Director, Demand Partnerships

Director, Demand Partnerships

About the COOL company

At the COOL company, we believe in creating a win-win environment where everyone benefits. We are committed to ensuring users, publishers, franchisees, and advertisers all have a better experience and achieve more than they ever thought possible through our innovation, advanced AI, groundbreaking advertising technology, and teams of inspired experts. Our every move, expansion, acquisition, and upgrade is done to provide that better experience for an ever-growing list of satisfied clients and users all over the world.  

COOL Media products under the COOL company include DCO & Creative Automation, a data-driven, creative ad server capable of personalizing, automating, measuring, and optimizing digital ads and placements for advertisers; Franchise & Multi-Location, a complete advertising management platform for franchise and network businesses; Media & Attribution, a managed service solution for agencies and brands to reach and measure audiences; Publisher Experiences, a premier SSP and engagement platform for publishers; and Supply-Side Platform, delivering website and app publishers everything they need to maximize their ad revenue.

Coming soon in 2026, COOL AI is a next-generation advertising platform that builds, buys, and optimizes digital ad campaigns faster and smarter using AI. It automates every step of the media journey—from generating ad creatives to launching campaigns and optimizing performance across channels like Google and Facebook. With no agency fees or waiting, COOL AI helps brands maximize ROI through data-driven strategy, automated creative generation, and real-time performance measurement.

Collectively, the COOL company reaches over 350 million consumers monthly across their network of premium publishers and advertisers, including Disney, Hyundai, Air France, Kohler, Suzuki, Acer, Pearle Vision, Trek, Brita, Viking Cruises, MLB, Playmaker, Blitz, Evolve Media, and more.  Under the former umbrella of Insticator, the COOL company is a proud 7x recipient of the Inc 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies, a 2x recipient of Deloitte's Fast 500, recognized on Crain's New York Fast 50 list, recognized by Digiday's Digiday Media Awards as a company working to modernize digital media, and awarded as one of AdWeek's Top 10 Fastest Growing Solution Providers globally.

Our Core Values

At the COOL company, we believe in being C.O.O.L.:

Creative - we look to find solutions that others can’t and new ways of doing things that are smarter, faster, better and more efficient.

Open-minded - we’re always evolving and keep an open mind as to new ways of doing things, new solutions and new processes that can help us.

Optimistic - The glass is always half full :) as a growing tech startup we’re always faced with new challenges, we overcome them because we see them as opportunities.

Leaders - We look for drivers, people who like to set the pace of the organization, who don’t simply go with the flow, you’re setting a fast impact pace and holding others to it.  We look for speed, impact, and setting the industry benchmark.

We creatively integrate new elements in innovative combinations, fueled by our optimism to drive success. Our open-mindedness allows us to embrace new ideas and approaches, empowering us to lead our industry through bold initiatives. That’s the attitude we bring to work with us every day, and it’s what we expect from everyone who works here.

That’s just part of the values that drive us to greatness. We also believe in this trio of truths that inform every decision we make and everything we do:

• Sleeves Up: At the COOL company, we provide you with the autonomy and creativity needed to own your role. We encourage iteration where necessary so that you can drive massive impact.
• 100% Viewability: the COOL company is passionate about open feedback at all levels of the company. This allows us to fail fast, create in real-time, and build an open company culture.
• Be Defiantly Great: We're defiant, and that's in our blood. Challenging the status quo is a central part of who we are. We're capable of much more than what others deem impossible.

ABOUT THE ROLE

COOL (cool.co) is looking for a driven and commercially savvy Director, Demand Partnerships to lead the expansion of our demand-side relationships across North America and key global markets. This is a high-impact, revenue-generating role at the intersection of programmatic strategy, commercial negotiation, and partner development.

As Director, Demand Partnerships, you will own the full lifecycle of new demand partner acquisition — from prospecting DSPs and independent trading desks to executing contracts and driving first campaign activation. You will build the pipeline, close the deals, and develop go-to-market strategies that position COOL's inventory as the preferred choice for performance-driven buyers.

This role sits within the US entity and reports to senior revenue leadership. You will be an external face of COOL at industry events, a credible voice in programmatic, and a key driver of our net-new demand revenue targets.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

New Partnership Development

• Proactively source and open new demand relationships with DSPs and independent trading desks across North America and key global markets.
• Build and manage a structured pipeline of prospective demand partners, moving opportunities efficiently from initial outreach through contract execution and first campaign activation.
• Lead all aspects of commercial negotiation, including deal structuring, pricing strategy, and contractual terms, in close partnership with legal and finance stakeholders.
• Represent COOL at industry conferences, trade events, and client-facing engagements as a credible and compelling voice in programmatic advertising.

Strategic Growth & Revenue

• Own and deliver against a net-new demand revenue target on a quarterly and annual basis, with clear accountability for pipeline generation and deal closure.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies that align COOL's inventory proposition with the specific buying priorities and performance objectives of prospective demand partners.
• Leverage proof-of-concept deal frameworks — including private marketplace deals and curated deal structures — to demonstrate measurable value and accelerate partner adoption.
• Translate market intelligence and buyer feedback into actionable product and positioning insights for internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with yield, product, and ad operations teams to ensure seamless onboarding and partner satisfaction post-deal.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 7+ years of experience in programmatic advertising, with a focus on demand-side partnerships, business development, or sales.
• Proven track record of building and closing commercial relationships with DSPs, ATDs, or agency trading desks.
• Deep understanding of the programmatic ecosystem — RTB, PMPs, deal IDs, header bidding, and SSP/DSP dynamics.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in deal structuring, pricing, and contract negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage a structured sales pipeline with consistent conversion velocity.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfort representing a company externally — at trade shows, conferences, and in client-facing settings.

Preferred

• Experience at a supply-side platform (SSP), ad network, or publisher monetization business.
• Existing relationships with programmatic buyers and trading desks in North American markets.
• Familiarity with CTV, mobile, or emerging programmatic channels.
• Experience working with legal and finance teams on complex commercial agreements.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

What We Look For

Commercial Drive - Consistently pursues and closes new revenue opportunities with urgency and discipline.

Relationship Building - Earns trust quickly; cultivates long-term, value-driven partnerships.

Strategic Thinking - Connects market dynamics to COOL's positioning and product strengths.

Negotiation Mastery - Skilled at structuring deals that align partner needs with COOL's business goals.

Communication - Adapts messaging for buyers, executives, and internal teams with clarity and confidence.

Pipeline Rigor - Maintains structured, data-driven view of the demand pipeline and forecasts accurately.

Cross-Functional Collaboration - Works effectively with yield, product, legal, and ops to move deals forward.

Market Credibility - Recognized voice in the programmatic community; comfortable at industry events.

Cultural Competencies

• Must be able to work primarily between the hours of 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM ET
• Must have a player/coach mentality, willing to both execute and lead
• Ability to juggle multiple projects concurrently and set and meet deadlines
• Skilled at receiving and providing direct feedback
• Collaborative mindset and great teamwork skills
• Entrepreneurial & adaptable; great learning skills
• Curious, research-minded, data-informed
• Able to search for possible solutions and apply them
• Creative confidence
• Proactive communicator
• A sense of humor and a love of online culture
• Thrives in a start-up culture

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Annual Performance Bonus
• Paid Time Off
• Company Holidays
• Flexible work schedule
• 401k