Account Director (MRI-Simmons Brand Sales Team)

Remote from: USA
Salary, yearly, USD: 78,500 - 150,000
Department: Marketing & Sales
Employment type: Full Time,
Job posted: 7 Jul 2026
Apply before: 7 Aug 2026
Experience level: Director
Views / Applies: 164 / 13

About company

About NielsenIQ

The Full View of the Consumer

Market Research
1923

Actively Hiring

AI Summary

This Account Director role on the MRI-Simmons Brand Sales Team at NIQ is responsible for driving revenue growth by selling consumer insights and audience data solutions to major brands. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in insights sales, strong presentation skills, and a deep understanding of the digital media ecosystem. This remote position, with a preference for the US-Northeast, requires up to 35% travel and offers a competitive base salary plus incentives. The role demands a proactive, consultative approach to uncover client needs and develop strategic partnerships. Successful candidates will be self-motivated, excellent communicators, and adept at storytelling with data.

Role DNA

Job Complexity

Easy Hard

Pace & Pressure

Relaxed Fast-paced

Autonomy Level

Guided Full Ownership

Communication Load

Independent Highly Collaborative

AI Insight The role requires 5+ years of specialized sales experience, a consultative approach, and the ability to manage complex client relationships and strategic plans, making it moderately difficult.

Salary Analysis

AI Insight The offered salary range of $78,500 - $150,000 is competitive for an Account Director role in the insights industry, aligning with market rates for experienced professionals. The median of $114,250 falls within the typical range for this position in the US, considering the remote nature and required expertise.

Core Skills Required

Account Management Brand Sales Consultative Selling Consumer Insights Digital Media Ecosystem Data Analytics Client Relationship Management Presentation Skills Strategic Planning CRM (MS Dynamics)

Cover Letter Sample

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for the Account Director position on the MRI-Simmons Brand Sales Team. With over 5 years of experience in selling syndicated and custom insights to blue-chip brands, I have a proven track record of driving revenue growth and building lasting client relationships.

My expertise in the digital media ecosystem, including audience data and measurement solutions, aligns perfectly with the requirements of this role. I excel at consultative selling and developing strategic presentations that tell a compelling story with data.

I am particularly drawn to MRI-Simmons' reputation as a leader in consumer insights and the opportunity to work with top-tier brands. My strong organizational skills, proficiency in CRM systems, and ability to thrive in a team-based environment make me a great fit for this position.

I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your team and driving success for MRI-Simmons. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Sample Interview Questions

Describe your experience selling syndicated or custom insights to brands. How do you approach consultative selling?

I have over 5 years of experience selling insights, including syndicated data and custom research to Fortune 500 brands. My consultative approach involves first understanding the client's business objectives and pain points, then mapping our solutions to address those needs. I ask probing questions about their current use of consumer data and identify gaps where our offerings can add value.

How do you stay updated on the digital media ecosystem, including audience data and ad tech?

I regularly read industry publications like AdExchanger and eMarketer, attend webinars and conferences, and participate in internal training. I also network with peers and vendors to stay current on trends. This knowledge helps me position MRI-Simmons solutions effectively in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Can you give an example of a successful strategic sales plan you developed for a territory?

In my previous role, I managed the Northeast territory for a consumer insights provider. I segmented accounts by industry and revenue potential, prioritized high-value targets, and created tailored outreach campaigns. This plan resulted in a 25% increase in new business and a 90% renewal rate within 12 months.

How do you handle objections from clients during the sales process?

I view objections as opportunities to better understand client needs. For example, if a client says our data is too expensive, I ask about their budget and ROI expectations. I then highlight the value of our unique probabilistic sample and how it improves targeting accuracy, which can save them money in wasted ad spend.

Describe a time you had to negotiate a multi-year contract. What was your approach?

I negotiated a 3-year contract with a major CPG brand. I started by understanding their long-term goals and built a partnership proposal that included volume discounts and access to new datasets. I emphasized the mutual benefits of a longer commitment, such as deeper data integration and dedicated support. The contract was signed at a 15% discount but had higher overall revenue.

Company Description

R26_0014171

Must be physically located in US at time of application to be considered for this role.

Remote, preferred location is US-Northeast.

Who We Are:
MRI‑Simmons, a joint venture majority owned by NIQ, is the leading provider of insights on the American consumer. A leader in consumer insights for over 60 years, MRI‑Simmons possesses one of the few data sets widely used across the media ecosystem for consumer profiling, media planning, audience research, and insight‑driven audience development. Powered by address‑based probabilistic sampling, MRI‑Simmons measures real people, chosen at random, to represent the U.S. population in all its diversity—resulting in the most accurate view of the American consumer.

What We Do:

We empower marketers, advertising agencies and media companies to turn deep consumer understanding into smarter strategies, targetable segmentation, and more effective advertising campaigns across all media channels: linear TV, Connected TV, Digital, and Social. We enrich customer first-party data to enable more comprehensive consumer profiling and activation.

Job Description

About this job:

As the Account Director for MRI-Simmons, you’ll be tasked with growing partnerships directly with brands. Our partners on the brand team represent the nation’s largest blue-chip brands.

We’re looking for someone with digital and data sales experience. The ideal candidate will be determined, self-motivated, and willing to go the extra mile while hunting for new business. We are looking for an out-of-the box thinker who can capitalize on new opportunities and thrive in a strong team-based environment. The successful candidate will be rewarded with a tremendous opportunity to raise their industry profile with an established industry leader.

Responsibilities:

Responsible for prospecting, networking, and developing new business opportunities in designated markets.
Consult with clients and uncover how they currently use consumer insights and where the MRI-Simmons offerings might fill voids.
Through a consultative approach, generate revenue and achieve annual goals by selling and upselling syndicated and custom solutions, data enrichment, custom and syndicated audiences.
Communicate effectively with clients both written and orally and provide excellent customer support.
Negotiate annual or multi-year contracts and ensure maximum renewal rate.
Develop insightful presentations and educate clients on current MRI-Simmons capabilities and resources.
Develop and execute strategic sales plans for assigned territories and/or vertical industries. Regularly check in on progress on the plan with the VP of Brand Sales.
Travel up to 35% may be required.

Qualifications

Minimum 5 years of selling insights (syndicated or custom) and/or addressable audiences to brands.
Must have outstanding organizational and communication skills with attention to detail.
Excel at presenting and telling a story with data.
Thorough understanding of the digital media ecosystem- audience data, measurement solutions, platforms, ad tech, and agencies.
Strong PowerPoint and Excel skills.
Strong MS Dynamics or similar CRM system skills.
BA with a concentration in Communications, Marketing or Media a plus.

Additional Information

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation of the following range: $78,500 – $150,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role is eligible for a sales-based incentive or performance-based bonus. Other benefits include flexible working environment, comprehensive health insurance, industry-leading parental leave, life insurance, education support and more.
#LI-Remote

Our Benefits

Flexible working environment
Volunteer time off
LinkedIn Learning
Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/info/niqs-ai-safety-policies/

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

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Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence. All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion

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