Job Description
Why This Role Matters:
The Automotive industry—spanning Design, Development, Manufacturing, Marketing and Selling of Motor Vehicles, is undergoing significant transformation, with rising pressure on marketers to deliver measurable results. As Manager, Sales - Automotive you’ll lead Nielsen’s go-to-market strategy for this vertical, selling our best-in-class Audience Measurement solutions to top U.S. advertisers. Initially a player-coach, you’ll directly manage high-value accounts while building and mentoring a team of Account Executives to scale growth across the sector.
What You’ll Do:
Lead with Impact – Player/Coach:
Own and execute the sales strategy for the Automotive vertical, including identifying high-value targets and key growth opportunities.
Serve as a hands-on seller, managing key accounts and full-cycle enterprise deals—from prospecting to close—with top brands in the Automotive industry.
Recruit, onboard, and coach a high-performing team of Account Executives as the business scales.
Drive Strategic Revenue Growth:
Leverage your deep knowledge of the Automotive space—its regulatory constraints, customer lifecycle, and marketing challenges—to position Nielsen’s audience measurement solutions as a must-have.
Build and expand trusted relationships with CMOs, Heads of Media, and Digital/Analytics leaders across major Automotive brands.
Lead cross-functional engagement with Nielsen’s agency, product, solution consulting, and marketing teams to deliver holistic client solutions.
Operational & Sales Excellence:
Manage accurate forecasting and pipeline development using Salesforce and tools such as SalesLoft, ZoomInfo, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
Ensure all stages of the sales funnel are managed effectively, with rigorous attention to qualification, progression, and closing.
Track and communicate progress against goals and KPIs; influence internal stakeholders with data-driven updates.
Partner & Collaborate Across the Business:
Act as the voice of the Automotive client within Nielsen—sharing market feedback to shape go-to-market strategy, product roadmap, and client success models.
Partner with agency sales, solution engineering, client success, and vertical marketing to ensure consistency in messaging, approach, and delivery.
Qualifications
This Role Is Perfect for a Leader Who:
Has 7–10+ years of experience in enterprise sales, preferably in data, measurement, SaaS, or media/advertising solutions, with at least 3+ years selling into Automotive accounts and at least 2+ years managing a team.
Has an existing network and deep understanding of the Automotive ecosystem, including its advertising and digital marketing maturity.
Is a proven player-coach who thrives in a hands-on sales role while also building and mentoring sales talent.
Has consistently exceeded quota in high-value sales environments and can navigate complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.
Brings a consultative sales approach, using insights and storytelling to influence senior stakeholders.
Is adept at using modern sales tools such as Salesforce, SalesLoft, LinkedIn Navigator and ZoomInfo to drive productivity and reporting accuracy.
#LI-JM1
Additional Information
What We Offer:
The opportunity to build and lead a strategic vertical for one of the world’s most trusted data companies.
A supportive, transparent, and growth-oriented culture.
Competitive compensation, including base, performance incentives, and equity.
Access to cutting-edge sales enablement tools and a robust sales/marketing support structure.
Ongoing development opportunities and a clear path to sales leadership expansion.
Enabling your best to power a better media future. Our comprehensive benefits package (including health & wellness plans, 401(k) retirement coupled with a Nielsen match, a generous paid time off policy, company provided car for those who qualify, and if eligible, a discretionary incentive/bonus) is designed to be inclusive for all employees and families, and we take pride in ensuring that employees are rewarded holistically for the role they are doing and their performance.
A reasonable estimated salary range for a new employee has been provided. It would be adjusted based on each employee's geographic location. The position of each employee within a compensation range at Nielsen is dependent on several individual circumstances, such as experience, training, certifications and other business requirements/needs.
Nielsen makes hiring decisions without regard to disability status, protected veteran status, or membership in any other protected class.
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