OLIVER Agency - North America
Business Development Manager
OLIVER Agency - North America, Chicago, IL
As a part of The Brandtech Group, we're at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to revolutionise how we create and deliver work. Our AI solutions enhance efficiency, spark creativity, and drive insightful decision-making, empowering our teams to produce innovative and impactful results.
About the role:
The Business Development Manager is an integral part of our continued growth. You will identify, nurture, and manage new business leads from initial discovery through closing, guiding the action plan, communication strategy, and coordinating the resources and materials required for all presentations and meetings. The position is much more than a sales role - it requires a solutions mind-set, a deep curiosity about a prospective client's business challenges, and the ability to translate those insights into a clear, actionable opportunity brief and approach to win. The BDM is a natural networker, connecting with people both virtually, and IRL, through inbound and outreach, and at events and conferences. You are both a great conversation starter, and active listener. You love the small details that make a difference in a new relationship, and follow-up is your forté. People remember you. You are fluent in both the marketing and procurement sides of a prospective client organization, and are able to frame conversations that resonate with different audiences. You are a collaborator at heart, but are comfortable with self-direction. You are fully prepared to assemble teams from across a spectrum of capabilities inside our company, give them clear direction, and remain accountable for their collective output. You know how to motivate people, consider no requirement too small, and never miss a deadline. You write persuasively and clearly, are a compelling story-teller in a presentation setting, and intuitively understand how to shape the dynamic in the room with the right people and content.
What you will be doing:
#LI-midsenior #LI-FD1
About OLIVER:
OLIVER believes that agencies work better inside a brand's organization - delivering more effective work at the speed and flexibility required to drive modern businesses forward. Using our unique methodology, and supported by bespoke technology, we design, build, and operate specialist, custom creative ecosystem with our clients. We believe that proximity enables better collaboration, leading to better marketing solutions.
Established in 2004, our model is now driven by nearly 3,000 people worldwide, working across more than 200 custom creative ecosystems in over 25 countries. We are the undisputed leader in our space, which means we carry the responsibility and humility that comes with breaking new ground, continually evolving one of the most transformative agency models in history. People who join OLIVER come to us from all stages of their careers, from entry-level to agency veteran. They find a culture of entrepreneurism, direct and meaningful client impact, deep collaboration across offices and teams, and frankly, a bit of the unknown. If you're most comfortable in safe, predictable environments, OLIVER may not be for you. That said, we will also give you the support, tools, feedback, and recognition to be your best - we want you to achieve what you strive for. The opportunities for growth are as wide as you can make them.
Our Values and how to live them
We've set ambitious, market-leading environmental and social goals around sustainability at OLIVER. We have committed to be net zero by 2030 and take far reaching action on DE&I in the sector. We expect everyone to contribute to our mission, embedding sustainability into every department and through every stage of the project lifecycle.
Inside Ideas Group and its' affiliates are equal opportunity employers committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All suitable applicants shall be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.
Inside Ideas Group and its affiliates and subsidiaries have an internal recruitment department. IIG does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate.
About the role:
The Business Development Manager is an integral part of our continued growth. You will identify, nurture, and manage new business leads from initial discovery through closing, guiding the action plan, communication strategy, and coordinating the resources and materials required for all presentations and meetings. The position is much more than a sales role - it requires a solutions mind-set, a deep curiosity about a prospective client's business challenges, and the ability to translate those insights into a clear, actionable opportunity brief and approach to win. The BDM is a natural networker, connecting with people both virtually, and IRL, through inbound and outreach, and at events and conferences. You are both a great conversation starter, and active listener. You love the small details that make a difference in a new relationship, and follow-up is your forté. People remember you. You are fluent in both the marketing and procurement sides of a prospective client organization, and are able to frame conversations that resonate with different audiences. You are a collaborator at heart, but are comfortable with self-direction. You are fully prepared to assemble teams from across a spectrum of capabilities inside our company, give them clear direction, and remain accountable for their collective output. You know how to motivate people, consider no requirement too small, and never miss a deadline. You write persuasively and clearly, are a compelling story-teller in a presentation setting, and intuitively understand how to shape the dynamic in the room with the right people and content.
What you will be doing:
- Identify and manage leads from discovery to close, using tools and methodology to qualify, vet, understand, evaluate, and recommend the sales and communication approach for a new business opportunity
- Build and manage a robust pipeline of leads, and develop and execute a contact strategy at all relevant level of the target organization
- Collaborate with Growth Leaders on level of effort to expend on prospects, based on your evaluation of their potential, and manage to that decision
- Collaborate with Account, Operations, Strategy, Technology, and People teams to assemble response and pitch teams, and brief and prepare subject-matter experts for success deliverables into the process
- Coordinate all activities related to meetings and presentations, on both agency and client side
- Use your excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills to organize and share information in a compelling and effective manner to internal and external stakeholders, whether in email, calls, or in-person
- Manage the pipeline reports with accurate forecasts and handicaps, and lead status meetings for senior leadership, providing an accurate and actionable view into the new business pipeline, including clear communication of any needs you have from the broader organization
- Attend events and conferences both virtually and in-person, in order to network with prospective clients and other contacts, in service of converting introductions to active new business lead opportunities
- Oversee the handoff of new business wins to the Implementation Team, remaining an active part of the process to ensure a seamless transition from prospect to client
- Collaborative - you can bring the right people together and motivate them to give their best
- Energetic - no detail is too small, no ambition too big, you are ON IT
- Kind - you treat your colleagues and prospects with respect and thoughtfulness
- Driven - you love the pursuit, and are highly motivated by winning
- Passionate - you love our company, our model, our people, and our prospective clients
- Detail Oriented - you sweat literally everything, from the spelling in the decks to the layout of the room
- Consultative - people want to know what you think, you are a valuable advisor
- Creative - you're a natural problem-solver; if it can be done - it will be
- Inventive - you're nimble, always ready with a Plan B or a different, more exciting way of doing something
- Curious - you are a sponge for information, especially related to new client opportunities, wanting to know everything about their category, their business, their culture, and what keeps them up at night
- 7+ years professional experience in sales/ growth, strong preference for background in the advertising/ marketing industry
- Experience networking at large and small industry events
- Excellent communication skills: written, presentation, in-person and virtual
- Strong Powerpoint skills (not necessarily design, but a pro-user of the application)
- Able to research a category and/or client, and synthesize into insights for the pursuit
- Conveys a professional and solution-oriented approach to clients, demonstrating an understanding of the marketer's challenges and concerns
- Understands basic marketing and advertising activities, such as digital media, shopper, ecommerce, social media, community management, influencer marketing, content production, plus emerging tech like automation and Generative AI
- Experience in developing winning sales and pitch strategies to deliver results across a diverse range of decision-makers
- Experience leading sales operations management activities, including pipeline hygiene (accurate forecasting, assessing probabilities, recommending next-best actions)
- Experience influencing executive-level clients and internal stakeholders, through a outcomes-based, win-win orientation
- Microsoft 360 and Adobe Creative Cloud (strong Powerpoint, Teams skills a must)
- Salesforce
- Chat GPT
- At the time of this posting, the base salary for this position may range from $150,000 - $160,000. Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. The range listed is just one component of OLIVER's total compensation package.
- Based on the time of this posting there are 2 positions available.
#LI-midsenior #LI-FD1
About OLIVER:
OLIVER believes that agencies work better inside a brand's organization - delivering more effective work at the speed and flexibility required to drive modern businesses forward. Using our unique methodology, and supported by bespoke technology, we design, build, and operate specialist, custom creative ecosystem with our clients. We believe that proximity enables better collaboration, leading to better marketing solutions.
Established in 2004, our model is now driven by nearly 3,000 people worldwide, working across more than 200 custom creative ecosystems in over 25 countries. We are the undisputed leader in our space, which means we carry the responsibility and humility that comes with breaking new ground, continually evolving one of the most transformative agency models in history. People who join OLIVER come to us from all stages of their careers, from entry-level to agency veteran. They find a culture of entrepreneurism, direct and meaningful client impact, deep collaboration across offices and teams, and frankly, a bit of the unknown. If you're most comfortable in safe, predictable environments, OLIVER may not be for you. That said, we will also give you the support, tools, feedback, and recognition to be your best - we want you to achieve what you strive for. The opportunities for growth are as wide as you can make them.
Our Values and how to live them
- Ambition. You look for opportunities to deliver greater value to those around you
- Imagination. You identify a range of solutions to problems
- Inspiration. You lead by example and encourage others
- Inclusion. You are actively pro-inclusive and anti-racist across our community, clients and creations
- Learning. You have excellent listening skills that helps you to learn from our clients and those around you
- Results. You accept responsibility for your action
We've set ambitious, market-leading environmental and social goals around sustainability at OLIVER. We have committed to be net zero by 2030 and take far reaching action on DE&I in the sector. We expect everyone to contribute to our mission, embedding sustainability into every department and through every stage of the project lifecycle.
Inside Ideas Group and its' affiliates are equal opportunity employers committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All suitable applicants shall be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.
Inside Ideas Group and its affiliates and subsidiaries have an internal recruitment department. IIG does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate.