Director of Vertical Strategy at Yahoo!

Job description

Yahoo serves as a trusted guide for hundreds of millions of people globally, helping them achieve their goals online through our portfolio of iconic products. For advertisers, Yahoo Advertising offers omnichannel solutions and powerful data to engage with our brands and deliver results. A Little About Us The Yahoo Vertical Strategy team acts as the strategic engine for our global advertising sales organization. We bridge market intelligence, Yahoo’s premium content ecosystem, and ad-tech capabilities to architect high-impact, industry-tailored go-to-market solutions. Our team partners directly with senior enterprise sales leaders and top-tier brand advertisers to translate macro market trends into scalable, revenue-generating partnerships across Yahoo’s core verticals. Advertising strategy is central to how we support our brand partners, connecting them with audiences across our iconic properties in high-impact ways. About the Role The Director, Vertical Strategy will lead and inspire a team of industry-focused strategists responsible for developing innovative, client-centric advertising and go-to-market solutions across Yahoo’s core industry verticals. This role combines strategic leadership, category expertise, operational rigor, and deep cross-functional collaboration to create industry-tailored media, sponsorship, and content programs that meet advertiser objectives and drive sustainable revenue growth. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Team Development Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of Vertical Strategists, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and strategic excellence. Set and execute the vertical strategy roadmap, aligning category-specific sales solutions with overall revenue targets and broader corporate goals. Serve as a senior category advisor to internal sales leadership and key client decision-makers, providing deep expertise on market dynamics and brand opportunities within key industry verticals. Vertical Product & GTM Strategy Develop vertical-specific GTM packages, category playbooks, and tentpole sponsorship offerings that address the unique marketing challenges of key industries. Identify category growth opportunities and whitespace, translating market trends into scalable revenue-generating ad products and content solutions. Partner with Sales leadership to build proactive category narratives, top-tier account strategies, and multi-market revenue acceleration plans. Cross-Functional Collaboration Cultivate strong partnerships with key internal stakeholders, including Vertical Sales Leaders, Account Management, Ad Operations, Editorial, and Product/Tech teams. Act as the primary liaison between Publishers and Sales for vertical-specific content series, custom sponsorships, and editorial integrations. Collaborate with Product and Yield teams to refine category ad formats, pricing structures, and inventory packaging for optimal monetization. Support the Agency Sales Team in upfront sales efforts by providing category-specific expertise and strategic partnership. Brand Storytelling & Insights Oversee the creation of high-impact pitch narratives, category positioning decks, and bespoke client responses to RFPs. Leverage first-party data and market intelligence to uncover deep consumer insights and demonstrate ROI for category advertisers. Drive client discovery workshops and strategy sessions, building trust and credibility with C-level client and agency leaders. Qualifications: Experience & Expertise: 10+ years of experience in sales strategy, brand strategy, media planning, or category strategy within a digital media, publisher, or agency environment. 6+ years of experience leading and managing teams, with a proven track record of developing talent and driving team performance. Deep vertical knowledge across core advertising sectors (e.g., Tech, Finance, Retail, Automotive, CPG, Entertainment, or Travel). Proven track record of partnering with enterprise ad sales team