Business Development Director / Head of Account Services

The Director of Business Development / Head of Account Services will be responsible for identifying, pursuing and closing new business opportunities on a local, regional and national scale that are aligned with the long-term strategic goals. Director of Business Development / Head of Account Services reports to the Agency partners with senior creative leadership in a highly collaborative and team-oriented environment with the aim of winning new business. In addition, you typically would be responsible for building and growing awareness of the The Agency Brand by overseeing PR efforts.

The Director of Business Development / Head of Account Services (BD) maintains and grows our agency's business and client base on an ongoing and project basis. They create and maintain relationships with existing and potential clients, developing strategic solutions and plans that best fit the agency and clients’ needs. In this role, the BD insures that the agency provides:

Sound and responsible marketing counseling and planning.
Innovator and influencer level communications.
Deliver a consistently superior creative product.
Work that is strategic and above all creative.

The Requirements

MBA preferred, or Masters in Business or Marketing, commensurate experience in building agency client portfolios.
Interest in and aptitude for creative business and marketing solutions
Minimum of 5 years experience in building new business and account management in an agency environment (digital, broadcast, production, creative)
Highly motivated, with a proven track record of new business acquisitions and expansion of client accounts
Experience navigating large and complex organizations, including gaining access to key executives and stakeholders and successfully managing relationship building dynamics and processes
Ability to manage complex contract negotiations and working with legal counsel as required
Ability to manage multiple business initiatives in an entrepreneurial environment
Expert knowledge of all functional agency departments, capabilities and service areas
Deep understanding of a wide range of industries, markets and brands, and what it takes to stand out and service them
Exceptional communication and presentation skills
Flexibility with schedule to meet client commitments, traveling as required to pursue business development
Great project management abilities
Self motivated and willing to expand knowledge
Ability to self-manage while managing assigned teams and projects.

Major Contacts

The Director of Business Development / Head of Account Services position requires ongoing and in-depth interactions with the following: The BD reports to the agency partners. Within the agency, the BD is the leader for our new business and PR efforts. As assigned, the BD has overall responsibility for leading assigned client services effort. Within the agency, the BD works closely with all agency personnel in developing plans, recommendations and deliverables. The BD will have direct client contact with new and existing assigned agency clients, PR and consultants, media partners and potential agency partners.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Director of Business Development / Head of Account Services has four areas of responsibility (specific duties of each are explained below)

Planning, Analyzing, Evaluating

Develop workable budgets, work plans and realistic timetables.
Collaborates with the Account Supervisor or Manager, Client Services, on preparation of marketing recommendations, strategies and actions for the client.
Reviews, analyzes and evaluates the following, relative to the client’s needs and objectives: media output, creative output, research reports and client data.
Defining project scope, estimate and writing proposals, works with producer in the creation of project specifications and time plans.
Identify and develop target list of clients and partners
Understand business objectives, challenges and opportunities of target and industry
Secure and present company credentials
Manage and budget activities for business development activities (databases, Industry groups, events and conferences)
Develop in collaboration with the The agency team, innovative and / or differentiating products and services
Networking to find new business opportunities
Updating portfolio items for marketing materials
Coordinate and manage agency new business presentations and meetings

Team Leading, Coordinating, Managing

Be the agency’s lead ambassador and business evangelist, embodying the studio’s core values and differentiating perspectives
Identify the right opportunities across industry sectors and media that align with the agency’s ongoing strategy
Maintain and develop prospective client and key strategic partners network
Gather and identify RFPs to be evaluated with senior leadership team
Contribute to all aspects of the sales process, from the RFP response and pitch to contract negotiations
Represent the agency at conferences, events and symposiums
Provide market research, analyses and insights into latest industry trends
Provides leadership within the agency on behalf of the client and prepares all agency credentials and RFPs.
Position Impact with key industry influencers and though leaders
Lead and manage new business presentations as assigned
Grow and develop existing client accounts.
Keeping new business status reports up to date
Monitoring and enforcing new business risk and constraints (schedule / scope / resources)
Champion internal systems for higher productivity working

New Business Project Management

Manage agency new business efforts and projects, involved with projects from start to finish, ensuring successful project completion against deadlines.
Provide and maintain client contact and relationship database.
Product manage long term properties including: positioning development, marketing plans, manufacturing or development needs, timeline and roadmap planning, stats analysis and reporting
Networking online and offline to find new business opportunities
Lead and manage new business presentations
Updating portfolio items for marketing materials
Handling telephone calls for new leads
Arranging sales and creative presentations and meetings
Seeking new opportunities to add value to existing clients
Identifying and nurturing new business opportunities
Working with clients to sign off on contracts and estimates
Work with agency lawyer and general manager to review contracts.