Director, Growth & Alliances

dentsu•Chicago, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Growth and Alliances supports the Creative Practice Area with a focus on performance creative, and facilitates the pitch processes within business. You bring deep expertise in how paid media, CRM, AI tools, and data platforms work together to drive measurable results and conversion. You will be working with both existing client partners and brands but will also respond to and identify new client engagement opportunities. This role routinely interfaces with VP, SVP, and C-Level Dentsu leadership as well as high-level client executives. You will report to our EVP, Growth and Alliances. This role is a great opportunity for someone who loves bringing people together by overseeing the pitch process through problem-solving and coaching/motivating teams.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in New Business within a recognized media or creative agency
6+ years of experience managing the pitch process across multiple industry categories
Proven experience leading and coaching teams through complex pitch processes and new business initiatives
Hands-on experience with performance creative platforms and tools, including paid media, CRM strategies, dynamic creative optimization (DCO), AI-driven creative production, and programmatic buying
Strong data literacy: comfortable interpreting performance metrics, conversion analytics, and attribution models to brief teams and inform strategy
Strategic perspective on how creative choices (format, messaging, personalization, creative testing) directly impact conversion and business results in performance channels
Experience with the marketing function, including what drives CMO/Director-level decisions, and ability to apply team goals into a compelling agency story and win strategy
Demonstrated talent for abstract thinking, spotting trends and patterns, curiosity and insight into human behavior, instinct for pop culture, and a nuanced understanding of creative and media-driven work
Proven ability to articulate why performance creative matters to clients—how it connects to their business goals, not just to tactics

Responsibilities

Manage all new business activity, participating wherever appropriate in the planning and follow-up of growth efforts and projects
Assist in the development of a revenue growth strategy, with emphasis on new clients and performance-driven creative offerings
Work with the pitch team and all departments to ensure aspects of the new business effort are completed according to process, schedule and expectation
Lead the development of RFP responses, in partnership with the new business team and agency leaders, with ability to articulate performance creative capabilities across paid media, CRM, dynamic creative optimization, AI creative solutions, and programmatic tools
Maintain agency credentials, case studies, and biographies for RFPs and presentations, and author refresh content to ensure the most relevant performance creative work and results are highlighted
Lead a process that moves teams to strong, strategic presentations grounded in conversion and ROI
Bring creativity and inspiration to the team while maintaining focus on performance metrics and measurable outcomes
Gather potential client and competitive background information to help brief pitch teams and build winning pitch strategies, with particular attention to client marketing technology and performance goals
Prepare consulting agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and new business proposals