VP – Operations & Media Buying

Roles & Responsibilities

A. Publisher Rate Negotiation & Contract Management

• Onboard new publishers and grow active partnerships (domestic + international)
• Negotiate contracts and rate cards; track contract turnaround time from first contact to finalization
• Ensure contract terms meet platform standards; drive renewal/extension rates with existing publishers
• Identify preferred media channels based on cost-per-placement efficiency
• Understand sales requirements to negotiate the best publishing rates across print/digital

B. Organic/Earned Media Placement

• Build and grow journalist contact database (new contacts added monthly)
• Convert journalist relationships into published organic stories and exclusive opportunities
• Manage print press release distribution — timeliness, targeted delivery, unique placements
• Coordinate press conferences — pre-event planning, media attendance, sales alignment on deliverables/costing

C. International Media Buying & Expansion

• Identify and onboard international publishers (US, UK, UAE, APAC, etc.) to expand global distribution network
• Negotiate rates and contracts with international publications, accounting for currency, regional pricing norms, and payment terms
• Build journalist/editor relationships in key international markets for organic coverage
• Coordinate campaign timing across time zones for global press releases and press conferences
• Track region-wise cost-per-placement and coverage quality to identify high-value international markets
• Ensure compliance with international media/advertising regulations and disclosure norms (e.g., FTC guidelines for sponsored content in the US)
• Collaborate with sales team on pricing international packages for clients seeking global exposure

D. Team Management & Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and manage the media buying team across publisher and organic functions
• Conduct regular team reviews (daily/weekly/monthly) to track progress and resolve bottlenecks
• Set individual KPIs/targets for team members and monitor performance against them
• Drive training and development programs to upskill the team on negotiation techniques and new platforms
• Support employee retention through engagement, recognition, and growth opportunities
• Facilitate internal promotions and build a leadership pipeline within the team
• Coordinate cross-functionally with sales, content, tech, and finance teams to ensure aligned execution

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• No. of new publishers onboarded (domestic + international) / contract turnaround time / renewal rate
• No. of new journalist contacts (domestic + international) / organic stories published
• Cost-per-placement across channels and regions
• Distribution timeliness & delivery confirmation rate
• No. of international markets/publications added to network
• Team retention rate, training completion rate, and internal promotion rate

Requirements

• 6–10 years across publisher negotiations, or PR/media relations (agency background preferred)
• Strong negotiation skills — proven track record securing favorable publisher rates/contracts, including with international publishers
• Existing network of journalist/editorial contacts, ideally spanning international markets (US/UK/UAE/APAC)
• Understanding of international media landscape, regional pricing, and compliance norms
• Analytical mindset — comfortable tracking cost-per-placement and ROI metrics across regions
• Proven people-management experience — leading, mentoring, and developing a team
• Excellent stakeholder management (sales, publishers, journalists, clients) across time zones
• Prior experience in cross-border PR/media campaigns is a strong plus