Manager, Partner Management

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Versant's sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

The Manager of Partner Management will be a leader responsible for fostering, developing and executing relationship and marketing strategies with key distribution partners and platforms to drive and support Versant’s portfolio of media properties across a wide range of companies, spanning MVPDs, virtual MVPDs, and OTT/streaming platforms, as well as coordinating, collaborating with and supporting the Sales team to execute negotiated tactics and marketing campaigns.

The Manager will own the day-to-day relationship with assigned distribution partners, serving as a primary point of contact and leading ongoing partner engagement and marketing initiatives from strategy through execution. The role will be responsible for developing a deep understanding of each partner’s business and marketing priorities and proactively identifying opportunities that create value for both Versant and its partners.

Reporting to the Director of Partner Management, the Manager will manage relationships and help drive strategy for growing viewership and streaming growth on partner platforms across Versant’s content portfolio of linear, VOD/TVE, streaming and AVOD/FAST. This includes managing and strengthening existing partnerships and relationships with MVPDs, vMVPDs and OTT/streaming platforms and more generally partnering creatively with existing and new distribution partners to execute Versant’s distribution and partnership priorities.

We are seeking a strategic, creative and motivated individual who demonstrates professionalism, excellent business acumen and strong industry relationships across traditional, digital and emerging distribution platforms who has a team-first mentality and is capable of independently managing partner relationships and initiatives, driving strategy and confidently advocating for creative new ways to drive the business forward while collaborating internally and externally with key stakeholders. Candidates should have prior experience operating at the Manager level, with demonstrated ownership of external partner relationships, marketing initiatives and complex projects. We are looking for a professional with a competitive and winning mindset who is willing to roll up their sleeves and lead by example while thriving in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Sales and Partnerships team to strategically drive viewership and streaming growth on partner platforms across Versant’s content portfolio of linear, VOD/TVE, streaming and AVOD/FAST and to generally support partnership efforts with distribution partners, keeping partners updated on Versant priorities, upcoming programming beats and initiatives while developing a strong understanding of partner priorities to identify areas of mutual opportunity.
• Own and manage the day-to-day relationship with assigned distribution partners, serving as a primary point of contact and ensuring consistent, proactive communication, follow-through and relationship development.
• Develop and execute marketing strategies and initiatives with assigned partners that support Versant’s programming, viewership and business priorities while delivering value against partner objectives.
• Establish and maintain regular marketing and business meeting cadences with assigned partners to present Versant priorities, pitch programming and promotional opportunities, share performance insights and identify new areas for collaboration.
• Work closely with the Deal team to develop and execute partnership strategy. Once deals are signed with distribution partners, the Partner Management team is responsible for collaborating with those partners to execute against the agreed-upon strategy.
• Lead assigned partner marketing initiatives from development through execution, coordinating timelines, creative assets, approvals, deliverables and internal stakeholders to ensure campaigns are executed accurately and on schedule.
• Partner with other senior leaders throughout the organization in the implementation of sales and distribution strategies for accounts across all platforms (digital third-party platforms and MVPDs/vMVPDs), including working with Versant brands to create sales materials and presentations, preparing and presenting programming updates to clients, compiling research insights, maintaining account summaries, and helping to prepare for and develop “Keep Versant Media” campaigns in advance of deal renewals.
• Interact internally with other departments and develop strong relationships with the Deal Team, Finance/Strategy, Marketing, Product, Brands and Operations, while understanding and executing existing contractual marketing commitments and maintaining strong familiarity with industry trends and partner-specific data.
• Manage, oversee, track and measure the results of sales distribution efforts, contractual compliance and marketing partnerships, and assist in the overall tracking of partner reporting, data collection and analysis for key accounts.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of assigned accounts, including contractual marketing commitments, current and upcoming initiatives, performance, partner priorities, outstanding deliverables and opportunities for future growth.
• Develop and manage strong working relationships with assigned distribution partners and internal brands/networks and represent the account-specific strategy and relationship status to key stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Represent Versant and reinforce the value of its brands and services at client meetings and industry events to influence clients and help sell through to customers.
• Identify and assess new business opportunities with new accounts and areas within existing accounts to drive incremental revenue streams.
• Proactively identify new editorial, promotional, content, product and paid-media opportunities across assigned partner platforms to expand the reach and visibility of Versant content and services.
• Manage “Keep Versant Media” campaigns in advance of upcoming carriage renewals.
• Monitor, track and communicate industry developments, including:
  • Announcements of new deals with industry peers and programmers;
  • Product developments and technological innovations among television distribution outlets;
  • New device innovations; and other relevant industry news.
    

• College degree required, with an emphasis in marketing, business or economics preferred.
• 3+ years of prior experience working at the Manager level within media and entertainment, marketing, partnerships, distribution or a related field required.
• Demonstrated and relevant experience independently owning and managing day-to-day relationships with external partners or clients.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing marketing, partnership or promotional initiatives with external partners and cross-functional internal stakeholders.
• Strong project-management experience, including the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, timelines, approvals and deliverables from development through completion.
• Strong account-management skills with the ability to build trusted partner relationships, understand partner objectives and proactively identify opportunities that create mutual value.
• Experience mentoring, training or supporting more junior members of a team.
• Excellent presentation, written and oral communication skills to best represent Versant to a wide range of partners and internal leaders and stakeholders.
• Excellent knowledge of and demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint and Excel.
• Well organized and detail oriented.
• Demonstrated ability to independently prioritize competing responsibilities, meet deadlines and proactively communicate status, risks and next steps.
• Willingness to travel on an as-needed basis.

Desired Characteristics:

• Expert knowledge of the media ecosystem, platforms, distribution and advertising models.
• Strategic thinker with the business acumen to shape a world-class Partner Management operation.
• Strong industry relationships with major MVPDs, vMVPDs and OTT platforms.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with sound judgment and the ability to determine when to independently advance an initiative versus escalating an issue to management.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality and diplomacy.

Additional Requirements:

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week from our NYC office.
• This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits and perks.
• Salary: $90,000 - $100,000 (bonus eligible)

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to candidateaccessibility@versantmedia.com.

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.