Group Director, Business Development- Activation

Real Chemistry•Chicago, MA

About The Position

Real Chemistry is seeking a U.S.-based Group Director, Business Development to join its Growth team and support the Activation Capability Area, including Media, Social, Creator/Influencer, Content, and Omnichannel. The role leads and supports high-impact new business pitches, contributes to organic growth opportunities, and helps teams collaborate effectively to win new work. In partnership with corporate and capability teams, the Group Director shapes and delivers integrated business development efforts across Real Chemistry’s healthcare portfolio. The position reports to the Global Head of Business Development. This role suits an experienced business development leader who can translate client briefs into strategic frameworks and compelling pitch narratives, coordinate contributors across disciplines and markets, and manage concurrent pitch processes. It also supports hybrid team development through mentoring, capability building, performance support, and cross-functional alignment. The role calls for strong strategic thinking and precise execution in a fast-paced agency environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities, lead through influence, and develop scalable approaches to continuous improvement. The stated pay range is $150,000–$170,000. Work arrangements depend on location and role needs. Employees within a one-hour commute of a Real Chemistry office are expected to attend in person two days per week, at an office or client site; employees in regions without a nearby office may work remotely and join in-person gatherings throughout the year.

Requirements

10–12+ years of experience in a Media, Social, Influencer/Creator, or Content agency environment.
Ability to navigate complex hybrid organizations and markets to centralize and coordinate business development efforts.
Proven experience leading or supporting successful new business pitches.
Strong storytelling, writing, and presentation skills.
Solid understanding of integrated marketing, communications, medical, and activation disciplines.
Healthcare industry experience across pharmaceutical, biotech, or related sectors.
Strong interpersonal skills and comfort working across disciplines.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Comfort working in hybrid teams across locations and functions.
Familiarity with new business tracking, reporting, or performance tools.

Nice To Haves

Agency experience ideally within healthcare.

Responsibilities

Lead and support priority new business pitches from RFI/RFP through final presentation, working with Client Leads, Growth Leaders, and cross-functional teams.
Translate client briefs into strategic frameworks and pitch narratives aligned with Real Chemistry’s capabilities.
Coordinate teams across disciplines and markets to produce cohesive, differentiated responses.
Manage pitch timelines, workflows, and deliverables across multiple concurrent efforts.
Support development of pitch materials, including proposals, decks, and presentations.
Keep senior stakeholders informed about progress, risks, and resource needs.
Lead post-pitch debriefs and capture learnings to improve future performance.
Contribute to tracking win rates, pitch outcomes, and performance trends.
Support hybrid team management and development, including mentoring, capability uplift, performance support, and cross-functional team alignment.