Sales Director, Growth Team - Political Vertical & Independent Agencies
OpenX
Sales & Business Development
Washington, DC, USA · Remote
Posted on Aug 30, 2025
OpenX, the world’s largest people-based advertising exchange, is seeking a Sales Director to join our US Buyer Development Growth team. This individual contributor position will play a critical role in the expansion of the OpenX business by owning and growing our Political advertising vertical with a focus on Independent Agencies. In addition to Political advertisers, this role will be tasked with prospecting Independent Agencies within the US Southeast regions to deliver net new business within a territory that includes Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Candidates should have a solid understanding of programmatic advertising, auction mechanics, and the broader advertising landscape, with experience working at or with US Independent Agencies.
This critical member of the Buyer Development team will have a unique opportunity to influence the direction of the company, cement our go-to-market position with Political advertisers as the foremost identity-focused SSP and truly ‘own’ a set of high-value client relationships.
Key Responsibilities
- Building relationships and driving revenue with assigned Political advertisers and independent agencies.
- Working closely with account teams at agencies representing the independent brands to activate private marketplaces
- Developing deals that help advertisers connect with their target audiences and desired inventory across OpenX’s suite of premium publishers
- Prospecting and connecting with potential buyers, deploying a discovery strategy and sales narrative designed to drive Programmatic Direct spend
- Providing ‘ground support’ to strategic deals by driving transactional business and consistent deal-based revenue
- Managing a pipeline of opportunities in Salesforce and providing regular reporting to management on deal progress
- Collaborating with internal stakeholders to deliver to clients the OpenX suite of programmatic and identity-based solutions
Required Qualifications & Skills
- 7+ years of programmatic advertising experience an advertising agency, brand or other ad tech firm
- Solid relationships with Political advertisers and deep understanding of the vertical
- Experience calling on Independent agencies within the Southeast region
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills
- Highly organized, with experience successfully managing multiple projects to tight deadlines
- A clear understanding of SSPs/exchanges and programmatic buying fundamentals
- Ability to travel up to 30%
- BS/BA degree required or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience. MBA a plus!
Desired Qualifications & Skills
- Political vertical experience is a must!
- Deep familiarity with ad tech, SSPs, DSPs and the programmatic landscape, as well as with internal org structure at brands, agencies, ATDs and consultancies
- Expansive network of strategic and transactional decision-makers on the buy-side, including brand-direct relationships
- Well-versed in programmatic audience strategy: CRM, CDP, DMP, 1P+2P+3P data, the future-focused people-based marketing landscape, etc.
- Strong executive presence and comfortable presenting to clients of all levels
- A consultative, partnership-minded sales approach
- Ability to lead all aspects of top-tier buyer relationships – truly ‘own’ a book of business
- Excellent problem-solving skills and strong business judgment