---
title: 'Senior Specialist, Direct Negotiation at Known'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-specialist-direct-negotiation-known-new-york-p9p48c6hjgjc'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-15'
---

# Senior Specialist, Direct Negotiation at Known

- **Company:** Known
- **Location:** New York, NY
- **Posted:** 2026-09-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-15
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/known/jobs/8806244002

## Job description

WE HAVE CREATED A WORLD WHERE ART AND SCIENCE ARE BEST FRIENDS

[Known](https://known.is/) is what happens when a data science firm and a creative agency stop arguing and start collaborating. We were built from scratch with PhD data scientists and award-winning creatives working on the same briefs, from day one. That structure earned us an Ad Age #3 A-List ranking, back-to-back Data & Insights Agency of the Year wins, plus Emmys, Cannes Lions, Clios, and Effies across clients in finance, tech, entertainment, consumer goods, and real estate. We're distributed across the U.S. and unapologetically ambitious.

If you're tired of choosing between doing smart work and doing creative work, you'll fit right in here.

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT US, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU

Known’s Media Science team uses advanced analytics, machine learning, statistics, and algorithms to plan and optimize advertising dollars. We partner with our clients to translate their business goals into meaningful metrics, and buy media across all channels to drive those target outcomes.  We are looking for someone to join the team and work alongside data analysts, data scientists, media buyers, and software engineers.

As a Senior Specialist, Digital Partnerships, you’ll contribute to our strategic and executional efforts for IO-based media partnerships. You’ll be responsible for providing guidance on how media performance impacts clients’ broader business objectives, and how they should be approaching the digital space. Vendor relationships are your foremost responsibility, ranging from introductory meetings and RFP participation to plan negotiations and management throughout campaign flights.

This role sits with Known’s Direct Negotiations team, under the Digital Direct Partnerships discipline. Direct Negotiations is a multi-functional team that covers the management of digital Direct IO activations, OTT video/Audio media buying. DS&I works closely with Known’s Media Strategy, Buyer Science, Channel Science (Programmatic, Social, Search, Linear), Media Operations, and Finance teams to ensure coordinated efforts.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO

- Engage and evaluate media vendors to broaden and improve the team’s partner roster
- Work closely with other team members to negotiate partnerships with vendors
- Understand and effectively communicate the value proposition of IO partnerships holistically and for each partner, as well as relevant technology and processes
- Ensure best practice in all executional activities (set up, trafficking requests, optimization, reporting, etc.) and knowledge sharing across teams
- Coordinate digital partnership efforts (strategy and execution) with other media channels
- Build analyses, stories, and slides for client media plans and reports
- Manage communications with clients as appropriate
- Understand the client’s overall business objectives and translate them into effective paid media campaigns

## WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU HAVE

- 3+ years of experience in a digital agency environment working with media vendors, internal teams, and external collaborators
- Knowledge of direct IO partnerships’ roles in the media ecosystem, including familiarity of how these relate to specific tactics (display, video, social, email, search, etc.)
- A deep understanding of the strategic and executional aspects of managing direct partnerships, including vendor RFPs/evaluation/negotiation, in-platform plan setup, contracting, creating trafficking requests, post-launch QA, reporting, etc.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Strong track record of planning and executing branding, consideration, and direct response campaigns, ideally across a variety of verticals
- Strong organizational skills to ensure accuracy and quality of all accountable responsibilities and deliverables
- Outstanding critical thinking skills and a detail-oriented mindset

Hands-on experience with Prisma is required

## THE “NICE-TO-HAVES”

- Hands-on experience in typical media platforms like DoubleVerify and CM360
- Experience working with CPG or Business Tech clients is a plus
- Experience working in the Retail media spaces is a plus
- Experience managing others is a plus

## SOME OF OUR PERKS

- Unlimited paid time off
- 401k with company matching and no vesting period
- Annual bonuses
- Generous medical plan
- Paid parental leave

## ONE LAST THING TO ASK YOURSELF

All this might sound great, but you’re probably still wondering, “Would I be a good fit for Known?” or “Would Known be a good fit for me?” Our culture is propped up by four values that we aspire to every day: We are one team. We see the good. We never stop learning. There’s always a better way. At Known we are setting out to build something more than just a company. We are building a legacy filled with exceptionally talented people with a kaleidoscope of backgrounds, experiences, and origin stories who feel encouraged and empowered to bring their whole selves to work, and to partner with us in molding and shaping our culture through our values.

Known is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or qualified job applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or locally protected class.

The base salary for this position is $80K - $90K.

This range is posted in compliance with state and municipal Pay Transparency laws. In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible to receive additional Known benefits.

## #LI-RR1

## About Known

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Known is a modern marketing company that pairs PhD data scientists with award-winning creatives to produce science-led marketing solutions for leading brands.
- **Entity Type**: Private
- **Headquarters**: New York, New York, USA
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Marketing & Advertising, Data Science, Creative Services
- **Target customers**: B2B, enterprise-level brands in finance, technology, media, CPG, real estate, and other sectors
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To produce marketing that is rooted in science, designed to succeed, persistently optimized, and profoundly impactful for clients’ businesses [known.is](https://known.is/about)

## Products & Services
- **Science-Led Creative & Media Agency**: An end-to-end marketing service combining data science, strategy, and creative production. The agency offers market research, data analytics, media planning/buying, brand strategy, and creative development.
- **Data Science & Analytics**: Teams of PhD-level data scientists who power campaign optimization, audience insights, and measurement.
- **Media Services**: Media planning, programmatic buying, ad operations, and search marketing.
- **Creative Studios**: In-house creative teams producing copy, art direction, design, and experiential marketing.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company)
- **Key Metric**: ~478 total employees; 450+ on the careers page
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly available; clients include leading brands in finance, technology, media, CPG, real estate (specific client names not disclosed)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount of ~478 within 5 years of founding (2020); recognized with multiple industry awards including Emmys, Clios, Effies, Cannes Lions, Digiday’s Most Innovative Media Agency, and ProMax Agency of the Year [known.is](https://known.is/about); active hiring across data science, software engineering, strategy, and creative roles [job-boards.greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/known)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Science-Creative Integration**: A unique model that pairs PhD data scientists with award-winning creatives, treating marketing as a blend of empirical science and artistic craft.
- **Proprietary Data & AI Capabilities**: Deep expertise in data science and generative AI, with dedicated data scientist roles focused on AI.
- **Award-Winning Output**: Consistently recognized by top industry awards (Emmy, Clio, Cannes Lions, Effies), signaling creative excellence.
- **End-to-End Offering**: Covers strategy, research, media, and creative under one roof, providing clients with integrated, transparent solutions.

## Strategic Focus
- **Generative AI Integration**: Actively hiring for Data Scientist roles with a Generative AI focus, indicating investment in AI-powered marketing solutions.
- **Data Science Leadership**: Continued emphasis on data-driven decision making and advanced analytics as a core differentiator.
- **Talent Expansion**: Growing headcount across engineering (Senior Software Engineer, Software Engineer), data science, and creative director roles, signaling an expansion of both technical and creative capabilities.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture Highlights**: Known emphasizes a collaborative, curious, and innovative culture. The company describes the collaborative energy as “Known Sauce” and holds company-wide retreats. They incorporate “days of giving” and pro-bono client work for social impact [known.is](https://known.is/culture).
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy**: Hybrid workspace. Most employees work in a hybrid setting near major offices (New York, Los Angeles, Cambridge). Some roles (like Senior Manager, Product and Sr. Copywriter) are remote; others are location-specific [job-boards.greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/known). Offices feature open-concept indoor/outdoor spaces, coffee/tea bars, and free team lunches [known.is](https://known.is/culture).
- **Notable Perks**: Unlimited PTO (with a culture encouraging actual time off), generous medical insurance (free employee-only coverage), pet insurance, professional development through speaker series and mentorship programs, and access to industry events [known.is](https://known.is/culture).
- **Engineering Culture**: Uses modern tech stack including Python, TypeScript, Docker, Kubernetes, BigQuery, Snowflake, Amazon Redshift, and Tornado [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/known). Teams work on data science, media optimization, and AI applications.

## Sources
1. [known.is](https://known.is/about) - Company overview and mission
2. [known.is](https://known.is/culture) - Culture, perks, and employee experience
3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/known) - Current job openings and hiring details
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/known) - Company profile, employee count, tech stack, and office locations
5. [theorg.com](https://theorg.com/org/known-is) - Org chart, leadership, and office distribution

## Other roles at Known

- [Manager, Media Strategy](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-media-strategy-known-new-york-vvfrsvh1rk3k) — New York, NY
- [Director, Media Strategy](https://feeny.ai/job/director-media-strategy-known-new-york-634jvjfb15jn) — New York, NY
- [Manager, Direct Partnerships](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-direct-partnerships-known-new-york-daavwnqsx2g3) — New York, NY
- [Director, Direct Negotiation](https://feeny.ai/job/director-direct-negotiation-known-new-york-p7zyh9068b0h) — New York, NY
- [Director, Data Science](https://feeny.ai/job/director-data-science-known-new-york-shf4a153xsy5) — New York, NY
- [Senior Specialist, Ad Operations & Measurement](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-specialist-ad-operations-measurement-known-new-york-y824hk9sbyba) — New York, NY
- [Project Manager, Media Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/project-manager-media-operations-known-new-york-xfy4edmx0zzv) — New York, NY
- [Manager, Data & Media Science](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-data-media-science-known-new-york-v4vtn90yq8mz) — New York, NY
- [Senior Specialist, Search](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-specialist-search-known-new-york-5fxzj00ysyc5) — New York, NY
- [Senior Specialist, Programmatic](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-specialist-programmatic-known-new-york-pnmmbq0znm8n) — New York, NY