in developing and managing a results-oriented advertising sales organization Demonstrated leadership abilities and excellent strategic planning, analytical, financial, sales management and communication skills. Skill Requirements Excellent communication, presentation and organizational skills. Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to work with internal and external customers effectively Excellent time management, managing one’s own time and the time of others, managing multiple priorities. Ability Requirements Ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking and writing so others will understand. Ability to listen to and understand complex information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Ability to achieve budgeted goals. Ability to perform sales responsibility. Physical Requirements (Sensory Acuity; coordination, dexterity and strength) The job requires the following demands daily: hear normal conversations, see nearby and distant objects, have accurate depth perception, and speak clearly so someone else can understand what you say. The job requires the following physical demands daily: finger dexterity, sitting, standing, walking, rapid working speed, bending, feeling, and grasping. The job sometimes requires the following physical demands: balancing, lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds, and crouching. Moderate noise (business office with computer and printers, light traffic). Interacts with others. Sometimes requires traveling to meetings and customer locations by vehicle and exposure to outdoor weather conditions. Limited travel to other markets that Georges Media Group operates in. The Advocate is an equal employment opportunity employer, committed to recruiting, developing, and promoting a diverse workforce while providing unique opportunities and career paths for our employees. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and experience levels to apply. Salary: Commensurate with experience Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, Life, Short Term Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD), Paternity Leave, PTO and 401k Retirement Savings company match. #J-18808-Ljbffr