Demand Partnerships Director, Italy

Equativ
Milan, Italy
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with deep ad-tech expertise and a strong executive network in Italy, working in a high-growth ad-tech environment.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a proven track record in structuring complex commercial deals with major HoldCos in Italy
    — “Strategic Deal Making (JBPs): Lead the negotiation, structuring, and execution of upfront Trading Agreements and Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with major HoldCos”
  • Individuals who can influence senior agency executives and drive budget shifts toward high-margin solutions
    — “Evangelize Supply Path Optimization (SPO) strategies to Chief Investment Officers and Heads of Trading, shifting agency budgets to our high-margin curated deals”

Things to consider

  • This role demands a balanced approach between curation and managed services, not a singular focus
    — “Ensure a balanced growth strategy between Curation and Managed Services”
  • The position requires a high level of personal credibility and trust in the Italian market
    — “You possess a deep, C-level and senior executive network ... You bring a high level of 'Trust' and personal credibility to the market”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in driving top-down adoption of SPO strategies in your resume and interviews
    — “Evangelize Supply Path Optimization (SPO) strategies to Chief Investment Officers and Heads of Trading”
  • Showcase your ability to structure and execute complex commercial deals with HoldCos and agencies
    — “Lead the negotiation, structuring, and execution of upfront Trading Agreements and Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with major HoldCos”
  • Emphasize your fluency in Italian and English, especially in professional contexts
    — “Native Italian and fluent English are mandatory”
  • Demonstrate your ability to integrate with supply teams and monetize exclusive inventory
    — “Work in tight synergy with the Supply & Publisher Deals team to identify, package, and aggressively monetize exclusive local inventory”
  • Position yourself as a strategic thinker who sells infrastructure and efficiency, not just campaigns
    — “You are a strategic thinker who can move beyond selling single campaigns, capable of selling infrastructure, efficiency, and exclusive access”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • long-term partnerships
  • revenue growth
  • market feedback loop
Typical background
salesbusiness developmentad-tech

Skills & requirements

Required

Strategic Deal MakingMarket PerceptionDemand-side Partnerships

Preferred

Early-stage Startup Experience

Stack & domain

Programmatic EcosystemDsp/ssp DynamicsSupply Path Optimization (spo)Curation Business ModelsPrivacy-first Data LandscapeStrategic ThinkingLeadershipResilienceDriveAd-techDemand-side Business

About the role

Original posting from Equativ via Lever

About the Role

We are seeking a highly strategic and well-connected Demand Partnerships Director to lead our agency and demand-side business in Italy. This is not a standard sales role; it is a "Market Maker" position. You will be responsible for elevating Equativ’s market perception, leveraging your personal credibility and "Trust" to secure long-term partnerships, and driving the exponential growth of both our Curation (Equativ Maestro) and premium Managed Service businesses.

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening and expanding our Managed Service offering (acquiring new business) alongside our scalable curation solutions, deeply integrating Equativ into the core buying strategies of major HoldCos, independent agencies, and direct brands.

Key Responsibilities:

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Strategic Deal Making (JBPs): Lead the negotiation, structuring, and execution of upfront Trading Agreements and Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with major HoldCos (e.g., GroupM, Dentsu, Publicis, OMG) and independent agencies to secure predictable revenue and increase our share of wallet.

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Curation (Equativ Maestro) & SPO Evangelism: Drive the top-down adoption of Equativ Maestro. Evangelize Supply Path Optimization (SPO) strategies to Chief Investment Officers and Heads of Trading, shifting agency budgets to our high-margin curated deals.

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Managed Services New Business: Actively prospect and acquire new business for our premium Managed Service offering, positioning it as a high-value, white-glove solution for direct brands and agencies. Ensure a balanced growth strategy between Curation and Managed Services.

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Cross-Functional Synergy: Work in tight synergy with the Supply & Publisher Deals team to identify, package, and aggressively monetize exclusive local inventory, first-party data, and emerging CTV opportunities for key demand partners.

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Revenue Growth: Take ownership of the Italian demand revenue target, focusing on accelerating Programmatic revenue and securing new business across both self-serve and premium white-glove managed service tiers.

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Market Feedback Loop: Act as the primary feedback loop between the Italian market and Global Product/Tech teams, ensuring our Curation and Product roadmaps align with local agency needs.

About You:

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Executive Network: You possess a deep, C-level and senior executive network across Italian HoldCos, Agency Trading Desks (Head of Trading, Chief Investment Officers), and direct brands. You bring a high level of "Trust" and personal credibility to the market.

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Deal Structuring Expertise: Proven experience in structuring, negotiating, and managing complex commercial deals, volume incentive programs, and retroactive rebates (Trading Agreements).

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Ad-Tech Fluency: Deep understanding of the programmatic ecosystem, DSP/SSP dynamics, Supply Path Optimization (SPO), Curation business models, and the evolving privacy-first data landscape.

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Strategic Mindset: You are a strategic thinker who can move beyond selling single campaigns, capable of selling infrastructure, efficiency, and exclusive access to senior agency leadership.

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Leadership & Drive: You are highly autonomous, resilient, and driven by ambitious growth targets, comfortable navigating a fast-paced and evolving ad-tech environment.

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Language: Native Italian and fluent English are mandatory.

What We Offer:

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A pivotal role in scaling a high-growth ad-tech company in the Italian market.

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A competitive compensation package with a bonus structure heavily weighted towards the successful execution of long-term strategic deals (JBPs) and net revenue growth.

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The opportunity to shape the future of Equativ’s demand strategy in Southern Europe.

Source: Equativ careers (Lever)

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