Account Executive

Web Design Awards runs a judged awards program for the web's best design work, with a public rubric and named jury, and an editorially-curated index that design buyers browse when they're choosing a studio or agency to hire. We're looking for an Account Executive to own sponsorship revenue — selling the sponsored placements, spotlight slots, and partner features that appear across the site and directory (such as the rotating company spotlight and sponsored studio placements). You'll manage the full sales cycle, from prospecting agencies and brands who want visibility in front of our audience of designers, agencies, and buyers, through to closing and renewing sponsorship deals.

What you'll do

• Prospect and build a pipeline of agencies, studios, and brands who would benefit from sponsored visibility in the index, directory, and editorial placements
• Run discovery calls to understand a prospective sponsor's goals and match them to the right sponsorship package
• Own the full sales cycle: outreach, pitching, proposal, negotiation, and close
• Manage a book of existing sponsors, ensuring renewals and identifying upsell opportunities
• Maintain accurate pipeline and forecast data in the CRM
• Work with marketing and editorial to ensure sponsored placements are delivered as promised and clearly labeled

What we're looking for

• Proven experience in a closing sales role, ideally selling sponsorships, media placements, or advertising
• Track record of hitting or exceeding revenue targets
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, comfortable pitching to marketing and agency decision-makers
• Ability to manage a multi-step sales cycle and multiple accounts simultaneously
• Comfortable working with CRM and pipeline reporting tools
• Self-directed and comfortable prospecting from scratch

Nice to have

• Experience selling into the design, creative, or marketing agency space
• Familiarity with sponsorship or advertising models in media or publishing
• Existing network of agency or brand marketing contacts