Senior Affiliate Manager

About Highwinds

At Highwinds, we're not just navigating the lead generation landscape; we're charting its future. We are a team of innovators, data scientists, and digital strategists dedicated to connecting our clients with their next great customers through precision, technology, and a relentless drive for results. As a dynamic and growing competitor in the performance marketing space, we thrive on fresh ideas, bold strategies, and a collaborative spirit. The quality of our partnerships is paramount, and we are looking for a master relationship-builder to lead our affiliate channel. The Role

The Senior Affiliate Manager is a critical driver of our supply-side strategy, responsible for the growth and optimization of our affiliate network. You are an expert negotiator and a strategic thinker who understands that true partnership is the key to scalable success. You will own the full lifecycle of our affiliate relationships - from recruitment and onboarding to performance optimization and compliance. Your mission is to build a robust and diverse network of high-quality affiliate partners who deliver consistent, high-intent traffic that fuels our clients' growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Recruitment: Proactively identify, evaluate, and recruit new high-value affiliate partners and publishers across a variety of channels (email, search, social, display, native).
• Relationship Management: Cultivate and nurture strong, lasting relationships with our top affiliate partners. Act as their primary point of contact, providing strategic guidance, support, and a world-class partner experience.
• Performance Optimization: Continuously monitor affiliate performance, analyzing key metrics like Cost Per Lead (CPL), Conversion Rate (CVR), and lead quality. Provide partners with actionable, data-driven insights to help them scale their campaigns profitably.
• Negotiation & Terms: Lead negotiations for payout structures (CPL, CPA, Rev-Share), insertion orders, and other commercial terms. Ensure agreements are competitive and aligned with company goals.
• Compliance & Quality Control: Uphold the highest standards of quality. Work closely with our data and compliance teams to enforce program terms, monitor traffic sources, and mitigate fraud.
• Competitive Intelligence: Stay ahead of the curve by monitoring industry trends, new publisher technologies, and competitive affiliate programs to ensure Highwinds remains a top choice for partners.
• Reporting & Analysis: Prepare and deliver regular performance reports to leadership, showcasing the health of the affiliate channel and identifying key areas for growth.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5+ years of direct experience in affiliate management, with a strong background in the lead generation or performance marketing industry.
• A proven track record of successfully recruiting, managing, and scaling a high-performing affiliate program that resulted in significant revenue growth.
• A strong existing network of publisher and affiliate contacts is highly desirable.
• Deep understanding of performance marketing metrics (CPL, CPA, EPC, ROI) and the nuances of various digital traffic sources.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills. You build trust and rapport with ease.
• Highly analytical and comfortable using data to make decisions and tell a story.
• Hands-on experience with major affiliate tracking platforms (e.g., Everflow, CAKE, HasOffers).
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.

Why Join Highwinds?

• Own a Key Channel: Your work directly impacts the core supply of our business. You will own and build a critical revenue-generating channel. 🤝
• Innovative Culture: Join a team that values curiosity, challenges the status quo, and celebrates every win.
• Career Growth: This senior role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to build out a team as the channel grows.
• Competitive Compensation: We offer a competitive salary plus a generous performance-based commission/bonus structure.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), generous PTO, and professional development opportunities.