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Senior Manager, Affiliates

Dentsu · Chicago, IL · $82,000–$100,000 a year · Full time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you used data to change a client's affiliate strategy. What did the data show?

What they are checking: Whether their recommendations come from real analysis and not habit or what partners pitch to them.

Tell me about a business review you led for a client. What did you show and what did they do with it?

What they are checking: Whether they can run a client meeting that ends in decisions, not just a recap of numbers.

Tell me about a time you guided a junior team member through a mistake on a client account.

What they are checking: Whether they coach in a way that fixes the issue and builds the person's skill rather than taking over.

How do you stay current on affiliate networks, tracking changes and privacy rules that affect performance?

What they are checking: Whether they keep up with cookie and tracking changes that can quietly break program measurement.

What would you do

A client complains that coupon partners are taking credit for sales that would have happened anyway. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle attribution and incrementality concerns with commission changes rather than defensiveness.

A client cuts the affiliate budget by 30 percent mid-quarter. How do you rework the plan?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize partners by value and protect the relationships that matter most under pressure.

A key publisher partner is asking for a higher commission or they will drop the brand. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can negotiate from the partner's real contribution instead of caving or bluffing.

About the work

How would you build an affiliate program for a hotel or travel brand that is starting from scratch?

What they are checking: Whether they understand partner mix, commission design and booking windows specific to travel and hospitality.

Which affiliate partner types do you lean on for travel clients, and why those over others?

What they are checking: Whether they know how loyalty, content, coupon and card-linked partners each drive different value for travel bookings.

How do you work with Paid Search so affiliate and search are not bidding against each other on brand terms?

What they are checking: Whether they know common channel conflicts like trademark bidding and how to set and police partner rules.

How do you handle travel cancellations and returns in affiliate commissions?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that travel bookings change after the click and commissions must be validated before paying out.

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The full job description

As published by Dentsu.

Job Description: We are seeking a Senior Manager, Affiliate & Partnership Marketing to join our growing team at dentsu. In this role, you will manage affiliate and partnership marketing programs for clients, lead day-to-day strategy, and may provide guidance and support to junior team members. The ideal candidate has experience in affiliate marketing and performance partnerships, with a particular interest in the travel, hospitality sectors. Key Responsibilities: Client & Partner Management: • Build and maintain strong client relationships through industry expertise, effective communication, and responsive service. • Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for client questions, requests, and program updates. • Develop a strong understanding of client brands, business objectives, and competitive landscapes. • Lead and participate in client meetings, presentations, and business reviews. • Provide strategic recommendations supported by data, insights, and industry best practices. Strategy & Collaboration: • Partner closely with Affiliate teams, Client Services, Planning, and cross-channel teams including Paid Search, SEO, Social, Programmatic, and Retail Media. • Develop and execute affiliate strategies that align with broader digital marketing objectives. • Monitor campaign performance and adjust plans as business needs, budgets, and objectives evolve. • Collaborate across teams to achieve campaign goals and performance targets. Campaign Management & Performance: • Plan, execute, and manage affiliate partnership campaigns, including account setup, network implementation, partner development, budget allocation, and pacing. • Analyze campaign performance and lead optimization efforts to improve results and achieve client objectives. • Manage programs against established KPIs and performance goals. • Leverage data, technology, and reporting tools to identify opportunities, troubleshoot issues, and drive program growth. • Conduct industry research, competitive analyses, and program audits to support client recommendations and new business opportunities. Qualifications • Bachelor's in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or a related field • 4-7 years of experience in affiliate marketing, partnership marketing, performance marketing, or a related field within an agency, affiliate network, partnership platform, or in-house marketing team. • Experience within the travel, hospitality, or related industries. • Experience managing performance-based marketing programs focused on lead generation, customer acquisition, bookings, reservations, completed stays, subscriptions, or similar conversion-based objectives. • Strong analytical skills with experience using Excel and performance reporting tools to develop actionable insights. • Experience with one or more affiliate platforms, including Impact.com, Partnerize, CJ Affiliate, AWIN, or Rakuten Advertising. • Ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities and deadlines. • Experience working with a diverse range of affiliate, publisher, and partner relationships. • Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients and internal stakeholders. • Experience managing complex datasets, reporting processes, and invoicing activities with accuracy and attention to detail. • Experience managing Cost Per Lead (CPL), Cost Per Acquisition (CPA), and Cost Per Click (CPC) campaigns. • Demonstrated ability to drive performance improvements aligned with client goals and business objectives. • Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills. • Interest in affiliate and partnership marketing and staying informed on industry trends and best practices. The annual salary range for this position is $82,000-$100,000. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law. At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we’re connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles and Detroit). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office. Benefits available with this position include: • Medical, vision, and dental insurance, • Life insurance, • Short-term and long-term disability insurance, • 401k, • Flexible paid time off, • At least 15 paid holidays per year, • Paid sick and safe leave, and • Paid parental leave. Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com . To begin the application process, please click on the “Apply” button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps. Location: New York Brand: Iprospect Time Type: Full time Contract Type: Permanent Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color , national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to  ApplicantAccommodations@dentsu.com  by clicking on the link to let us  know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. 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