Head of Monetization & Strategic Partnerships

About Micro Journeys

Micro Journeys is an award-winning podcast at the intersection of U.S. defense innovation, advanced technology, and national security. Through long-form conversations, the show delivers behind-the-scenes perspectives on microelectronics, strategic leadership, and the decisions that shape America’s competitive edge.

Guests include senior military leaders, federal program heads, defense technologists, and policy architects — among them Major General Arnold Punaro (USMC Ret.) and Corrine Kramer (Palantir / IDA). The show commands a highly engaged, senior-level audience that is difficult to reach through traditional advertising channels.

Role Summary

We’re looking for a media sales closer — someone who has lived in the world of podcast sponsorships, branded content, and creator-economy partnerships. You know how to build a sponsorship deck that converts. You understand CPMs, host-read integrations, and how to articulate audience value to a brand’s marketing team. You’ve sold against a rate card, and you’ve also thrown it out the window when a custom deal made more sense.

This role owns the full revenue cycle: prospecting, pitching, negotiating, and closing brand sponsorships for Micro Journeys — including host-read integrations, sponsored segments, branded content series, and long-term strategic partnerships. You’ll work alongside our social and production teams to build integrated, multi-platform packages that deliver genuine ROI for sponsors.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Strategy, you will be responsible for scaling sponsorship revenue toward approximately $1M annually over a 3–5 year horizon. This is a high-upside, performance-driven role built for someone who thrives on ownership, closing, and commission.

Core Responsibilities

•      Identify and prioritize sponsors aligned with the Micro Journeys audience — defense contractors, advanced tech companies, federal procurement-adjacent brands, and policy-focused organizations

•      Build and execute a proactive outbound pipeline using media sales best practices: cold outreach, warm introductions, conference networking, and inbound follow-up

•      Develop and pitch custom sponsorship packages including host-read ads, sponsored episodes, branded content series, and multi-platform bundles (podcast video social)

•      Own the full deal lifecycle from first conversation to signed contract and post-campaign wrap reporting

•      Clearly brief the production and social teams on sponsor deliverables, brand guidelines, and campaign timelines

•      Track and manage all sponsorship activity, pipeline health, deliverables, and renewals in a CRM

•      Build long-term sponsor relationships with a strong focus on renewals, upsells, and expanded partnerships

Ideal Candidate

Required

•      3 years of experience in media sales, podcast sponsorships, branded content, or creator partnerships

•      Proven track record of closing sponsorship or advertising deals — for a podcast, YouTube channel, video podcast, digital media brand, or content network

•      Deep familiarity with podcast and video podcast monetization: CPM pricing, host-read formats, pre-roll vs. mid-roll placements, dynamic insertion vs. baked-in reads, and branded content structures

•      Comfortable building and presenting custom sponsorship proposals, rate cards, and media kits to brand marketers and agency buyers

•      Experience running a full outbound sales pipeline independently, from prospecting through close, without hand-holding

•      Strong written and verbal communication; able to represent a premium, niche media brand with credibility and polish

Preferred

•      Experience selling to B2B, enterprise, defense, government-adjacent, or technical audiences

•      Existing relationships with media buyers, brand agencies, or direct sponsors in the tech, defense, or government-adjacent space

•      Familiarity with video podcast distribution (YouTube) and integrated social brand partnerships

•      Experience with podcast analytics platforms (Spotify for Podcasters, Chartable, Podtrac, or similar) and ability to speak to audience data confidently in a pitch

•      Background selling vertically-focused or niche shows where audience quality and intent matter more than raw download numbers

Success Metrics

•      Sponsorship revenue closed per quarter and annually

•      Number of net-new brand partners signed

•      Sponsor renewal and expansion rate

•      Average deal size and deal velocity