Director, Business Development

Ovative Group • Minneapolis, MN

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ovative Group’s Market Development team combines business development and marketing to grow the company, working with leaders across media, measurement, commerce, creative, and technology to communicate Ovative’s value and develop new client relationships. The Director, Business Development owns end-to-end deal strategy for assigned opportunities, from discovery and qualification through proposal, negotiation, and close. The role leads competitive RFPs and informal pursuits, including complex, high-stakes opportunities involving multiple services and senior decision makers. Opportunity sourcing is led by other team members; this role is responsible for converting assigned opportunities into signed business. Success is measured by annual fee value of signed business and qualified pursuit win rate.

The Director learns prospects’ needs, defines why Ovative is the right partner, and works with business leaders to shape recommendations, scope, and commercial approach. The role owns the pursuit narrative and leads cross-functional teams, independently setting strategy and aligning senior stakeholders. It is a hands-on position requiring strong writing, presentation, commercial judgment, and the ability to manage multiple pursuits, make recommendations amid ambiguity, and help others do their best work.

The position works from Ovative’s Minneapolis, Chicago, or New York office on set days each week, with the option to work remotely on other days. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States full-time without current or future visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience, including direct business development experience in marketing services or advertising technology (adtech); experience in one of these industries is required.
• Demonstrated track record of leading competitive pursuits and closing new business, with clear examples of ownership, strategic decisions, and results.
• Experience independently leading complex, high-stakes sales or pitch processes spanning multiple services and senior decision makers, from discovery through negotiation and close.
• Strong commercial understanding of marketing services or adtech, with the ability to connect capabilities to client business outcomes and discuss scope, pricing, and value credibly.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, and presentation skills, including the ability to turn complex inputs into a clear recommendation and engage senior buyers confidently.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, align executive stakeholders around difficult decisions, and coach other deal leads.
• Ability to manage simultaneous pursuits at a fast pace, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and deliver high-quality work against tight deadlines.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer on a full-time basis, without current or future need for visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Business development experience at a media agency, including competitive agency reviews and integrated pitches.
• Experience with search consultants, procurement-led reviews, and complex services agreements.
• Familiarity with full-funnel media, commerce or retail media, creative, marketing measurement, and the role of technology and AI in delivering these services.
• Experience using CRM platforms such as HubSpot and AI tools to improve pursuit research, proposal development, or deal visibility.

Responsibilities

• Own pursuit strategy for assigned opportunities, including qualification, discovery, assessment of the prospect’s business and buying criteria, and recommendations on where to invest effort.
• Translate prospect needs into an integrated recommendation with practice leaders; create a differentiated case for choosing Ovative, supported by relevant proof.
• Lead pursuit teams by establishing roles, priorities, decision points, and specific asks; constructively challenge thinking, resolve competing perspectives, and hold contributors and senior stakeholders accountable.
• Build the presenter team, lead rehearsals, coach presenters, and prepare them to deliver a cohesive recommendation and address difficult questions.
• Write and shape RFIs, RFPs, proposals, and pitch presentations; partner with content and design teammates to create clear, distinctive, accurate, buyer-tailored responses.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Client Services, and practice leaders on scope, staffing, pricing, and negotiations; communicate value, protect sustainable economics, and move opportunities through signed agreement.
• Develop commercial recommendations for complex deals and navigate negotiations with senior buyers and procurement, engaging appropriate leaders for approvals.
• Keep deal status, risks, and revenue timing current in the CRM; capture win/loss lessons and reusable proof; use AI and shared tools to improve speed and quality while protecting confidentiality and checking accuracy.
• Coach other deal leads on pursuit strategy, storytelling, and commercial judgment, and identify recurring gaps to improve the team’s pursuit approach.

Benefits

• Annual bonus opportunity of 30% of base salary.
• Competitive, holistic benefits and health coverage.
• Generous paid vacation policy.
• 401k match program.
• Family formation benefits, including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs.
• Monthly stipend for mobile phone and data plan.
• Sabbatical program.
• Charitable giving through time and a financial match program.
• Access to office spaces in Minneapolis, New York City, and Chicago.
• Frequent paid travel to the Minneapolis headquarters for company and team events and in-person collaboration.
• Flexible work arrangement: office work on set days each week and the option to work remotely on other days.
• Inclusive medical leave coverage and equitable care and support for families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed