Senior Client Partner, B2C

Summary

The Senior Client Partner, B2C is responsible for developing and growing strategic advertising and sponsorship partnerships with consumer brands and advertising agencies. This position drives revenue opportunities across SHRM’s portfolio of digital media, content, research, thought leadership, video, podcasts, and newsletters.

The Senior Client Partner develops integrated, multi-platform solutions that connect consumer brands with SHRM’s audience of business leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. The role is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, developing senior-level relationships with brand and agency decision-makers, and creating customized partnership solutions aligned with client objectives and SHRM’s business strategy.

This position plays a key role in developing SHRM’s B2C advertising and brand partnership business, including identifying priority markets and industry verticals, establishing new client and agency relationships, developing new revenue opportunities, and contributing to the evolution of SHRM’s B2C go-to-market strategy and advertising product portfolio.

The Senior Client Partner works cross-functionally with internal teams to develop and execute strategic partnerships and provides market intelligence regarding advertiser priorities, agency trends, competitive activity, and emerging opportunities within the media and advertising marketplace.

Responsibilities

Revenue Generation & Business Development

• Develop and execute strategies to generate significant advertising, sponsorship, and partnership revenue from leading B2C brands and global advertising agencies.
• Build, manage, and continuously expand a robust pipeline of new business opportunities across priority consumer categories, including automotive, entertainment and streaming, retail, travel and hospitality, financial services, lifestyle, wellness, and consumer technology.
• Own the full sales lifecycle, from prospecting and opportunity identification through needs assessment, solution development, proposal, negotiation, contracting, and partnership renewal or expansion.
• Develop integrated, multi-platform marketing programs incorporating SHRM’s digital media, newsletters, podcasts, video, branded content, research, and thought leadership.
• Consistently achieve or exceed established revenue goals while building a sustainable pipeline of short- and long-term partnership opportunities.
• Pursue and secure high-value, multi-year partnerships that expand SHRM’s relationships with strategic brands and agencies.

Strategic Partnerships & Solutions

• Develop innovative sponsorship and advertising solutions that connect consumer brands with SHRM’s influential audience through content, thought leadership, digital media, research, and experiential activations.
• Translate client business and marketing objectives into customized partnership strategies that leverage SHRM’s unique audience, brand, content, and platform capabilities.
• Partner cross-functionally with marketing, content, events, research, digital, product, finance, legal, and other internal stakeholders to develop and execute integrated client solutions.
• Identify and develop first-to-market concepts and emerging partnership models that differentiate SHRM within the advertising and sponsorship marketplace.
• Use audience intelligence, market research, performance data, and industry insights to develop compelling business cases and demonstrate the value of client investment.
• Identify opportunities to expand successful partnerships across platforms, audiences, programs, and contract periods.

Agency & Brand Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain senior-level relationships with CMOs, senior brand marketers, media executives, agency leaders, and other key decision-makers.
• Leverage an established network of brand and agency relationships to accelerate SHRM’s entry and growth within the B2C advertising marketplace.
• Navigate complex agency and client structures, including media, creative, strategy, experiential, and integrated marketing teams.
• Build relationships across major agency holding companies and leading independent agencies.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to clients, bringing forward insights, ideas, and solutions that address evolving brand and marketing priorities.
• Represent SHRM professionally in client meetings, agency presentations, industry events, conferences, and other external forums.

Market & Business Development

• Help define and execute SHRM’s B2C advertising and sponsorship go-to-market strategy, including priority industries, target accounts, agency relationships, partnership models, and revenue opportunities.
• Assess market trends, advertiser priorities, competitive activity, and emerging media opportunities to inform sales and product strategy.
• Provide market intelligence and client feedback to internal stakeholders to inform the development and evolution of advertising products, sponsorship offerings, and commercial capabilities.
• Identify opportunities to monetize SHRM’s differentiated audience of senior business leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and high-income households.
• Partner with internal teams to develop scalable offerings while balancing the need for customized, high-value client solutions.
• Serve as a subject-matter resource on consumer advertising trends, agency dynamics, sponsorship models, and emerging opportunities within the modern media ecosystem.

Education & Experience Requirements

Education

·         Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business Administration, Media, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.  Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in media sales, advertising partnerships, integrated marketing, brand partnerships, sponsorship sales, or a related revenue-generating field.
• Demonstrated success developing and closing significant advertising and sponsorship partnerships, including seven-figure revenue opportunities.
• Proven experience selling integrated marketing and advertising solutions to major consumer brands and global advertising agencies.
• Established experience developing and maintaining relationships with senior marketing executives, brand leaders, and agency decision-makers.
• Experience working with major agency holding companies and leading independent agencies.
• Demonstrated experience securing brand and performance marketing budgets across consumer sectors such as automotive, entertainment and streaming, retail and consumer products, travel and hospitality, financial services, and consumer technology.
• Experience developing new markets, revenue streams, advertising products, client categories, or strategic partnership opportunities preferred.

Certifications - NA

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional consultative selling, business development, negotiation, and relationship-management capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate compelling strategic partnership concepts tailored to sophisticated brands and agencies.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to establish credibility and influence senior marketing, agency, and business leaders.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated ability to build new revenue opportunities in an evolving or undefined market.
• Strong strategic storytelling and presentation skills, with the ability to translate audience insights, data, and business objectives into compelling client solutions.
• Advanced understanding of the modern media and advertising ecosystem, including digital media, video, branded content, podcasts, newsletters, experiential marketing, sponsorships, and emerging advertising channels.
• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated ability to structure, negotiate, and close complex, high-value partnerships.
• Ability to use internal and external data, audience insights, and performance metrics to support investment recommendations and multi-year partnership opportunities.
• Ability to navigate complex organizations and coordinate multiple internal and external stakeholders through lengthy sales cycles.
• Strong understanding of agency structures, media planning and buying processes, brand marketing strategies, and advertising budget cycles.
• Ability to operate with significant independence, establish priorities, and deliver results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Strong collaboration skills and demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to effectively leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and improve overall work quality.

Physical Requirements

This position operates in a typical office environment (which includes a home office setting) and requires the ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Physical requirements may include:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, handling documents, and using office equipment.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds as needed.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with colleagues and stakeholders.

Work Environment

Fully Remote:
Employees must be available during standard business hours, with core hours beginning between 8:00–9:00 a.m. and concluding between 5:00–6:00 p.m.     

Travel: Occasional 0 – 10%

#LI 

The total cash compensation hiring range for this position is $250,000 to $275,000 per year, with a base hiring range of $100,000-$115,000 and a target variable compensation of $150,000. This range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications. SHRM offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The benefits for this position include professional growth and development, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, open leave, and annual discretionary bonus and incentives.