Director, Distribution Sales & Partnerships

The Director of Distribution Sales and Partnerships will be a leader responsible for supporting distribution of Versant’s portfolio of media properties to a wide range of companies, spanning MVPDs, virtual MVPDs, and OTT/streaming platforms as well as identifying and assessing new business opportunities with new accounts/partners/platforms and areas within existing accounts to drive incremental revenue streams. Reporting to the VP, Distribution & Partnerships, the Director will support deals for carriage of linear networks (and related digital content) with MVPDs and virtual MVPDs, as well as DTC/TVE application and FAST channel distribution with OTT/streaming video platforms. We are seeking a strategic, ambitious and driven professional with excellent business acumen, negotiation skills and industry relationships across traditional, digital and emerging distribution platforms who has a team-first mentality and is capable of motivating and being part of a larger team, helping to drive strategy and confidently advocating for creative new ways to drive the business forward. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the evolving media distribution and advertising ecosystem as well as a strong, data-supported perspective as to where it’s headed and how to use Versant’s content portfolio to unlock new monetization opportunities for both Versant and its distribution partners. 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. Essential Responsibilities: Support the VP and prepare for, support and negotiate high-stakes distribution deals and secure optimal transactional outcomes for Versant’s content portfolio of linear, VOD/TVE, streaming and AVOD/FAST in the U.S., Canada and the certain other territories. Facility with complicated contractual provisions and confidence drafting, alongside legal, as necessary. Work cross functionally with legal, marketing and finance teams to develop negotiation strategies, oversee/architect development of proposals and related negotiation materials. Manage and train junior members of the sales team with varying levels of experience, with a focus on coaching and development. Maintain and develop key client relationships, developing a deep understanding of their priorities in order to identify distribution and partnership opportunities. Collaborate and communicate regularly with key internal partners/clients to ensure alignment around distribution strategies and appropriate visibility into deal status. Work with Partner Marketing to build strategic marketing partnerships that generate value for Versant and our distribution partners. Manage post-deal implementation work and oversee contract compliance efforts. Identify new monetization opportunities for Versant’s content portfolio with new and emerging platforms and partners in the audio, commerce, digital publishing and CTV space. Source and identify partnerships for alternative forms of distribution and new monetization and business development opportunities, bundles, and promotional offers with retail and media partners. Research and communicate packaging, pricing, and distribution strategies of industry programming peers. Serve as a dynamic industry representative of Versant’s business strategy and content portfolio to industry peers at events, conferences, panels and trade shows.