McClatchy Media is seeking an accomplished and driven Senior Business Development Manager to spearhead the Affiliate Commerce division's Business Development group. This is an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic professional eager to deliver innovative affiliate campaigns, cultivate impactful partnerships, and lead new strategic initiatives in a fast-evolving segment of the digital media industry.
As Senior Business Development Manager, you will hold comprehensive responsibility for all aspects of our paid affiliate marketing endeavors—including client relationship management, media planning and proposal strategy, campaign development, campaign execution, and post-campaign analysis. You will play an active, hands-on role in both proposing and closing campaigns with advertisers, agencies, and networks, as well as managing those campaigns with your group. You will inspire and manage a dedicated team, maximize paid exposure opportunities, and collaborate closely with colleagues across editorial and sales divisions. This position offers the chance to shape McClatchy’s paid affiliate strategy and drive measurable growth.
The anticipated base pay range for this position is between 100k and 125k annually. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, relevant education, department equity, training, geography, and local wage and hours laws. Variable Pay is available as well.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-End Campaign Ownership and Sales:
Exercise full responsibility for the end-to-end management of all affiliate marketing campaigns—from initial strategy, proposal development, negotiation, and closing through campaign execution, optimization, client communications, completion, post-campaign reporting, and proactive relationship management and follow-up to secure repeat advertisers. - Relationship Management:
Serve as the primary contact for clients, consistently demonstrating superior communication, relationship-building, and presentation skills. - Negotiation and Closing for Inbound Leads:
Lead commercial negotiations with prospective clients and partners with your team to develop compelling proposals and close deals that support McClatchy’s affiliate growth objectives. - Dynamic Group Leadership and Mentorship:
Lead a dedicated affiliate business development group within the commerce division. Supervise, motivate, and develop two business development professionals, fostering operational excellence and career advancement. - Strategic Cross-Divisional Collaboration:
Work closely with digital ad sales and editorial teams to deliver fully integrated, innovative affiliate marketing initiatives. Ensure alignment of objectives and best practices across all stakeholders. - Ownership of Marketing Materials and Media Decks:
Maintain, update (quarterly), and ensure the timely distribution of all affiliate marketing materials and media decks to advertisers, agencies, and network partners, ensuring McClatchy’s offering remains best-in-class. - Organic Exposure Opportunity Coordination:
Communicate organic opportunities—such as product tests, special sales, and promotional deals— to editorial teams, supporting enhanced relationship building through high-quality, organic, and paid integrations. Follow up with clients who have received organic exposure to explore paid opportunities. - Business Relationship Growth and Innovation:
Nurture and expand strategic relationships with key brands, agencies, and affiliate partners. Proactively identify priority strategic partners and conduct quarterly check-ins to foster enhanced relationships for business opportunities and continually evolve McClatchy’s paid affiliate commerce programs. - Campaign Accounting:
- Coordinate with accounting, managing campaigns from start to finish, including payments, W-9s, credit forms, and IOs. Your team is also expected to assist accounting in identifying flat fee bonus payments when they are paid out through affiliate networks.
- Industry Engagement:
Stay abreast of affiliate and digital commerce trends. Travel to key industry events may be required to represent McClatchy, strengthen partnerships, and identify emerging opportunities.
Required Qualifications
- A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience, including at least three (3) years within the affiliate marketing sector (agency, network, publisher, or brand side).
- Proven track record in managing the full affiliate campaign lifecycle—proposals, financials, execution, optimization, and reporting—with measurable success in retaining and developing repeat advertisers.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills, with an emphasis on client engagement and relationship management.
- Previous supervisory or mentorship experience within a client-facing business development context.
- Proficiency in major affiliate platforms (CJ, Rakuten, Impact, etc.) and analytics/reporting tools (Trackonomics, Affilimate, etc.).
- Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
- Demonstrated success in developing profitable business partnerships, primarily within the affiliate sector.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading a team or business development unit within a larger organization.
- History of effective collaboration with digital ad sales and editorial/content teams.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel and sales or data reporting technology.
Position Details
- Remote position based in the United States.
- Direct management of two affiliate commerce professionals.
- Reports to the Senior Director of Commerce.
- Eligible for a commission-based bonus plan.
- Travel to industry events may be required.
Join McClatchy Media to shape the future of digital affiliate commerce. This position provides a unique opportunity to combine direct sales, negotiation, campaign ownership, and strategic leadership within an innovative and highly respected organization.
About McClatchy:
Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 56 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger.
As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth—a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It’s an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We’re growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.
McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on well-being and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.
Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com .
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