The Head of Ad Sales at The Hill will be responsible for leading the organization’s advertising sales strategy, revenue growth, and go-to-market approach across digital, video, events, branded content, and emerging platforms. This executive will serve as a highly visible commercial leader for The Hill, with a particular focus on strengthening its position and value proposition within the Washington, D.C. marketplace and expanding relationships with advertisers and agencies nationally.
A critical component of the role will be serving as a strong external voice and ambassador for The Hill, evangelizing the strength of the brand, its highly influential audience, and its differentiated value to marketers seeking to reach policymakers, government decision-makers, business leaders, and other key constituencies. The ideal candidate will bring an established network of senior-level relationships with clients, agencies, associations, advocacy organizations, government affairs organizations, and other key stakeholders within Washington, D.C. and beyond.
This leader will be expected to personally drive significant revenue opportunities while building and executing a broader sales strategy that accelerates growth, expands The Hill’s advertiser base, and creates new commercial opportunities across the portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
· Advertising Sales Strategy & Revenue Growth: Develop and execute a comprehensive advertising sales strategy designed to accelerate revenue growth, increase market share, diversify the client base, and maximize the value of The Hill’s audience and brand.
· Marketplace Leadership & Brand Evangelism: Serve as a highly visible external representative of The Hill in Washington, D.C. and the broader advertising marketplace, clearly articulating and evangelizing The Hill’s value proposition, audience, influence, and differentiated capabilities.
· Client & Agency Relationships: Leverage and expand an established network of senior relationships across clients, advertising agencies, government affairs firms, associations, advocacy organizations, political organizations, and other influential constituencies to generate new business and deepen existing partnerships.
· Direct Revenue Generation: Actively participate in the sales process, personally developing and closing high-value strategic partnerships while supporting the broader sales organization in unlocking incremental opportunities.
· Go-to-Market Strategy: Define and continually evolve The Hill’s commercial positioning, sales narratives, packaging, pricing strategies, and marketplace approach across digital, video, branded content, events, sponsorships, and emerging advertising products.
· Strategic Partnerships: Identify and develop enterprise-level, integrated partnerships that leverage The Hill’s unique position at the intersection of politics, policy, business, and culture. Proactively create commercial opportunities around major policy, industry, and national moments, leveraging The Hill’s editorial authority, influential audience, and convening power.
· Consultative Sales Leadership: Help evolve the sales organization toward a more strategic, consultative approach by translating marketplace trends, policy developments, audience insights, and client priorities into relevant, differentiated commercial opportunities.
· New Business Development: Expand The Hill’s advertiser base beyond traditional categories by identifying high-growth sectors, emerging demand, and new opportunities to connect brands with influential audiences.
· Events & Sponsorship Strategy: Lead the commercial strategy for The Hill’s events and experiential business, developing sponsorship models and integrated programs that strengthen both revenue and client engagement.
· Product & Commercial Innovation: Partner with internal teams to identify and develop new advertising products, audience solutions, data capabilities, and revenue streams based on evolving advertiser needs and marketplace trends.
· Sales Leadership: Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing sales organization with a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, client service, and revenue growth.
· Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely with editorial, marketing, product, audience development, research, and other teams to translate The Hill’s content, audience, and brand strengths into compelling advertiser solutions while maintaining appropriate editorial independence.
· Market Intelligence: Maintain a deep understanding of trends across media, advertising, politics, public affairs, advocacy, and Washington’s influence economy to ensure The Hill remains ahead of emerging marketplace opportunities.
Requirements & Skills
· Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
· Minimum of 7 years of progressive advertising sales & management experience, with a demonstrated track record of leading and growing a significant media, digital, publishing, political, public affairs, or related advertising business.
· Established and deep relationships with senior clients, agencies, and key constituents throughout the Washington, D.C. marketplace, as well as relationships that extend into the broader national advertising ecosystem.
· Proven ability to personally develop, negotiate, and close large-scale advertising and strategic partnership opportunities.
· Demonstrated success developing and executing sales strategies that deliver meaningful revenue growth and expand market share.
· Strong digital advertising expertise, including experience across video, branded content, sponsorships, events, audience targeting, data-driven advertising, and emerging media platforms.
· Exceptional executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to serve as a credible and compelling marketplace spokesperson and evangelist for The Hill.
· Strong understanding of Washington, D.C.’s political, policy, advocacy, association, corporate affairs, and government affairs ecosystem.
· Experience leading, developing, and motivating high-performing sales teams.
· Strategic, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify new revenue streams, develop differentiated solutions, and translate marketplace opportunities into scalable commercial strategies.
· Ability to operate effectively across a highly collaborative organization and build strong relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
· MBA or comparable advanced business experience is a plus.
Compensation Range: $325k-$375k
