When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.
We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.
Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.
We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.
This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.
Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.
We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.
Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.
Sallie Mae’s Education Services team is a diverse group of growth-minded entrepreneurs, data analysts, engineers, and developers with a passion for imagining and building scalable businesses that serve students and families on their journey to, through, and beyond higher education.
Within this organization, Backpack Media is launching a new predictive insights and commerce media network designed to help brands reach consumers at pivotal life stages. Powered by authenticated identity and life-stage intelligence derived from Sallie Mae’s trusted relationships with students and families, Backpack Media enables marketers to engage audiences based on what they are likely to need next, not just what they have done in the past.
By combining predictive insights with premium media environments, we help brands connect with consumers earlier in the decision journey with greater relevance and impact. We operate with the momentum of a startup and the foundation of a trusted brand, and we are assembling a founding commercial team to bring this vision to life.
The Role
We are looking for a high performing, strategically minded seller who thrives in a fast moving, build phase environment. As a Senior Manager, Agency and Brand Partnerships, you will play a key role in driving early commercial momentum and shaping how Backpack Media is introduced and scaled across the market.
You will own and grow a portfolio of high value partnerships by activating relationships across agencies and brand partners, unlocking new sources of budget, and translating our differentiated data and media capabilities into meaningful commercial outcomes.
This is a hands on, high impact role for someone who is energized by building something new and wants to help define what success looks like as we scale.
What You’ll Do
Activate and expand relationships across agency and brand partners to introduce Backpack Media and unlock new revenue opportunities
Lead commercial engagements from initial conversation through deal structure and execution
Secure new partnerships while growing existing relationships across priority accounts
Translate Backpack Media’s predictive insights and life stage intelligence into clear and compelling value for clients
Structure and execute programmatic and managed service campaigns aligned to client objectives
Help establish Backpack Media’s presence within agencies and brands by shaping how we go to market
Partner closely with Product, Data Science, Marketing, and Operations to deliver strong outcomes and inform future strategy
Represent Backpack Media externally and build credibility within the broader advertising ecosystem
What You Bring
5+ years of sales experience in digital media, ad tech, data, or programmatic solutions
Strong, active network across agencies, trading desks, and brand marketers with direct influence on media investment decisions
Proven ability to build and grow relationships that translate into revenue
Track record of driving adoption of new or emerging products or solutions
Deep understanding of the programmatic ecosystem, including how data, targeting, and activation work together
Ability to translate complex data and product capabilities into clear commercial narratives
Strong communication skills with experience engaging senior client stakeholders
Self-directed, adaptable, and comfortable operating in fast moving environments
Who Thrives Here
People who do well in this role tend to be:
Comfortable building relationships and creating new opportunities, not just managing existing ones
Energized by bringing new ideas to market and helping shape how something grows
Able to move quickly, take ownership, and navigate evolving priorities
Interested in working closely across teams to bring new solutions to clients
Why Join
Opportunity to play a foundational role in building Backpack Media and shaping its commercial success.
High visibility, strong ownership, and direct connection to outcomes.
A differentiated predictive media platform backed by a trusted brand.
Long-term growth potential as we scale the business and team.
Feeling your best helps you do your best:Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).
Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match
Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
Career development and training opportunities
Not the right fit? Let us know you're interested in a future opportunity by clicking Introduce Yourself in the top-right corner of the page or create an account to set up email alerts as new job postings become available that meet your interest!
Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here for federal job applicant notices, and here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call (855) 756-2007 and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
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