Director of Ad Sales - West

ABOUT THE ROLE Duolingo is building the world’s most engaging language‑learning platform, and our Ads team is the engine that keeps the free experience sustainable. As Director of Ad Sales – West, you will shape the regional strategy for Duolingo Ads, leading a high‑performing sales team that partners with brands and agencies across the West Coast. Your influence will extend from pipeline development to pricing, packaging, and the end‑to‑end client experience, ensuring that every campaign delivers value for advertisers while preserving the learner experience that is the heart of Duolingo. WHAT YOU'LL DO You will own West Coast revenue targets, forecast performance, and build a predictable pipeline of named accounts and agency groups. You will design and execute a regional go‑to‑market strategy, including territory allocation, vertical focus, and pricing models that drive growth. You will recruit, coach, and grow a small team of sellers, establishing operating rhythms, deal reviews, and CRM hygiene that improve forecast accuracy. You will cultivate senior relationships with brands and agencies, opening new logos and expanding strategic accounts with compelling commercial narratives that align Duolingo’s unique strengths to client objectives. You will lead complex deals from prospecting through negotiation, close, renewal, and expansion, collaborating closely with Account Management and Ad Ops to ensure flawless delivery. You will provide actionable market feedback to sales and product leadership, informing pricing, packaging, measurement, and ad experiences while safeguarding the learner experience. Finally, you will operate with speed and rigor in a startup‑like environment, building repeatable sales motions, outreach cadences, and team practices that scale from 0→1 and 1→N. WHAT YOU'LL NEED You bring eight or more years of direct digital ad sales experience, with a proven record of hunting, closing, and renewing in premium mobile or consumer app environments. You have a strong background selling video, native, and custom formats, and structuring innovative agreements with top‑tier advertisers and agencies. You can engage senior decision makers while rolling up your sleeves to build collateral, troubleshoot issues, and drive revenue personally. Your deep understanding of ad tech and mobile app ecosystems, combined with data‑driven decision making, will enable you to assess performance and inform pricing and packaging. Excellent communication and presentation skills, coupled with comfort operating in ambiguous, high‑velocity settings, are essential. Exceptional candidates will have established West Coast brand and agency relationships, experience scaling a new ads product from 0→1, and expertise in shaping regional GTM or coverage models beyond a single book of business. Vertical expertise in Entertainment, Gaming, Streaming, or Tech will accelerate early traction. WHY REMOTE Duolingo embraces a distributed, asynchronous culture that empowers employees to work from wherever they thrive. The Director of Ad Sales – West role is fully remote, allowing you to collaborate with teams across the globe while maintaining a flexible schedule that supports work‑life balance. Our remote environment is supported by robust communication tools, regular virtual town halls, and a culture of transparency that ensures you stay connected to the mission and to your colleagues. BENEFITS Duolingo offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive health, dental, and vision coverage, a generous paid time off policy, a remote work stipend, and a learning and development budget. We also provide equity compensation, retirement savings options, and a supportive environment that encourages continuous growth and well‑being.