Business Development VP

Freeman•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Business Development VP focuses on strategic sales and engagement with new clients and banners, working with leading brands to understand their needs, audiences, and challenges and develop strategic, results-driven sales recommendations across the Retail, SEE, and Freeman Enterprise portfolio. The role emphasizes creative and fabrication services and aims to build lasting client relationships that can grow into other areas of the business. It supports the Business Development Group within the Growth (Sales) team and advances the company’s growth strategy through prospecting, event attendance, lead identification, proposal management, and smooth handoffs to Account Directors and relevant teams. The position requires advanced business acumen and responsibility for tracking and reporting pipeline progress and other analytics. It manages multiple competitive proposals and projects each year, working independently or as part of a larger team. The role is eligible for a hybrid schedule, generally requiring in-office and/or show-site work 2–3 days per week. Preferred locations include Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Grand Prairie, Royal Oak, New York, San Francisco, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Fort Wayne, and Las Vegas, though qualified candidates outside these markets may be considered. Travel is 25% to 50%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
At least 12 years of related experience.
Proven ability to manage a personal book of accounts and produce profitable revenue opportunities totaling approximately $10 million or more.
Willingness to consistently cold call and solicit new business.
Knowledge of sales systems such as Salesforce.com.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent customer service and organizational skills.
Ability to travel 25% to 50%.

Responsibilities

Learn and present Sparks’ full portfolio of products and services, with emphasis on professional services, events, conferences, activations, exhibits, and retail.
Proactively prospect for new banners and logos, including agency professional services and enterprise solutions.
Build relationships with senior- and mid-management client stakeholders to support pre- and post-sale opportunities.
Understand the competitive landscape and market trends in large-market events, corporate events, special events, and trade shows.
Represent Freeman at multiple industry events annually.
Record contacts and activities in Salesforce.
Develop or create sales materials, including prospectuses and presentations, and lead new-business pitches using internal Freeman resources and outside partners.
Communicate the company’s value proposition, processes, and current partnerships effectively.
Help implement marketing strategies and analyze trends and results to support a consultative sales approach.
Own projects, exceed expectations, identify solutions, and deliver results in a rapidly changing, entrepreneurial, technology-driven culture.
Identify and solve client issues strategically.
Communicate effectively with management and cross-functional teams, including technical and non-technical audiences.
Work with Sales, Account Management, and Operations teams to implement targeted sales strategies.
Develop relationships and processes that enable seamless transitions to account teams after new banners are onboarded.
Collaborate with sales and marketing teams, fostering continuous process improvement and a more sophisticated go-to-market process.
Report on key pipeline and professional-growth KPIs.
Provide peer coaching and development as necessary.