Vice President Sales Strategy & Operations

Essence Ventures was established with the goal to articulate through experiences, media, technology, and commerce, that Black is not a monolith. Essence exists to serve Black Women deeply through culture, equity and celebration — encouraging and equipping them to embrace the power of their roles standing at the forefront of their lives, homes, and communities. We accomplish this mission and vision through our incredible and distinct brands: ESSENCE Communications, Inc. (ESSENCE, Girls' United), AFROPUNK and ESSENCE Studios.

We are searching for an outstanding Vice President Sales Strategy & Operations who is an analytical thinker and who has experience developing, executing, and refining growth strategies among sales teams. They will report directly to the CRO.

This VP is an experienced sales manager with a minimum 7 years of management experience and existing deep-rooted client relationships. They must have deep digital sales and packaging experience and come with deep client relationships in Tech, e-commerce, finance and CPG.

Success in this role is defined by revenue impact, the ability to generate more client prospects and the expansion of media investments through that prospecting and better sales operations. They will bring a discipline of sales operations excellence and have a demonstrated track record of creating and managing a performance revenue team. Understanding and anticipating key market digital trends, derived from research analysis and feedback from a well-connected in-market network are critical to the overall success.

It is imperative that the chosen leader have existing deep understanding ad technology, data and will have sophisticated understanding of media optimization and programmatic.

The ideal candidate will be an inclusive leader that aims to create an environment where all team members feel valued, included, and respected and has a keen ability to build and nurture relationships with brand clients and ad agencies.

Key Responsibilities;

• Initiate and develop media prospecting systems for sales team and help Generate new sales opportunities
• Leverage competitive insights, industry trends, and emerging technologies to refine sales approaches and unlock new revenue streams.
• Partner with the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and senior leadership to identify and prioritize revenue opportunities, including new markets, products, and strategic partnerships.
• Work with integrated marketing teams to help create, socialize and execute packaging strategies of franchises and tentpoles
• Develop and implement a data-driven sales strategy that supports business objectives, revenue growth, and market expansion.
• Establish and refine sales processes, tools, and workflows to improve efficiency, scalability, and team performance.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on sales performance metrics, providing actionable insights and data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Develop and manage sales budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation to ensure accurate projections and operational efficiency.
• Foster seamless collaboration with marketing, finance, product, experiential, and content teams to align on go-to-market strategies and sales initiatives.
• Lead, mentor, and equip a high-performing sales team with the skills and resources needed to achieve and exceed revenue targets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, agencies, and industry partners to drive sales growth and increase market share.
  
  

Qualifications

• 7 years management experience as VP of Sales or Operations
• Experience defining, refining and implementing sales processes, precidures and policies or equivalent
• Experience analyzing sales data and presenting insights to senior leadership
• Demonstrated success in building, leading, and scaling high-performing sales teams, with a track record of consistently exceeding revenue targets.
• Deep understanding of the media landscape, including advertising trends, digital platforms, and emerging technologies.
• Exceptional operational skill set managing prospecting, estimating and overall revenue reporting
• sales acumen, with the ability to develop and execute effective sales strategies that drive revenue growth and market share.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop team members to reach their full potential.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and solutions clearly and persuasively.
• Analytical and data-driven mindset, with the ability to leverage sales metrics and insights to inform decision-making and strategy.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Marketing, Communications); advanced degree (e.g., MBA) preferred.
  
  

Requirements

• East Coast based
• Hybrid role (3 min. days in office required)
• Advanced knowledge of digital media sales
• Strong existing agency and client direct relationships
• Experience managing the utilization of Salesforce
• Must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 lbs
• Requires prolonged periods of sitting, standing and walking throughout the workday, including during meetings, site visits (if applicable), or operational tasks.
• Ability to travel for client meetings and live events which could include weekend/holiday travel and extended periods away from the primary workplace
  
  

Medical, Dental, Vision, Bonus Eligibility, EAP

200k to 210