Business Development Director – Media & Digital

The Business Development Director will lead the company's commercial growth agenda, with responsibility for identifying high-value opportunities, building senior-level client relationships, and converting strategic opportunities into sustainable revenue.

This is a senior, high-impact role for a proven business development and revenue leader with a strong track record of opening new accounts, developing senior-level relationships, leading complex pitches, negotiating high-value engagements, and consistently delivering revenue growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the business development and revenue growth strategy in alignment with overall commercial objectives.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities across key brands, industries, and market segments.
• Own the end-to-end new business cycle, from prospecting and relationship development through pitching, negotiation, and closing.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior-level decision-makers, brand leaders, marketing stakeholders, and procurement teams.
• Own and manage the new business pipeline, ensuring healthy prospecting, opportunity development, forecasting, and conversion.
• Lead strategic and complex pitches by developing compelling narratives that combine business strategy, creativity, market insight, and commercial value.
• Drive revenue growth through new client acquisition, account expansion, upselling, partnerships, and client renewals.
• Lead commercial negotiations and support the structuring of contracts, partnerships, and high-value client engagements.
• Identify new revenue streams, market white spaces, emerging categories, and scalable growth opportunities.
• Monitor market, industry, and competitor trends to identify opportunities for growth and differentiation.
• Work closely with Client Services, Strategy, Creative, and other internal teams to ensure strong solutions and seamless handover after deal closure.
• Own revenue forecasting, pipeline health, conversion metrics, and other key commercial performance indicators.
• Balance short-term revenue opportunities with sustainable, long-term growth.
• Mentor and develop Business Development team members, establishing high standards for prospecting, pitching, negotiation, and client engagement.
• Continuously improve business development processes and practices to support scalable commercial growth.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Strategic Business Development

• Ability to identify untapped markets, white spaces, new revenue opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
• Strong understanding of commercial growth and go-to-market strategies.

Executive-Level Relationship Management

• Proven ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Ability to position the organization as a strategic growth partner rather than simply a service provider.

Commercial & Financial Acumen

• Strong understanding of revenue generation, forecasting, pipeline management, conversion metrics, and commercial performance.
• Sound commercial judgment with the ability to balance client requirements, revenue potential, and operational feasibility.

Pitch & Presentation Leadership

• Strong track record of leading high-value or complex pitches.
• Excellent storytelling, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Ability to connect solutions and capabilities with clear business and commercial outcomes.

Negotiation & Deal Structuring

• Experienced in managing high-stakes negotiations and closing complex commercial engagements.
• Ability to structure commercially attractive and operationally viable deals.

Leadership & Team Development

• Ability to mentor and develop Business Development professionals.
• Leads through accountability, collaboration, and strong commercial discipline.

IDEAL PROFILE

• Proven track record in business development, commercial growth, sales, partnerships, or new business leadership within media, advertising, digital media, content, creative, social media, or digital marketing organizations.
• Strong experience opening new accounts and converting opportunities into measurable revenue.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior executives, brand leaders, marketing decision-makers, and procurement stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, and deal-closing capabilities.
• Excellent presentation, communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker who can identify market opportunities while remaining hands-on in execution.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to mentor and elevate Business Development teams.
• High level of ownership, integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
• Experience managing enterprise-level clients, complex pitches, strategic partnerships, and significant revenue portfolios is highly advantageous.