VP, Business Development Leader

Merge Storytelling and TechnologyMERGE promotes health, wealth and happiness in the world by merging storytelling with technology and offers marketing and technology clients full-service capabilities including strategy, creative communications, experience engineering, performance marketing, media and digital platform development. MERGE has enduring client partnerships with American Express, T-Mobile, LG, Subway, Kate Spade NY, Coach, The North Face, Meta, Adobe, BlueCross BlueShield, Abbott, Astellas, Supernus, CSL, GE Healthcare, Broward Health, Indiana University Health, Nationwide and Morgan Stanley. With 800 employees across offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Montreal, New York City and Los Angeles, MERGE uses a talent-to-task process that enables clients to think higher and feel deeper about their customers. For more information, visit mergeworld.com.Promote Health, Wealth & HappinessWe are committed to promoting health, wealth, and happiness in the world by partnering with purpose-driven clients in purpose-driven industries such as healthcare, financial services, and consumer products. Our deep vertical expertise and category insights stem from decade-long partnerships with our top clients.Emerge to the Top of Your CareerAt MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.As our VP, Business Development Leader you will…Craft strategies and tactics to deliver on net new business efforts for the Retail practice area. You will partner with Marketing, Client Services, and the Service Offering Leaders to tell the Merge Consumer story and manage the pipeline from discovery to close.Play a pivotal role in driving the agency's growth for Consumer brands by focusing all of your efforts on building a robust sales pipeline of new prospective clients, crafting compelling proposals, leading pitch efforts, and nurturing prospective client relationships. With a deep understanding of the agency industry, client needs, and internal processes, the VP qualifies and documents new business opportunities, ensuring their financial viability. Collaborating seamlessly with cross-functional teams, leading strategic initiatives, and presenting results to senior management and prospective clients as needed.The VP sets the tone for the team, bringing energy and creating a results-driven, motivating, and collaborative approach. This role combines an innate ability to hunt for new business, strategic thinking, effective decision-making, and strong communication skills to translate growth strategies into actionable plans, fostering continuous improvement and success in the competitive business landscape.Be Accountable and Responsible forLead agency prospecting within the Retail team, including establishing relationships with search consultants, leveraging personal networks, developing key target account lists, and coordinating inbound and outbound marketing campaigns that result in a healthy amount of leadsGenerate at least $2M of net new revenue annuallyManage the overall business development activities including the company’s RFP and Pitch process and ABM/CRM best practices, which includes daily/weekly updating of Salesforce.comParticipate in weekly and monthly pipeline reviewsGenerate leads and partner with the Lead Generation team to qualify top-of-funnel leads, convert prospects into qualified opportunities, and close dealsLead pitches, create persuasive proposals and RFP responses, coordinate contributions from agency partners, and ensure all responses align with agency goals and prospective client needs Organize meetings, timelines, and presentation materials for the overall pitch teamDemonstrate a profound understanding of the agency industry, client business needs, and internal processes, serving as a key intelligence source for supporting agency growthElevate MERGE’s presence at industry events, trade shows, and online events to be seen as a premier modern marketing agencyEffectively present results to senior management, clients, and other agency employeesPartner with the larger team to provide input into sales and marketing materials, events, and sponsorships. Attend conferences and represent MERGE’s Consumer vertical as an SMEWork with the internal Program Management team, Client Services, and Vertical leads to present pricing options that align with MERGE margins and guidelinesOversee the organization and maintenance of the central repository of all new business material (and general materials). Collaborate with MERGE Marketing Team and Service Offering Leaders to maintain and updateGTM capabilities and case studies to ensure they are fresh and relevantThese are the qualifications we're looking for10 to 14 years of experience in business, with 5+ years concentrated in Advertising agency growth roles in the Retail verticalBachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or Communications; or equivalent work experience, MBA preferredDemonstrated drive to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and drive daily activities to meet new business targetsLeads by example and has an innate desire to ‘get it done’ and winExperience prospecting into mid-enterprise sized accounts, a ”hunting” mentalityDemonstrate a thorough understanding of the advertising industry as it relates to the key verticals within MERGE's Retail practiceStrong communication and interpersonal skills, a growth and motivation mindset, and a positive attitude/energyDemonstrated ability to build strong relationships with prospective clients, pitch consultants, and industry partners.Possess credibility in the presence of executive leadership and prospective clientsStrong presentation and storytelling skills with an engaging and trusted presenceDemonstrate thorough knowledge of MERGE service offerings and ability to provide clear direction to new business pitch teams#LI-VM1#LI-HYBRIDWe offer the following:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 410K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus other benefits and perks.And here’s how we live our values at MERGEAbility.

Mastering our craftAgility.

Delivering with a growth mindsetHumility.

Collaborating for shared successMERGE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity EmployerMERGE welcomes and celebrates diversity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or people with abilities. We believe that the more diverse we are, the more creative our work will be!

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