Director, Influencer Strategy

Director, Influencer Strategy LOCATION The Director, Influencer Strategy position is a remote, work from home position, as are all positions at Acceleration Partners. (a structure central to our culture and our vision to change the work/life paradigm). Some travel is required for client meetings, internal meetings, and conferences. THE ROLE Acceleration Partners is building out its influencer strategy discipline, and this role sits at the center of that effort. The Director, Influencer Strategy is a senior, externally-facing position responsible for shaping how AP goes to market with influencer programs. This person works at the intersection of sales, client services, and delivery, helping the business win new clients, build credible influencer strategies, and connect execution back to measurable outcomes. The ideal candidate brings deep fluency in the brand-awareness and affiliate influencer space, strong business instincts, and the ability to work across internal teams to ensure that what we deliver compelling strategic programs that are successfully executed for our clients. A working knowledge of affiliate marketing is a plus; some learning curve on the affiliate side is expected and supported. TOP 5 JOB RESPONSIBILITIES STRATEGY-LED SALES ENABLEMENT Partners with the sales and delivery teams from the moment an opportunity comes in. Based on the prospect’s needs and goals, the Strategist owns building a credible, well-reasoned influencer strategy for proposals and RFPs. The Strategist will use thought-leadership and industry insights to define the appropriate creator strategy and the program’s direction – including audience insights, competitive analysis, creative positioning, influencer archetype creation, messaging frameworks, and platform recommendations. Works with delivery to ensure what is proposed is grounded in what can be delivered, budget, and scope. Joins pitch meetings alongside the sales lead and client services point person to speak to the strategy with authority and expertise. Answer client questions thoughtfully, showcasing a deep knowledge of the influencer space, examples of competitive programs, and creator best practices. PROGRAM STRATEGY & INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE Define the strategy for robust, in-depth influencer programs grounded in industry research and competitive intelligence. Stays current on what brands across categories are doing in the influencer and affiliate space, tracking trends, emerging platforms, and talent ecosystems. Supports program launches and provides the strategic foundation that the delivery team executes against. INDUSTRY LEADING REPORTING Adds narrative and strategic context to reporting, connecting the dots between the strategy sold, the execution delivered, performance results, and forward-looking recommendations. Right now reporting is data-driven but lacks the strategic thread that ties it together. This role closes that gap and creates upsell opportunities in the process. ONGOING CLIENT SUPPORT & UPSELL Plugs in throughout the client lifecycle to provide strategic recommendations, industry thought-leadership, and pitching the strategy for expansion opportunities. Presents to clients alongside the delivery team on specialized program recommendations, optimizations, or expansions. Work on a diverse portfolio of brands, serving as a partner and resource to the delivery team and clients. AP MARKETING & EXTERNAL PRESENCE Contributes to AP’s external marketing through internal and external thought leadership. Opportunity to be in AP’s marketing efforts such as speaking at or attending conferences on influencer strategy topics. Helps build AP’s profile and credibility in the influencer space and inspire clients to believe in our strategic capabilities and knowledge base. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE BY 6 MONTHS… You have a strong grasp of AP’s influencer offerings and sales process having contributed to multiple pitches. You are producing influencer strategy decks that the sales team is confident presenting to prospects. You have established working relationships with client services leads and understand how strategy translates into delivery. You are adding narrative context and future recommendations to client reports. BY 1 YEAR… You are a recognized internal resource for influencer strategy across the business. Your strategic program recommendations are being successfully delivered on with positive client feedback. The influencer pitch process runs more smoothly because of your involvement, and win rates on influencer opportunities are improving. Client reports have a cleaner strategic narrative and we see more clients opting into expansion opportunities. You are actively contributing to AP’s external presence through content or speaking, and you have identified and helped close at least one meaningful upsell opportunity. QUALITIES OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE • Brings a clear strategic point of view and can defend it in a room with senior clients and leadership • Equally comfortable building a deck and presenting it; thinks in narratives, but understands the tactics • Collaborative by instinct; understands that the best outcomes come from working across and with teams • Stays current on the influencer and creator space without being prompted; this is something they follow because they care about it in order to have a consistent pulse on the Influencer industry, brand activations, and social trends • Can operate with autonomy, ambiguity and ownership in a discipline that is still being built out • Reliable and able to effectively prioritize to hit deadlines • Communicates with clarity and confidence, including with senior internal and external audiences • Comfortable in a fast-paced, client-facing, agency environment working across multiple clients in different verticals MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS • 7+ years of experience in influencer marketing, with meaningful exposure to strategy, program buildout, or new business • Demonstrated ability to build and present influencer strategies in a business development or client-facing context • Deep knowledge of the influencer and creator ecosystem across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Substack, and emerging channels • Working knowledge of affiliate marketing is a plus; willingness to learn is required • Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce client-ready materials independently • Ability to synthesize and visualize information effectively independently or in collaboration with Design • Experience presenting to senior clients or speaking externally preferred • Bachelors degree required • Ability to travel as needed for client meetings, team gatherings, and industry conferences WHY ACCELERATION PARTNERS? Acceleration Partners is the world’s largest and first-to-market Partnership Marketing Agency creating and nurturing partnerships that drive exceptional measurable outcomes for their clients. Managing clients in 40+ countries, AP’s global team of 300+ focuses on data-driven strategies that connect brands to the right consumers through affiliate and influencer All of our work is supported by APVision, our proprietary technology suite which leverages the largest dataset of any agency in the Partnership Marketing agency ecosystem. Serving over 200 brands—including household names like Amazon, Apple, Target, Google, Marriott, Coinbase, and Burberry—AP’s diversified team is creating what’s next in the industry by building high-performing partnership marketing programs. As the only truly integrated global partnerships agency, AP prides itself on being at the cutting edge of industry developments and leveraging proven expertise to deliver unique solutions for brands seeking sustainable growth. AP PERKS & BENEFITS – WHAT WE OFFER • 100% remote work for everyone • Group medical, dental, and vision coverage insurance (with opt-out benefits) • 401K with matching • Open Paid Time Off • Summer & Holiday Wellness Breaks in July and December • Volunteer and Birthday Time Off • Focus Fridays • Paid Parental Leave Benefits • Wellness, Technology & Education Allowances • Paid sabbatical leaves, donation matching, and more!! Target base salary is $110-130K + bonus depending on location and experience. Benefits may vary based on employment status or country location. Acceleration Partners is committed to a diverse workforce and we are an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. #LI-REMOTE *GLSDR #LI-MG1