NYC-based | Leads a small, high-performing team
As VP of Partner Development, you will play a critical role in shaping Smartly.io’s external ecosystem and long-term growth strategy. You will lead a lean, high-impact team responsible for building and scaling strategic partnerships that expand Smartly’s creative automation, media buying, and measurement capabilities across the digital advertising landscape. Sitting at the intersection of Product, Commercial, and platform partners, this role combines strategic vision with hands-on execution—driving integrations, commercial models, and joint go-to-market motions that deliver meaningful value to customers while positioning Smartly as a leader in AI-driven advertising technology.
As the VP, Partner Development at Smartly you will…- Lead and mentor a highly skilled Partner Development team, setting strategic direction and driving execution across Smartly.io’s product and commercial partnership ecosystem.
- Define and own the partnership strategy supporting Smartly.io’s Creative Automation, Media Buying, and Incrementality Measurement solutions—including emerging AI-driven capabilities.
- Identify, evaluate, and secure high-impact partnerships with platforms, data providers, measurement partners, identity solutions, and key ecosystem players that enhance Smartly’s offering and customer value.
- Work closely with Product leadership to prioritize integrations that strengthen Smartly’s creative workflow, omnichannel media buying, and performance measurement capabilities.
- Collaborate with Commercial, Customer Success, and GTM teams to build scalable joint value propositions, co-selling models, and go-to-market motions with strategic partners.
- Lead complex commercial negotiations—including data usage agreements, measurement partnerships, platform integrations, AI/ML partnerships, and multi-layer commercial terms.
- Develop a structured partner performance framework, including KPIs, ROI analyses, integration impact scoring, and growth plans aligned with Smartly’s revenue targets.
- Stay ahead of industry developments across social platforms, programmatic ecosystems, identity/privacy, incrementality testing, and AI advancements to guide partnership priorities.
- Represent Smartly.io at industry events, strategic partner summits, and executive forums as a thought leader on creative automation, AI-driven media buying, and modern measurement.
- Continuously refine partner engagement processes to drive efficiency, quality of integrations, and downstream customer impact.
- 10–15+ years in Ad Tech, MarTech, digital media, or platform partnership roles—preferably with experience in creative tech, media buying automation, or measurement.
- Track record of building and leading high-performing partner development or strategic alliances teams.
- Deep understanding of paid social ecosystems (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest), broader programmatic channels, and the measurement landscape (incrementality, MTA, lift studies).
- Experience driving partnerships involving AI/ML products, data enrichment, and workflow automation is a strong plus.
- Proven success negotiating complex commercial and technical partnership agreements.
- Strong ability to collaborate with Product and Engineering teams on API integrations, roadmap alignment, and technical capabilities.
- Executive presence with ability to manage C-level relationships across major platforms and ecosystem partners.
- NYC-based or willing to relocate, with ability to travel for partner meetings and industry events.
Why Join Smartly?
- Work at the forefront of AdTech with a fast-growing global SaaS company.
- Exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic decision-making.
- Collaborative, international culture with offices worldwide.
- Competitive compensation and benefits package.
Salary in USD : $ 200,000 - 250,000 USD
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Smartly is the AI-powered advertising technology company transforming ad experiences for brands and their consumers. Our comprehensive advertising platform seamlessly integrates the capabilities of media, creative, and intelligence to power more than 800 billion impressions and generate more than 300 billion creatives annually, delivering tangible business outcomes for brands and advertisers.
Smartly is the only company in the industry recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Creative Advertising Technologies with PwC validating the results it delivers for brands. We manage creative and media for 700+ brands worldwide and $6B in ad spend across the largest media platforms, including Facebook, Google, Instagram, Pinterest, Snap, and TikTok. Our end-to-end technology, unmatched access to media platforms and exceptional customer service help Fortune 500 brands to reach and engage consumers and learn what performs best.Smartly is a multinational and diverse team of 750+ Smartlies from 60+ nationalities, working in 13 countries. Together, we want to create and maintain an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and heard. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion approach is at the heart of it.
Visit Smartly to learn more.
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What the Team is Saying
What We Do
We solve for advertising campaign and creative complexities - both key elements to the time/money savings and performance that brands, agencies and businesses seek.
Our unified platform combines media, creative, and intelligence, offering end-to-end workflows powered by AI across the open and closed web. With over 700 brands and advertisers, we've proven that dynamic and personalized creative makes advertising impactful.
We are on a mission to transform the advertising experience for brands and their consumers. ⚡️
Why Work With Us
As a fast-paced growth company, we offer opportunities to maximize learning and amplify impact. Our culture and values have always been the secret sauce of our growth. They define how we aspire to build our adtech product, whom we hire and reward, and how we work towards a shared vision. Join us in moving advertising forward.
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Smartly Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
We are a hybrid workplace where Smartlies have the flexibility of hybrid work combining office and work from home. We also offer programs for short-term remote work globally.
