Business Development – Affiliate Partnerships; Junior​/Associate level​/Hybrid, Chicago

About the Business

This role sits within a backed, fast‑scaling digital business operating at the intersection of comparison, consumer decision‑making, and performance marketing. The company runs high‑traffic comparison experiences across finance, insurance, and consumer services, where affiliate economics, rankings, and deal structure directly determine market position.

The business is supported by an experienced investment group with a track record of building and scaling performance‑driven platforms. The focus is on winning competitive markets through smarter monetization and faster execution, not brand spend or long sales cycles.

You’ll grow into owning a portfolio of affiliate partnerships, learning how payout economics, rankings, and deal structure directly impact revenue and market position.

This role is designed for someone earlier in their career who has relevant exposure to partnerships or performance marketing and is ready to ramp quickly with close collaboration and guidance.

• Support negotiations with affiliate and strategic partners alongside senior team members
• Track rankings, performance trends, and competitor activity to surface opportunities
• Assist with structuring and renegotiating agreements to improve economics
• Help manage partner communication and follow‑through
• Use performance data to support deal strategy and prioritization
• Gradually take ownership of partnerships as experience and confidence grow

• Early experience in affiliate marketing, partnerships, account management, or performance marketing
• Exposure to comparison, commerce, or lead‑generation environments
• Comfort working with data, reporting, and performance metrics
• Commercial curiosity and interest in how deals drive revenue
• Motivated to grow into a role with full ownership and accountability

• Structured ramp with hands‑on exposure to real affiliate economics
• Direct mentorship and in‑office collaboration to accelerate learning
• Clear progression into full deal ownershipli>
• Strong foundation for a long‑term path in performance‑driven business development

• Competitive base salary
• Performance incentives tied to development and contribution
• Expanded scope and responsibility as you ramp

• Is:
  Performance‑driven, affiliate‑first, commercially focused
• Isn’t:
  Brand marketing, passive account management, or SDR‑style sales

If this role aligns with your experience in affiliate partnerships, performance marketing, or monetization, we’d love to connect.

If a recruiter from Next Step reached out to you directly about this opportunity, please note that in your application so we can flag and prioritize your candidacy appropriately.

We aim to keep the process focused, transparent, and respectful of your time:

At Next Step Recruitment, we believe strong hiring is a two‑way decision. If your background aligns, we move quickly, communicate clearly, and aim to make the process worth your time. We’re excited to meet candidates who want real ownership, real impact, and a thoughtful conversation about what’s next.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to speak with you soon!