Manager, Affiliate

The Manager, Affiliate will be the primary architect of our creator and partnership ecosystem. This leader will build a program rooted in high-intent conversion, brand equity, and measurable incrementality. They will lead the strategy for our affiliate networks and influencer collaborations, integrating performance data with storytelling to drive both immediate revenue and long-term customer lifetime value. This is an on-site position (Monday through Thursday) based out of our Chicago, IL office with the flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

A day in the life as a Manager, Affiliate...

• Lead the end-to-end strategy for affiliate marketing and influencer partnerships, focusing on scaling diverse creator tiers (nano to mega) and traditional affiliate publishers
• Oversee daily program health, including commission structures, partner recruitment, contract negotiations, and a rigorous testing roadmap for creator-led content
• Utilize tracking technologies and attribution platforms to ensure accurate measurement of partner impact across the full marketing funnel
• Partner with Analytics leads to assess the incremental value of different partner types, moving beyond "last-click" to understand how creators drive true business lift
• Collaborate with internal Creative and Social teams to brief influencers, ensure brand alignment, and repurpose high-performing creator content for paid media
• Work cross-functionally with Brand, Performance, Legal, and PR teams to ensure a cohesive voice and seamless execution of large-scale seasonal campaigns
• Serve as the organization’s Partnership expert, educating stakeholders on the evolving creator economy and managing key relationships with agencies and affiliate platforms (e.g., Impact, Rakuten, LTK)
• Own the roadmap for program evolution, staying ahead of trends in social commerce, live shopping, and emerging platform features

What you’ll bring to the table…

• Deep expertise in Affiliate and Influencer ecosystems, including a strong understanding of performance-based payouts, whitelisting, and creator-led commerce
• Hands-on experience with major affiliate networks (Impact, Rakuten, CJ) and influencer management tools (ShopMy, CreatorIQ, or similar)
• Experience in "Creator-to-Commerce" workflows, including the use of tracking links, promo codes, and shop-able content integrations
• Strong understanding of attribution models and how to prove the value of influencers through both top-of-funnel awareness and bottom-of-funnel conversion
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate partner performance into actionable insights; advanced Excel skills for reporting and forecasting are essential
• Negotiation experience and the ability to manage complex contracts while maintaining positive, long-term relationships with external partners
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to represent the brand with external creators and get strategic buy-in internally
• Innate curiosity to test new platforms (e.g., TikTok Shop, YouTube Shopping) and a willingness to adapt to the fast-moving creator landscape

We’d love to hear from you if you have…

• 5+ years of experience in Affiliate or Influencer marketing, with at least 2+ years in a high-growth Retail or eCommerce environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field
• Proven track record of managing enterprise-level partnership budgets and delivering scalable ROI
• Experience in "Whitelisting" or "Creator Licensing," partnering with Paid Social teams to amplify influencer content
• A passion for the creator economy and a deep pulse on what makes content resonate with modern consumers
• Retail/Multi-channel experience preferred