Senior Director, Ad Tech and Data Partnerships

iHeartMedia; New York (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision

Life insurance

Paid vacation and sick time

Paid holidays

401K plan

Employee Assistance Program

Voluntary programs

Job summary

iHeartMedia in New York, NY is seeking a Senior Director of Ad Tech & Data Partnerships to lead DSP, data, and measurement partnerships across the audio ecosystem.

Reporting to the SVP of Advanced Audio and Data Revenue, this role drives revenue growth through strategic partnerships with major DSPs, data providers, agencies, retail media networks, clean-room partners, identity solutions, and measurement companies, collaborating with Sales, Product, Marketing, and Business Development.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in digital advertising or programmatic media.
• Deep understanding of DSPs, SSPs, DMPs/CDPs, clean rooms, and identity frameworks.
• Familiarity with retail media, commerce media, and AI‑driven advertising technologies.
• Experience developing strategic partnership plans and driving measurable revenue outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders internally and externally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with key DSP/SSP partners.
• Identify opportunities to increase programmatic demand and revenue growth.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and joint business plans with platforms.
• Serve as the primary liaison between DSP partners and internal teams.
• Lead sales engagements across retail and commerce media networks.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Programmatic advertising

Ad tech

Data partnerships

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive influence

Tools

The Trade Desk

Magnite

DV360

Yahoo DSP

Amazon DSP

StackAdapt

Job description

iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in America , reaches 90% of Americans every month – a monthly audience that’s twice the size of any other audio company – almost three times the size of the largest TV network – and almost 4 times the size of the largest ad-sponsored music streaming service. And we were just recognized as one of the Top Media Sales Organizations by The Myers Report!

In fact, iHeart has: More #1 rated markets than the next two largest radio companies combined;

• We’re the largest podcast publisher , with more monthly downloads than the second- and third-largest podcast publishers combined. Podcasting, the fastest-growing new media, today has more monthly users than streaming music services or Netflix;

• iHeart is the home of many of the country’s most popular and trusted on-air personalities and podcast influencers , who build important connections with hundreds of communities across America;

• We create and produce some of the most popular and well‑known branded live music events in America, including the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iHeartCountry Festival, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina and the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour;

• iHeartRadio is the #1 streaming radio digital service in America;

• Our social media footprint is 7 times larger than the next largest audio service; and

• We have the only complete audio ad technology stack in the industry for all forms of audio , from on demand to broadcast radio, digital streaming radio and podcasting, which bring data, targeting and attribution to all forms of audio at an unparalleled scale. As a result, we’re able to combine our strong leadership position in audience reach, usage and ad tech with powerful tools and insights for our sales organizations to help them build success for their clients at a more efficient cost than any other option.

Because we reach almost every community in America, we’re committed to providing a range of programming that reflects the diversity of the many communities we serve – and our company reflects that same kind of diversity. Our company values stress collaboration, curiosity, welcoming dissent, accepting mistakes in the pursuit of new ideas, and respect for everyone.

Only one company in America has the #1 position in everything audio: iHeartMedia!

If you’re excited about this role but don’t feel your experience aligns perfectly with the job description. At iHeartMedia we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and are looking for teammates passionate about what we do!

What We Need:

iHeartMedia is seeking a strategic, results-oriented Senior Director, Ad Tech & Data Partnerships to lead the development, growth, and execution of key demand‑side platform (DSP), retail media, audience data, identity, and measurement partnerships across the company’s audio ecosystem.

Reporting to the SVP of Advanced Audio and Data Revenue, this role will be responsible for driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships with major DSPs, data providers, agencies, retail media networks, clean‑room partners, identity solutions, and measurement companies. The Sr. Director will serve as a subject matter expert on programmatic audio, audience targeting, attribution, and emerging ad tech solutions, while collaborating across Sales, Programmatic Operations, Product, Marketing, and Business Development teams.

The ideal candidate combines deep ad tech expertise with strong commercial acumen and a passion for advancing iHeartMedia’s position as a leader in audio advertising.

What You’ll Do:

DSP & Ad Tech Partnership Management

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with key DSP and SSP partners including The Trade Desk, Magnite, DV360, Yahoo DSP, Amazon DSP, StackAdapt, Viant, Freewheel Buyer Cloud, Blis, and other emerging platforms.
• Identify opportunities to increase programmatic demand, unlock new buying capabilities, and accelerate revenue growth across existing and newly-identified DSPs and buying platforms.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and joint business plans with platform partners.
• Serve as the primary liaison between DSP partners and iHeartMedia’s internal teams.
• Lead sales engagements across retail and commerce media networks to align iHeart’s solutions with RMN inventory and measurement needs.

Data & Audience Solutions

• Build and expand relationships with audience data providers, identity resolution partners, clean‑room providers, and attribution vendors.
• Evaluate and onboard new audience targeting, measurement, and data enrichment capabilities.
• Drive adoption of first‑party data activation strategies and privacy‑compliant audience solutions.
• Develop scalable audience products leveraging iHeart’s data assets and partner ecosystems,

Industry Leadership & Market Development

• Represent iHeartMedia at industry conferences, agency events, and partner meetings.
• Maintain expertise on evolving trends in programmatic advertising, identity, privacy regulations, retail media, and AI‑driven advertising solutions.
• Identify emerging technologies and partnership opportunities that strengthen iHeart’s competitive position.
• Provide market intelligence and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Tech, Ad Operations, Business Development and Legal teams on partner integrations and solution development.
• Support execution of technical integrations, audience onboarding, identity solutions, and measurement initiatives.
• Ensure partnerships align with iHeartMedia’s broader digital audio strategy and revenue objectives.

What You’ll Need:

Required Experience

• 7+ years of experience in digital advertising, programmatic media, ad technology, data partnerships, or business development.
• Strong understanding of the programmatic advertising ecosystem, including DSPs, SSPs, DMPs/CDPs, clean rooms, and identity frameworks.
• Familiarity with retail media, commerce media, and emerging AI‑driven (agentic) advertising technologies.
• Experience developing strategic partnership plans and driving measurable revenue outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders internally and externally.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within digital audio, digital out‑of‑home, podcasting, CTV, or digital publishing.
• Understanding of broadcast radio advertising ecosystem and/or broadcast TV advertising ecosystem.
• Understanding of first‑party data strategies, privacy regulations, identity solutions, and audience activation.
• Experience with attribution, measurement, and media effectiveness solutions.

What You’ll Bring:

• Respect for others and a strong belief that others should do this in return
• In‑Depth knowledge of the media industry and related sales processes
• Ability to apply expertise in a complex sales environment to service large accounts and/or complicated business segments
• Confidence to prospect and quickly build rapport with customers, adapting messaging and style based on customer needs
• Ease working with senior level executives and using influencing skills to negotiations and drive sales
• Desire to stay abreast of emerging market trends and customer needs to expand relationships and trust
• Confidence to solve complex problems using analysis, judgement and multiple sources of information
• Accountability for your own work and a desire to provide guidance to new team members
• Business development experience with new and existing customers

Compensation :

Salary to be determined by multiple factors including but not limited to relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job‑related qualifications, and alignment with market data.

$160,000 - $200,000

Location:

New York, NY: 125 West 55th Street, 10019

Position Type:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Pay Type:

Salaried

Benefits:

iHeartMedia’s benefits offering is flexible and offers a variety of choices to meet the diverse needs of our changing workforce, including the following:

• Employer sponsored medical, dental and vision with a variety of coverage options
• Company provided and supplemental life insurance
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid company holidays
• A Spirit day to encourage and allow our employees to more easily volunteer in their community
• A 401K plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no cost – services include telephonic counseling sessions, consultation on legal and financial matters, emotional well‑being, family and caregiving
• A range of additional voluntary programs, such as spending accounts, student loan refinancing, accident insurance and more!

We are accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis.

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.

Non‑Compete will be required for certain positions and as allowed by law.

Our organization participates in E‑Verify.