Strategic Sponsorship Sales Executive – Video, Digital & Gaming

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Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a scalable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. We endeavor to deliver essential content, marketing solutions, and experiences for curated audiences, advertisers, consumers, and stakeholders by leveraging our diverse teams and suite of products to enrich the local communities and businesses we serve. Our current portfolio of trusted media brands includes the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, uses innovation and software to enable small and medium-sized businesses to grow, and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, our events division, creates impactful consumer engagements, promotions, and races. Gannett open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at Gannett, you should be completing an application on Gannett Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com


Job Title: Strategic Sponsorship Sales Executive – Video, Digital & Gaming
Location: Remote with travel. Preferred markets: Dallas, San Francisco, Miami, Boston, Detroit, Washington D.C., New York City.
About Us
We’re a leading media organization with a vast network of local and national news brands, lifestyle and sports verticals, and a growing portfolio of multimedia content. Our video, audio, and casual gaming platforms reach millions of engaged users across owned-and-operated sites, YouTube, social media, streaming, and podcasting.
We’re building the next generation of brand storytelling—and we’re looking for a sales leader who can turn that vision into revenue.
About the Role
This is a high-impact, new business role focused on securing strategic sponsorships and brand partnerships across our multimedia portfolio—including our puzzle and gaming verticals and the forthcoming PLAY Platform. You’ll be responsible for generating $5M in revenue in your first year, with a goal to double that in year two.
You’ll work closely with editorial, creative, and marketing teams to craft custom advertising sponsorships and programs that deliver measurable results for top-tier advertisers. This role is ideal for a hunter with a strong track record in media sponsorship sales, particularly across video, audio, and social-first platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Revenue Generation & Pipeline Development
• Own the full sales cycle—from prospecting to closing—targeting $5M+ in year-one revenue.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of strategic brand partnerships across Pharma, Financial Services, Automotive, Media, CPG, Technology & Telecom.
• Develop custom sponsorship packages that leverage our multimedia scale and storytelling capabilities.
Strategic Partnership Development
• Pitch and close integrated campaigns across video, audio, and gaming, with a focus on branded content and social-first activations.
• Collaborate with internal teams to respond to RFPs and proactively develop high-impact sponsorship concepts.
Client Relationship Management
• Serve as the primary point of contact for brand partners, ensuring long-term success and renewals.
• Lead presentations, negotiations, and quarterly business reviews with C-level stakeholders.
Market & Product Insight
• Stay ahead of trends in digital media, branded content, and social monetization.
• Provide market feedback to shape product innovation and editorial alignment.
Performance Reporting
• Maintain accurate CRM records, forecast revenue, and report on pipeline health.
• Share insights and recommendations with leadership to optimize sales strategy.
Team Collaboration
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Creative, and Operations to deliver seamless campaign execution.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to a culture of innovation and accountability.


Qualifications
• 2+ years in digital media or sponsorship sales with a proven ability to close multimillion-dollar deals.
• Deep understanding of branded content, native advertising, and performance metrics (CPM, CPA, brand lift).
• Strong network of agency and brand contacts across key verticals.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Experience with CRM tools (Salesforce, HubSpot,