Senior Account Executive II

Nielsen is looking for a Sr. Account Executive for our Audio line of business, to focus on driving revenue and forging strategic partnerships across the digital audio ecosystem, including podcasting, streaming, and broadcast radio. This role is focused on accelerating the growth of Nielsen's Audio division through direct engagement with major streaming audio platforms, podcast networks, publishers, and key advertisers/agencies. In this role, the VP will report to the Managing Director and will play a critical role in positioning Nielsen as the essential data and measurement partner for the rapidly evolving audio landscape. You will align your sales activities with company objectives and deep product understanding to deliver sustainable business growth.

Goals

• Execute against the sales strategy to achieve and exceed ambitious revenue targets for Nielsen's digital audio measurement products and services (including podcasting and streaming audio solutions) across all prospects and clients that align with Nielsen business objectives.
• Contribute to a results-driven culture that emphasizes accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement in the dynamic digital audio space.
• Monitor individual sales performance metrics and KPIs to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions.
• Deliver against New Business sales targets for podcast networks, streaming platforms, and digital audio publishers and contribute to their achievement through effective planning and execution.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, emerging trends in podcasting and streaming audio, and industry needs to identify opportunities and proactively address threats.

Responsibilities

Driving Growth

• Actively prospect and acquire new clients within major streaming audio platforms, podcast networks, and digital audio publishers to meet and exceed individual annual quotas and targets.
• Own and nurture relationships with C-suite and executive-level decision-makers (e.g., CEOs, CDOs, CMOs, and VPs of Revenue/Sales) within target organizations.
• Identify and capitalize on upsell and cross-sell opportunities within the existing client base across Nielsen's audio measurement portfolio.

Sales Process Management

• Independently manage the full sales cycle from initial prospecting and lead qualification to negotiating and closing contracts, often under demanding timelines and deadlines.
• Structure complex commercial agreements with major media companies and demonstrate expert negotiation and closing skills.

Strategic Client Engagement

• Build and maintain strong, lasting relationships with key customers, partners, and stakeholders at the executive level through both virtual and in-person meetings.
• Represent Nielsen at key industry events, conferences, and meetings (e.g., Podcast Movement, IAB Podcast Upfronts), building brand visibility and cultivating a robust network of industry contacts.
• Serve as a thought leader in the digital audio measurement space.

Product Expertise

• Serve as a subject matter expert in direct client pitches, effectively communicating the value proposition of Nielsen's data-driven insights and how they solve critical business challenges for audio stakeholders.
• Maintain a deep and current understanding of the entire digital audio landscape, including business models, competitive offerings, audience measurement standards, and emerging trends in both podcasting and streaming audio.
• Possess and apply a strong working knowledge of the audio ad technology space, including programmatic trading, supply-side platforms (SSPs), demand-side platforms (DSPs), and ad verification/attribution solutions.

Account and Territory Planning

• Develop and execute strategic plans for your assigned territory and client roster of podcast networks, streaming platforms, and digital audio publishers.
• Work closely with the Account Management team and other leads to identify top product opportunities across Nielsen's audio measurement services.

Cross-Functional Alignment

• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Client Service teams to relay market feedback, influence product roadmaps, and ensure seamless delivery and adoption of Nielsen's solutions.
• Collaborate with operations, enablement, marketing, and product teams to ensure a unified approach that drives customer satisfaction.

Sales Strategy Development

• Assist in the development and implementation of client-specific sales strategies for the digital audio ecosystem, working closely with the sales team to support strategic client relationships and drive key initiatives.
• Translate complex measurement solutions into clear, tangible client value propositions.

Independent Drive & Operational Excellence

• Demonstrate a high level of self-motivation and the ability to operate effectively and autonomously in a fast-paced environment with minimal direct supervision.
• Maintain accurate sales forecasts, activity reports, and performance metrics using CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce).

CRM Management

• Maintain a detailed and accurate sales pipeline in Salesforce, ensuring data integrity for effective sales reporting and forecasting.

Meeting Preparation

• Prepare for and lead regular internal and external meetings, including Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), to showcase value and plan for future growth.

Qualifications

Must-Have Qualifications

• Experience: A minimum of 5+ years of demonstrable, successful experience in a data-driven digital audio sales role, covering both podcasting and streaming audio revenue streams.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience) preferred.
• Industry Network: Extensive and current contacts/relationships in the streaming audio and podcasting industry, with a history of leveraging these contacts for revenue generation.
• Executive Presence: Proven experience in successfully managing complex accounts and closing deals with C-level executives at major media companies, podcast networks, streaming platforms, and advertising agencies.
• Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of the audio ad tech space (e.g., measurement, programmatic, attribution, verification) including supply-side platforms (SSPs), demand-side platforms (DSPs), and ad verification solutions.
• Industry Understanding: Deep understanding of the digital audio and podcast industry (publishers, platforms, networks, advertising technology) including current state and future trends in podcasting, streaming audio, and broadcast radio measurement.

Key Competencies

• Accountability & Drive: Highly self-motivated, proactive, and results-oriented with an unyielding commitment to meeting deadlines and revenue goals.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation abilities tailored for executive audiences.
• Negotiation: Expert negotiation and closing skills with the ability to structure complex commercial agreements.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate complex measurement solutions into clear, tangible client value propositions and serve as a thought leader in the space.
• Problem Solving: Attention to detail, excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to meet deadlines and respond to clients in a timely manner.
• Adaptability: Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, and work well with a diverse customer base and various internal teams.
• Sales Motivation: Motivated to prospect, drive sales and new business opportunities in the evolving digital audio ecosystem.
• Team Player: Strong collaboration skills - this is a high-impact sales role that requires cross-functional partnership.

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Additional Information

Enabling your best to power a better media future. Our comprehensive benefits package (including health & wellness plans, 401(k) retirement coupled with a Nielsen match, a generous paid time off policy, company provided car for those who qualify, and if eligible, a discretionary incentive/bonus) is designed to be inclusive for all employees and families, and we take pride in ensuring that employees are rewarded holistically for the role they are doing and their performance.

A reasonable estimated salary range for a new employee has been provided. It would be adjusted based on each employee's geographic location. The position of each employee within a compensation range at Nielsen is dependent on several individual circumstances, such as experience, training, certifications and other business requirements/needs.

Nielsen makes hiring decisions without regard to disability status, protected veteran status, or membership in any other protected class.

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About the Company

At Nielsen, we are passionate about our work to power a better media future for all people by providing powerful insights that drive client decisions and deliver extraordinary results. Our talented, global workforce is dedicated to capturing audience engagement with content - wherever and whenever it’s consumed. Together, we are proudly rooted in our deep legacy as we stand at the forefront of the media revolution. When you join Nielsen, you will join a dynamic team committed to excellence, perseverance, and the ambition to make an impact together. We champion you, because when you succeed, we do too. We enable your best to power our future.