Sales Manager/Head of Commercial Partnerships

We are toogeza, a Ukrainian recruiting company that is focused on hiring talents and building teams for tech startups worldwide. People make a difference in the big game, we may help to find the right ones.

Currently, we are looking for a Sales Manager/Head of Commercial Partnerships for The Kyiv Independent.

About the company:

The Kyiv Independent — Ukraine’s biggest English-language publication — is seeking a Sales Manager/Head of Commercial Partnerships to join our team.

The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s leading English-language news outlet. Founded in November 2021 by a team of reporters and editors who were fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence, we quickly became a trusted source of news from Ukraine. Today, we are a team of around 75 people based mostly in Kyiv, reaching 5 million readers monthly and having won over 20 international awards for outstanding journalism.

Publishing in English, we serve as Ukraine’s voice in the world and the world’s window into Ukraine.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead the company’s commercial and partnerships strategy in line with overall business goals.

• Set and deliver annual revenue targets, forecasts, and budgets.

• Build, mentor, and manage the commercial team.

• Drive advertising, sponsorship, and partnership sales across multiple products and platforms.

• Negotiate and manage contracts with advertisers, sponsors, and partners.

• Oversee ad operations and ensure efficient revenue delivery.

• Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, including strategic partnerships and business collaborations.

• Monitor industry trends and competitors to guide growth and innovation.

• Maintain strong client relationships to ensure satisfaction and repeat business.

• Track and report on key commercial KPIs, providing regular updates to leadership.

• Collaborate with editorial, product, marketing, and audience teams to integrate revenue goals while maintaining journalistic integrity.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in sales management;

• English language proficiency (B2 or higher);

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with the clients;

• Experience in selling different advertising formats in the media and/or creative industry, including native, direct advertising and sponsorships;

• Good understanding of the Ukrainian and global media market;

• Proficiency in Google Sheets and PowerPoint/Keynote, HubSpot, CRM.

We offer:

• Market-level compensation;

• Working with a young and highly motivated team for an award-winning media startup;

• Busy but flexible work schedule;

• Work with foreign companies and world opinion leaders.

What’s next?

If this role sounds like a fit — we’d love to hear from you! Just send over your CV and anything else you’d like us to consider.

We’ll review everything within five working days, and if your background matches what we’re looking for, we’ll get in touch to set up a call and get to know each other better.