Essence Ventures was established with the goal to articulate through experiences, media, technology, and commerce, that
Black is not a monolith. Essence exists to serve Black Women deeply through culture, equity and celebration — encouraging and equipping them to embrace the power of their roles standing at the forefront of their lives, homes, and communities. We accomplish this mission and vision through our incredible and distinct brands: ESSENCE Communications, Inc. (ESSENCE, Girls’ United, Naturallycurly.com), AFROPUNK and ESSENCE Studios. Reporting directly to the CRO, and partnering with VP, Sales, the SVP of Integrated Sales Marketing Strategy, Sponsorships and Solutions oversees the sales marketing strategy, sales materials, franchise development and sponsorship activation across Essence Ventures (AfroPunk, Girls United &Naturally Curly) & Essence Communications.Areas of focus include development and delivery of effective storytelling, and the tactical sales materials to deliver those stories, that elevates the Essence Ventures Portfolio of assets with persuasive content, materials and experiences, converting and retaining media and sponsorship clients and helping grow SOM. SVP of Integrated Sales Marketing Strategy, Sponsorships and Solutions will collaborate closely with a broad set of internal partners, at EV and Sundial, that collectively enable our strategic priorities as our brands come to life in an increasing array of media, channels and audiences. This work will be coupled with the responsibility of assisting in the development of new innovations and product offerings.SVP of Integrated Sales Marketing Strategy, Sponsorships and Solutions role requires significant experience in portfolio management, integrated sales best practices, live events production and sales, multi-segment audience engagement, digital innovation and expansion, and all facets of EV’s go-to-market activations.
The role requires experience working with multicultural brands and audiences, vision, accountability, media and audience metrics-orientation, creativity and, most importantly, the ability to collaborate and partner across a team of experts.As a new team within the organization, it is imperative to have a candidate with an entrepreneurial mindset, a player-coach that can both produce independently as well as build and lead teams that can produce exceptional work, a breadth of category experience and have an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing multicultural media and content organizations.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Position Essence Ventures Portfolio of brands (Essence, AfroPunk, Girls United and Naturally Curly) to drive meaningful commercial outcomes that deliver against our brand, product & client objectives, driving preference for our brands while increasing partner and commercial demand for our portfolio.
- Partner with sales, Edit, PR, experiential production, video, digital and social leadership to create compelling packages and ensure long-term brand planning meets or exceeds growth goals across our portfolio.
- Help develop and implement a comprehensive sales strategy that aligns with the company's overall revenue generation objectives.
- Collaborate with sales leadership team to identify and pursue new business opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams.
- Lead the development and execution of innovative marketing initiatives that enhance Essence Ventures' brand visibility, market share, and customer engagement.
- Work directly with CRO to analyze market trends, competitor activities, and customer insights to inform sales and marketing strategies and identify new growth opportunities.
- Work closely with the content and product teams to develop compelling sales and marketing collateral, including media kits, presentations, and case studies.
- Collaborate with the CRO to set sales targets, allocate resources, and monitor performance against key metrics.
- Manage and mentor the sales and marketing team, providing guidance, training, and support to ensure they meet or exceed their objectives.
- Foster strong relationships with key clients, agencies, and industry partners, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and retention.
- Represent Essence Ventures at industry events, conferences, and sales pitches, showcasing the company's unique value proposition and market leadership.
Qualifications/Experience:
- 10-15 years of experience spanning brand strategy and/or integrated media planning within an agency or at a client. The last 5 years must have been spent in the digital media eco-system.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Marketing, Communications); advanced degree (e.g., MBA) preferred.
- Proven experience as a VP of Sales, Director of Sales, or similar senior sales and marketing role within the multicultural media industry.
- Experience with pricing, packaging, sales and activation live events
- Demonstrated success in developing and executing effective sales strategies and integrated marketing initiatives, across print, digital and experiential, that drive revenue growth and market share.
- Deep understanding of the multicultural media landscape, including advertising trends, digital platforms, and content monetization strategies.
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to build, motivate, and guide marketing teams.
- Experience in creative design, and brand strategy development and presentation.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to leverage data and insights to inform decision-making and optimize sales and marketing efforts.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with key clients, partners, and stakeholders.
- Creative and innovative mindset, with a willingness to experiment with new sales and marketing approaches to drive growth and engagement.
- Travel required.
Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, EAP, Annual Bonus Earning Potential, Hybrid work schedule (3 Days in Office Required) Salary: 250k to 275k
