Partnerships Manager - Economist Impact, SE Asia (12-month contract, renewable)

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. 

This is a Partnership Manager role with responsibility for driving Economist Impact’s client solutions business in Singapore, including advertising, content marketing, research and events. The key objective is to meet and exceed sales revenue targets.

We are looking for a highly-strategic individual who is comfortable having a consultative discussion with middle to senior-ranking executives across multiple industries. The suitable candidate should possess the intellectual skills and experience needed to understand and interpret their business MarCom strategies, objectives and KPIs, and provide the optimum Economist product solution, working closely with other departments, notably the editorial team of the content solutions unit. In addition, he/she will work closely with The Economist’s wider sales team to grow print and digital advertising revenue and ensure that The Economist’s suite of products is top of mind among advertisers seeking to reach an influential business audience.

The suitable candidate will be required to engage clients from the technology sector to unearth business opportunities. They will also be required to develop meaningful relationships with key agency stakeholders to ensure The Economist is receiving media briefs and is top of mind during the planning and procurement process for their clients.

A key skill set is the ability to understand the story a client wants/needs to tell, and to help strategise ways in which The Economist Group can help the client tell that story in a compelling way for the target audience and in a way consistent with our editorial quality and guidelines. This means understanding intellectually the content and recognizing the impact for, and value to, the target audience.

Please note that this is a fixed term contract (12 months, renewable) and eligible for commission.

How you will contribute:

• Meet and exceed advertising revenue targets for The Economist's suite of advertising solutions, across print, digital and online.
• Prospect and convert leads, monitor the advertising of competitive publications and sites
• Work with South East Asia team on short and long-range plans for improved revenues, policies, problem-solving, etc.
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with regular and potential advertisers, and maintain high visibility with customers and others in the industry to maintain a prominent edge
• Create and propose integrated packages when appropriate together with events and research-based products (Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU)
• Maintain and grow existing relationships with clients and agencies, and liaise with colleagues in other offices
• Grow and maintain a healthy pipeline of prospective new opportunities, and update these in com as they progress through the sales cycle
• Manage expenses within budget

 Reporting/Communication

• Weekly Sales meetings
• Monthly plan and review
• Keep customer and prospect records timely and accurate on Salesforce.com
• Provide and achieve reliable monthly sales forecasts and provide weekly updates of any significant changes

To succeed in the role you must have:

• Experience in regional business-to-business (B2B) sales and/or advertising sales with a consistent record of exceeding targets
• Experience in media and advertising sponsorship sales with a strong background in digital advertising and/or agency experience
• Familiarity with targeted high-level sponsored activities and ability to articulate the concept of thought leadership as a marketing strategy
• Strong general business, political and current affairs knowledge. The ability to converse and ask questions about a broad range of topics will increase the success of this role
• An understanding of the workings of advertising and media agencies is an advantage
• Bachelor's degree holder in economics, business or Asian studies (preferred)
• Proficient in using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SalesForce
• Knowledge of specific software packages or other technical IT skills

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Proven ability at consultative selling and relationship management
• An excellent communicator with a strong presence, good presentation skills and rapport with clients of various levels of seniority
• Proactive approach to creating customer-focused packages from a portfolio of products
• Ability to spot and exploit commercial opportunities for the Group and to take part in the product/idea development process
• Ability to develop and manage a pipeline of business
• Ability to be a results-oriented, self-starter with the drive and dedication to succeed
• Ability to work well alone and be resourceful, but committed to being a team player
• Ability to be well-organised and efficient at managing time to meet target deadlines with minimal supervision and ability to cope well under pressure

#LI-Hybrid

What we offer

Benefits
We offer excellent benefits including an incentive programme, generous annual and parental leave policies, volunteering days and well-being support throughout the year, as well as free access to all Economist content. Country specific benefits are also offered.

Our Values
Our values are a collective set of beliefs and behaviours that strengthen The Economist Group's purpose and demonstrate where we want to be as an organisation. They reflect on our mission to pursue progress for individuals, organisations and the world.

Independence
We are not bound to any party or interest and encourage exploration and free-thinking. We champion freedom, both within our organisation and around the world.

Integrity
We are bold in our efforts to uncover the truth and stand up for what we believe in. We inspire trust through our rigour, fact-checking and transparency.

Excellence
We aspire to the highest standards in all we do. We are ambitious and inquisitive in our pursuit of continuous progress and innovation.

Inclusivity
We value diversity in thought and background and encourage healthy debate with a breadth of perspectives. We treat our colleagues and customers fairly and respectfully.

Openness
We foster a collaborative and empathetic culture conducive to the interests, wit and initiative of our colleagues. New ideas are our lifeblood.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and potential colleagues regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any other status.