Director, Agency & Media

About Tunnl

Tunnl is building a future where artificial intelligence enables organizations to connect meaningfully with the people who matter most. We help organizations conduct research at scale, define the right audiences, surface real-time insights, identify optimal communication channels, and measure changing attitudes over time.

Tunnl serves brands, agencies, and advocacy groups alike - organizations navigating complex communications, reputational, and regulatory landscapes. These teams need smarter, faster ways to make audience-informed decisions that stand up to scrutiny and resonate across stakeholder groups. Whether you're building a brand, shaping public opinion, managing risk, or launching a new initiative, Tunnl empowers you to move from insight to impact with clarity & confidence.

The Role: Director, Agency & Media

The Director, Agency & Media is a senior client leader on Tunnl's Agency & Media team, responsible for owning client strategy, driving account growth, and ensuring excellence in delivery across a defined book of business.

Reporting to the AVP, Agency & Media, the Director owns a $3M–$4M book of business and spends the majority of their time on strategic client relationships, renewal planning, and expansion opportunities. You will coach and guide Managers on your accounts to ensure day-to-day delivery runs smoothly, while you focus on embedding Tunnl more deeply within client organizations and driving long-term growth.

The ideal candidate comes from an agency or media background, understands how agencies plan, buy, and activate against audiences, and knows how to position data and research as tools that drive real campaign decisions. DC-area preferred.

Responsibilities

Client Strategy & Account Growth

• Own senior client relationships and anticipate renewal risks before they escalate

• Align deliverables with client business needs, timelines, and campaign goals

• Proactively identify and propose expansion opportunities, connecting client news and context to research and audience solutions

• Build POVs based on client org structure and goals, and brief AE and leadership on cross-sell and upsell signals

• Own contract renewal timelines and communicate status to leadership

• Shape how Tunnl is positioned and packaged for agency partners — from individual campaigns to enterprise relationships

Project Excellence & Delivery Oversight

• Oversee pod-wide delivery and project excellence across your book of business

• Review timelines, scopes, and internal trackers for consistency

• Provide final sign-off on audience, survey, and modeling deliverables before client delivery

• Audit delivery systems for handoff gaps or misalignment and escalate cross-team blockers

• Coach Managers on project management practices, reporting quality, and client communication

Research & Insight Leadership

• Set direction for reporting and insight strategy in alignment with each client's research plan

• Ensure quality and consistency of research deliverables across accounts

• Lead insight-sharing across accounts and partner with SR leads on new research ideas and QA structure

• Connect audience usage to campaign impact and activation outcomes

Business Acumen & Strategic Planning

• Shape account growth strategy across agency verticals

• Oversee strategic documentation for enterprise accounts and maintain HubSpot hygiene and accuracy for forecasting

• Develop and maintain a clear view of each client's org structure, priorities, and decision-making landscape

• Lead strategic planning across your client portfolio in close partnership with the AE

Internal Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build team-wide habits around project management, intake, and QA

• Lead cross-functional projects to improve Tunnl's scalability

• Escalate cross-team blockers and align on resolution paths

• Partner closely with the AE on account growth strategy

• Drive collaboration across Strategic Research and Product on behalf of your clients

Team Coaching & Mentorship

• Coach Managers on reporting, intake, QA, and client communication

• Provide regular feedback and growth paths aligned with Tunnl's talent ladder

• Guide junior team members through client conversations, insight framing, and audience usage strategy

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in account management, client strategy, or partnerships in an agency, media, or ad tech environment

• Proven ability to manage and grow $3M+ in client revenue across multiple accounts

• Deep familiarity with how agencies plan, buy, and activate media — including programmatic, audience-based, and data-driven approaches

• Experience working with or selling data, audience, or research products to agency clients

• Demonstrated executive presence and the ability to lead senior client conversations with VP and C-suite stakeholders and be taken seriously as a strategic partner

• Strong relationship builder with a track record of expanding scope across agency teams and portfolios

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to simplify complex topics

• Proficiency with HubSpot or similar CRM tools for pipeline and account tracking

• Occasional domestic travel required (approximately 2–3 days per month) for client meetings and industry events

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in public affairs, advocacy, or issue-based campaign environments

• Familiarity with DSPs, SSPs, identity resolution, or data onboarding workflows

• Exposure to survey research, audience segmentation, or polling products

• Comfort working with tools like Dropbox or project tracking systems

• DC-area preferred (hybrid team environment)

What Success Looks Like

• Agency clients renew and expand their partnerships, deepening Tunnl's role across teams and buying cycles

• You are seen by clients as a trusted strategic partner, not just a vendor contact

• Managers on your accounts are well-supported, growing, and delivering with minimal escalations

• Renewal timelines are managed proactively and communicated clearly to leadership

• HubSpot is accurate, current, and reflects a clear picture of your portfolio's health

• Internal stakeholders across Research, Product, and Sales view you as a reliable, strategic collaborator

Why You Should Apply:

• Join a team driven by curiosity, teamwork, integrity, and a shared passion for solving big challenges.

• A friendly, welcoming, and supportive culture with regular social and team events.

• Comprehensive benefits with excellent medical, vision, and dental coverage.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.

• Employer-paid life insurance & short-term & long-term disability, with other voluntary additional coverage available (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity).

• Flexible hybrid work policy.

• Flexible unlimited paid vacation plus 80 hours of paid sick leave.

• 10 paid company holidays per year plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s off.

• 401(k) plan with 100% match up to 3%, plus 50% match up to 5% (subject to IRS limits).

• Cell phone reimbursement stipend.

• Monthly parking or commuter stipend for VA-based employees.