Join to apply for the Director, Talent Partnerships & Influencer Strategy (Sundial Technology & Media Group) role at Essence Communications Inc.

Join to apply for the Director, Talent Partnerships & Influencer Strategy (Sundial Technology & Media Group) role at Essence Communications Inc.

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About Sundial Technology & Media Group (STMG)

Sundial Technology & Media Group is, at its heart, a sacred space. Our collective of brands, voices, and experiences offer a gathering point where culture thrives and people grow. We shape the conversations that create communities and a sense of belonging for everyone. We are a cultural compass guiding our audiences to the stories and experiences that resonate with who they are, help them navigate the moment, and invite them to share in something bigger.

We accomplish this mission and vision through our incredible and distinct brands: ESSENCE, AFROPUNK, and Refinery29 (R29).

About the Role

As Director, Talent Partnerships & Influencer Strategy, you will develop and lead the overarching influencer marketing and talent strategy for both priority commercial partners and STMG brands.

As a strategic partner to the business, you'll serve as the authority on aligning external voices—creators, influencers, and talent—with broader brand, marketing, and business objectives. Commercially savvy, you'll understand the nuances of key commercial relationships and guide internal teams on how to best leverage creator partnerships to drive priority KPIs.

While deeply engaged in managing current initiatives, you'll also act as a forward-looking leader—forecasting trends in the creator economy and proactively integrating them into the talent strategy to keep STMG ahead of cultural and platform shifts.

Responsibilities:

• Architect and lead an enterprise-level influencer and talent strategy, ensuring alignment with brand priorities, marketing objectives, and long-term business outcomes.
• Oversee strategic casting, creator integration, and content development across full-funnel campaigns.
• Own end-to-end influencer and talent partnerships, from scouting and negotiation through execution and performance analysis.
• Champion operational excellence and ensure best-in-class delivery of campaigns across paid, earned, and owned ecosystems.
• Lead campaign execution across functions and partners, driving the production of sponsored and branded content from deal signature through launch.
• Collaborate closely with brand, creative, media, legal, and analytics stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery and measurable impact.
• Optimize production workflows and campaign operations, managing timelines, budgets, and content pipelines to drive efficiency, speed, and quality across multiple, concurrent activations.
• Translate performance data into strategic insight, using engagement, conversion, and creator effectiveness metrics to inform decision-making.
• Deliver executive-level reporting and forward-looking recommendations to optimize future campaigns.
• Build and scale a future-proof talent network, identifying, nurturing, and activating a diverse range of creators across key platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
• Ensure a balanced portfolio of established and emerging voices that align with brand tone and target audiences.
• Act as a cross-functional strategic advisor, ensuring influencer and talent activations are deeply integrated across content, marketing, and commercial efforts.
• Maintain brand consistency, legal compliance, and campaign relevance.
• Negotiate and structure talent partnerships, securing favorable terms and deliverables in collaboration with legal and talent representatives to mitigate risk and protect brand equity.
• Remain on the cutting edge of creator economy trends, translating shifts in platform behavior, content formats, and cultural movements into actionable strategy.
• Lead, mentor, and develop junior team members, fostering a high-performing, collaborative team culture that prioritizes innovation, accountability, and results.
  
  

• 7–10 years of experience in influencer marketing, talent partnerships, or digital media.
• Proven ability to source, negotiate, and manage high-impact creator relationships and agency partnerships.
• Deep knowledge of the creator economy and platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch.
• Strong strategic thinking with a track record of leading multi-channel influencer campaigns.
• Experience managing teams and working cross-functionally across marketing, legal, product, and sales.
• Proficient in influencer tools and campaign performance analytics.
• Skilled in negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management.
• Highly organized with the ability to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
  
  

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Human Resources

• Industries

  Book and Periodical Publishing

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