Advertising Account Director

RealClearPolitics; Maryland; On-site; USD 270,000 - 330,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uncapped commission

Job summary

RealClearPolitics in Washington, DC seeks an Advertising Account Director to lead as the primary commercial executive for the DC region. You will expand our footprint in the political, public affairs and association sectors, leveraging your network to drive revenue across our sites, with an uncapped commission structure.

The role requires 7–10 years in digital sales, a proven track record of seven-figure quotas, and deep knowledge of the political advertising landscape.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in digital, experiential and data sales in the Washington, DC market.
• Established relationships with DC-based media buyers, agencies, public affairs firms and trade associations.
• Proven history of building a territory and beating seven-figure revenue quotas.
• Deep understanding of political advertising landscape and regulatory nuance.

Responsibilities

• Market Leadership: be the face of RealClearPolitics in the DC Beltway and cultivate partnerships with stakeholders.
• Revenue Growth: identify and close new business opportunities, meeting/exceeding quotas.
• Consultative Selling: design and pitch integrated advertising solutions (branded content, display, programmatic, events).
• Strategic Pipeline Management: manage full sales cycle from prospecting to post-campaign analysis.
• Internal Collaboration: work with editorial and product teams to translate market feedback into ad products.

Skills

Relationship building

Digital sales

Negotiation

Presentation

Industry networking

Job description

The on-target comp (OTC) is $300K, $150k base/$150k commission.

About RealClearPolitics

Founded in 2000, RealClearPolitics (RCP) is a 25-year-old digital media brand that transformed how the world consumes political news. By pioneering "intelligent aggregation"—curating the best reporting, commentary, and analysis from across the ideological spectrum—RCP became the authoritative, non-partisan destination for Washington insiders, campaign strategists, and engaged citizens alike.

This role is a unique opportunity to join a veteran organization at the absolute center of the D.C. conversation. You won’t just be selling ad space; you will be positioning blue-chip brands, advocacy groups, and political organizations within the most influential environment in American media.

The Role

We are seeking a high-energy, relationship-driven Advertising Account Director to serve as our primary commercial lead in the Washington, D.C. region. You will be responsible for expanding our footprint within the political, public affairs, and association sectors, leveraging your existing network to drive revenue across our entire portfolio of sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Market Leadership: Serve as the face of RealClear in the D.C. Beltway, cultivating deep partnerships with media buyers, agency leads, and direct clients in the political and public affairs space.
• Revenue Growth: Proactively identify and close new business opportunities, consistently meeting and exceeding quarterly and annual revenue targets.
• Consultative Selling: Develop and pitch high-impact, integrated advertising solutions—including branded content, display, programmatic, and custom event sponsorships that align with client policy and brand objectives.
• Strategic Pipeline Management: Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting and RFP response to negotiation and post-campaign analysis.
• Internal Collaboration: Work closely with our editorial and product teams to translate market feedback into innovative ad products that solve complex client challenges.

Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in digital, experiential and data sales, specifically within the Washington, D.C. market.
• Network: Proven, active relationships with key decision-makers at D.C.-based media buying agencies, public affairs firms, and trade associations.
• Track Record: A demonstrable history of building a territory from the ground up and consistently exceeding seven-figure revenue quotas.
• Industry Fluency: Deep understanding of the political advertising landscape, including regulatory nuances, election cycle pacing, and advocacy marketing strategies.
• Communication: Exceptional presentation and negotiation skills; you must be comfortable advising senior-level stakeholders on how to maximize their reach within the policy community.

Why Join RCP?

Institutional Trust: You will be representing a brand that is cited daily by the most influential news organizations and policymakers in the world. Scale & Reach: With 14 distinct verticals, you have the flexibility to craft multi-layered campaigns that reach everyone from defense contractors to energy policy influencers.

Autonomy: This is a high-visibility role for a self-starter who thrives on building long-term partnerships rather than transactional sales.

Benefit package from Stagwell Owned Media: Highly competitive uncapped commission structure with accelerators designed to reward top performers.

At RCP, we believe every career is as unique as the individual and empower employees to reach their full potential in a winning culture motivated by a powerful purpose.

RCP is an advocate for equal opportunity in the workplace. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. EEO Employer M/F/Vet/Disabled.