Senior Direct IO Manager

twentysix; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

twentysix is seeking a strategic Media Partnerships lead to drive end-to-end planning and activation across direct digital partnerships, including always-on, seasonal campaigns, sponsorships, and custom content integrations across digital, physical, and experiential touchpoints.

You will build and communicate across client goals, lead RFPs, coordinate with programmatic and traditional media expertise, and elevate operational workflows while expanding publisher relationships and value for clients.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of media planning and buying with premium digital partnerships
• Experience building large-scale publisher-direct programs from brief to client presentation
• Strong understanding of display, video, social, and branded content
• Knowledge of how direct and programmatic strategies intersect to create a unified media approach
• Experience with traditional media (Linear TV, Radio, OOH) is a plus
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Strong relationship-building with publishers, vendors, and internal teams
• Experience developing processes and improving operational efficiencies
• Future-focused mindset with a drive to reimagine and improve

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategy across direct digital partnerships and activations
• Identify non-standard digital opportunities including custom content and new measurement solutions
• Shape strategy and lead client leadership through RFPs and negotiations
• Collaborate with programmatic and traditional media teams to deliver a cohesive portfolio
• Improve workflows across planning, trafficking, reporting, and ad operations

Skills

Media planning

Digital partnerships

Sponsorships

Negotiation

Project management

Storytelling

Publisher relationships

Tools

Programmatic platforms

Campaign measurement tools

Job description

You Will Be

Leading end-to-end strategy, planning, and activation across direct digital partnerships, including:

• Always-on, seasonal, and high-profile campaigns

• Digital-first sponsorships, tentpoles, and custom content integrations

• 360 activations spanning digital, physical, and experiential touchpoints

Driving modern partnership innovation by:

• Identifying non-standard digital opportunities including custom content, creator tie-ins, experiential extensions, emerging formats

• Bringing forward new publisher, data, and measurement solutions that elevate client growth

• Championing advanced measurement adoption across digital partner programs

Shaping strategy & client leadership:

• Building deep understanding of client business goals, audiences, and KPIs

• Ensuring all Direct IO activations ladder into unified, integrated media strategies

• Leading the full RFP process from brief development through vendor evaluation, negotiation, and final client presentation

Elevating operational excellence:

• Improving workflows across planning, trafficking, reporting, and ad operations

• Developing negotiation best practices and actively upskilling the team

• Identifying incremental partnership opportunities and securing added value

Collaborating cross-functionally:

• Partnering with Programmatic and Integrated Media leaders to deliver a cohesive Display & Video ecosystem

• Leveraging traditional media knowledge (Linear, OOH, Audio) as value-add expertise that informs and complements digital programs

You Must Have

• 3+ years of media planning & buying experience, with a strong emphasis on premium digital partnerships, sponsorships, and custom activations

• Proven ability to build and execute large-scale, publisher-direct programs that include brief development, partner vetting, negotiation, and storytelling through recommendations

• Strong understanding of digital media channels across display, video, social, and branded content

• Familiarity with programmatic and how direct and programmatic strategies intersect to create a unified media approach

• Experience overseeing or supporting traditional media (Linear TV, Radio, OOH)—not required but a meaningful plus

• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously and deliver high-quality work in compressed timelines

• Strong relationship-building skills with publishers, vendors, and internal partners

• Experience developing processes and elevating operational efficiencies

• A future-focused, inquisitive mindset with a natural inclination to reimagine and improve