Director, Strategic Partnerships

Posted:
2/2/2026, 5:05:32 AM

Experience Level(s):
Expert or higher ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Business & Strategy

Powering Performance Marketplaces in Digital Media

QuinStreet is a pioneer in powering decentralized online marketplaces that match searchers and “research and compare” consumers with brands. We run these virtual- and private-label marketplaces in one of the nation’s largest media networks.

Our industry leading segmentation and AI-driven matching technologies help consumers find better solutions and brands faster. They allow brands to target and reach in-market customer prospects with pinpoint segment-by-segment accuracy, and to pay only for performance results.

Our campaign-results-driven matching decision engines and optimization algorithms are built from over 20 years and billions of dollars of online media experience.

We believe in:

  • The direct measurability of digital media.
  • Performance marketing. (We pioneered it.)
  • The advantages of technology.

We bring all this together to deliver truly great results for consumers and brands in the world’s biggest channel.

 

Job Category

Director of Business Development, Strategic Media Partnerships

We are seeking a high-caliber Director of Business Development to originate, structure, and close large-scale media and distribution partnerships with enterprise brands, digital platforms, publishers, and performance-marketing leaders. This role is built for a senior sales and partnerships leader who excels at navigating complex organizations, leading high-value commercial negotiations, and turning strategic relationships into long-term revenue engines.

You will own the strategy and execution of enterprise-level deals from initial engagement through close and expansion, working directly with executive stakeholders internally and externally. This role plays a critical part in shaping our go-to-market motion, partner ecosystem, and revenue growth trajectory.


Responsibilities

Strategic Partner Development & Pipeline Leadership

  • Define and execute a strategic pipeline focused on enterprise and high-value media partnerships across brands, platforms, publishers, and embedded/checkout environments.

  • Originate and lead complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles, including executive-level prospecting, solution positioning, and long-term relationship development.

  • Own end-to-end pipeline governance, forecasting, and deal prioritization, ensuring alignment with revenue targets and broader company objectives.

  • Serve as a senior external representative at industry conferences, executive forums, and partner events to source and cultivate strategic opportunities.

Deal Leadership & Commercial Execution

  • Lead high-stakes commercial negotiations, including pricing models, deal structures, performance frameworks, and contractual terms.

  • Develop compelling, data-driven value propositions tailored to partner objectives, acquisition strategies, and scale requirements.

  • Drive deals from concept to close and through launch, ensuring operational readiness, performance alignment, and long-term scalability.

  • Identify expansion opportunities within existing partnerships and proactively drive upsell, cross-sell, and renewal strategies.

Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration

  • Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Analytics, Operations, Legal/Compliance, and Marketing to design scalable integration models and performance-driven acquisition solutions.

  • Translate partner needs into internal priorities, influencing roadmap decisions and go-to-market strategies.

  • Act as a senior internal voice for partner strategy, market insights, and competitive dynamics.


Requirements

  • 8+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, enterprise sales, or media sales, with increasing scope and deal complexity.

  • Demonstrated success closing large, enterprise-grade media or distribution deals with long sales cycles (6–12+ months) and multi-year impact.

  • Deep experience in digital media, performance marketing, embedded partnerships, affiliate/lead generation, or insurtech/fintech ecosystems.

  • Proven ability to engage and influence VP- and C-suite stakeholders, both internally and externally.

  • Strong executive presence with exceptional negotiation, storytelling, and presentation skills.

  • Highly analytical and metrics-driven, with the ability to assess partner performance, ROI, and funnel economics.

  • Strategic, self-directed leader comfortable operating in fast-moving environments with multiple high-value deals in flight.

  • Advanced proficiency in CRM and pipeline management (e.g., Salesforce), forecasting, and deal governance.

  • Experience with insurance or financial-services acquisition models is a strong plus (or the ability to ramp quickly).

 

The expected salary range for this position is $105,000 USD to $160,000 USD annually. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the Company’s compensation practices. The salary may be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location. The position is also eligible to receive performance bonus or commission and equity in the form of restricted stock units. This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s standard employee benefits programs, which currently include health care benefits; (2) retirement benefits; (3) the amount of paid days off (paid sick leave, parental leave, paid time off, or vacation benefits); (4) any other tax-reportable benefits.
 
#LI-REMOTE
 

 

QuinStreet is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy status, sex, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristics protected by law.

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