Identify high-value audio content owners across formats — podcasts, audiobooks, conversational audio, vertical-specific recordings (legal, medical, financial, technical, and more), foreign language content, and UGC audio — that align with Protege's data and licensing priorities
Craft and execute strategies to win these partners and bring them into the Protege network
Own the full lifecycle: sourcing, pitching, negotiating, and closing licensing agreements
No job too big or too small: support leadership and content partnerships team to achieve ambitious goals
Build strong, trust-based relationships with audio content partners — podcast networks, audiobook publishers, enterprise content producers, multilingual media companies, specialty audio libraries, and beyond
Serve as the long-term account lead for partners, helping manage usage, renewals, and strategic opportunities
Educate partners on the evolving AI landscape and how their content contributes to cutting-edge innovation
Ensure audio assets meet technical requirements for AI training (format, transcripts, metadata, quality thresholds)
Work with internal teams to assess usability, compliance, and delivery readiness
Collaborate with legal to shape deal terms and ensure partner agreements reflect both value and compliance
Work with product and licensing teams to match audio content supply with demand from AI builders
Partner with marketing to celebrate key partnerships and elevate Protege's presence in audio media ecosystems

Experience in partnerships, business development, licensing, or content acquisition — ideally within podcasting, publishing, enterprise media, or media tech
Familiarity with structured data assets (transcripts, metadata, annotation, privacy constraints)
Deep knowledge of audio rights, licensing structures, and the business side of content ownership preferred.
Experience working across diverse content formats and, ideally, multilingual or international content markets
Skilled dealmaker who can navigate commercial conversations with empathy, clarity, and confidence
Excellent communicator who can distill complex ideas and inspire buy-in
Self-starter who thrives in ambiguity, owns outcomes, and moves with urgency
Passionate about the intersection of audio, technology, and AI
High-EQ team-player; willing to roll up your sleeves and work hard

We move fast — thoughtfully. Speed matters in what we’re building, but so does intention. We’re biased toward action and always learning.
We’re a lean, high-trust team. Everyone has real ownership. Clarity and autonomy drive our best work.
We take our work seriously, not ourselves. We solve hard problems with humility and celebrate wins; big and small.
We’re kind, direct, and inclusive. We give feedback early and often, with the goal of helping one another grow.
We’re builders at heart. Every person at Protege is hands-on, resourceful, and focused on creating momentum.
We grow fast — together. You’ll be surrounded by people who care about impact, who challenge you to think bigger, and who are genuinely excited about what comes next.

Audio Media Partnerships Lead

Key skills