Director - Business Development

The Director of Business Development works with senior leadership in our Consumer, Healthcare, and Technology sectors to qualify, progress and close new business opportunities, which includes managing and supporting priority RFPs and pitch presentations. You’ll work in partnership with others across the North America region to showcase our ideas, capabilities and people in compelling ways that can move our prospective clients’ business forward. You’ll also support the agency's Proactive Pursuits Program, working with leadership across the agency to identify, engage and convert prospective clients. This role reports to the Senior Vice President of Business Development.

Job Functions:

• Manage incoming new business opportunities including qualifying opportunities against the agency’s criteria and providing recommendations on whether to pursue.
• Provide strategic counsel to internal clients on all aspects of progressing the qualified opportunities through to completion ensuring high quality deliverables and full  client satisfaction.
• Manage active prospects and projects by setting priorities and expectations, problem solving, communicating ongoing status updates to the team and ensuring follow up is taking place along agreed upon timelines. This requires liaising with specialist resource throughout each stage of the proposal/pitch development process include research and creative data analysis, planning and creative/design.
• Manage and coach pitch teams to finalize presentation content and ensure each member of the team is ‘room ready’ to deliver with poise, presence and confidence.
• Integrate with internal clients and marketing to drive prospect engagement and lead generation for Proactive Pursuits Program.
• Coordinate with internal clients to ensure accurate data is captured in CRM for sales tracking and reporting purposes.
• Proactively recommend processes and materials that would benefit the agency and that don’t already exist as part of the Business Development infrastructure.
• Manage at least one junior member of the business development team.

Minimum/Preferred Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above preferred in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant work experience required. Agency experience or work in a professional services and agency environment preferred. Previous experience in business development or demand generation a plus.
• Strong demonstrated project management skills.
• Strong customer service orientation, including ability and willingness to pitch in on all aspects of the business process.
• Strong self-starter spirit; ability to respond to shifting priorities and work under deadline in a fast-paced environment with ease and a sense of humor.
• A proven ability to communicate across all levels of an organization.