Director, Partnerships & Programmatic Sampling/API

About the Role:

We are looking for a strategic, results-driven professional to lead and manage partnerships with API- based traffic, affiliate network and sample providers within the Market Research (MR) ecosystem. This is a high-impact, senior-level role ideal for someone with deep industry connections and proven experience in developing and managing partner/API & affiliate relationships that support scalable respondent sourcing, growing new API-driven product offering & build our proprietary panels.

The ideal candidate will have a blend of business acumen, technical understanding of APIs & affiliate networks, and strong relationships in the MR industry to help expand our supply & affiliate network and optimize sample delivery via programmatic channels.

Key Responsibilities:

·      Partnership Development:

o  Identify, evaluate, and onboard new API-enabled traffic/sample providers & affiliates.

o  Build and nurture strategic relationships with key vendors and partners across the global MR supply chain.

o  Negotiate commercial terms, data quality SLAs, and integration agreements.

·      API Integration Oversight:

o  Collaborate with product/engineering teams to oversee the integration of third-party APIs.

o  Ensure smooth implementation, data mapping, and performance testing of supplier APIs.

o  Monitor API performance metrics, including optimized delivery rate, cost efficiency, and data quality.

Market & Supplier Intelligence:

o  Stay current on emerging players, supply marketplaces, and innovations in programmatic sampling.

o  Provide market intelligence to internal teams for strategic planning and forecasting.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

o  Work closely with Sales, Project Management, Product, and Engineering to align supplier capabilities with client requirements.

o  Act as the internal subject matter expert for traffic acquisition and API-based partnerships & affiliate networks.

Panel acquisition & Growth:

o  Create affiliate network and use tools for panel acquisition in multiple geographies and audiences

o  Act as the internal subject matter expert for all panel build activities

Optimization & Quality Management:

o  Regularly review vendor performance to ensure fulfillment accuracy, speed, and quality.

o  Address operational issues with suppliers, including traffic balancing, quota performance, and fraud detection.

Requirements:

·      10+ years experience in the Market Research industry, with at least 7+ years focused on supplier/vendor management, API traffic sourcing, managing affiliate network anad programmatic sample.

·      Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining relationships with key sample/traffic providers.

·      Strong understanding of survey traffic flows, API integrations, and digital respondent sourcing platforms.

·      Exposure to technical integrations (REST APIs, JSON, token-based authentication, etc.).

·      Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.

·      Highly analytical mindset with the ability to interpret supplier performance data and KPIs.

·      Ability to work in a fast-paced, data-driven environment.

Nice to Have:

·      Prior experience at a sample exchange, panel aggregator, or programmatic research platform.

·      Technical background or certification in API management or digital supply chains.

·      Experience working across global markets and with multicultural vendors.

What We Offer:

·      Opportunity to lead strategic partnerships in a high-growth, tech-enabled MR environment.

·      Exposure to cutting-edge tools and global partners in the online sample ecosystem.

·      Flexible work environment and competitive compensation.

·      A dynamic team culture with cross-functional collaboration and autonomy.