Manager, New Business

Zeno Group•Chicago, IL

About The Position

As a New Business Manager at Zeno, you will partner with agency leadership and teams across the U.S. to support strategic growth initiatives. Working closely with practice leaders, marketing, creative and business development teams, you will help lead new business processes, develop compelling proposals and strengthen the systems and processes that power agency growth. This role is ideal for a collaborative business development professional who enjoys both strategic thinking and operational execution. You'll have the opportunity to shape high-impact pitches, improve agency processes and contribute to the continued growth of one of the industry's leading communications agencies.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in business development, project management, agency operations, marketing or a related field within an agency or professional services environment.
Experience managing new business processes, including RFIs, RFPs, proposals or integrated pitch development.
Strong understanding of integrated communications, marketing and agency business models.
Exceptional writing, editing and presentation skills, with experience developing client-ready proposals and business development materials.
Strong project management and organizational skills with experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Experience collaborating across cross-functional teams and building alignment among diverse stakeholders.
Experience managing business development systems, CRM platforms or proposal resources.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively across offices, disciplines and leadership levels.
Ability to organize complex information into clear, compelling narratives and actionable plans.
Collaborative mindset with a passion for continuous improvement, operational excellence and helping teams succeed.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting communications, marketing, advertising or professional services organizations.
Experience contributing to agency marketing, thought leadership or brand positioning initiatives.
Familiarity with CRM platforms, proposal management systems or knowledge management tools.
Experience supporting global or multi-office business development efforts.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate new business pursuits, including RFIs, RFPs and proactive opportunities, helping develop proposals that align with client objectives and showcase Zeno's capabilities.
Manage the day-to-day new business process, coordinating timelines, deliverables and cross-functional teams while ensuring opportunities move forward efficiently and on schedule.
Develop compelling capabilities, case studies and proposal materials that communicate Zeno's expertise, integrated approach and differentiated value.
Partner with agency leaders, practice teams and specialty groups across offices to align resources, share best practices and support integrated growth opportunities.
Maintain new business systems, CRM data, case studies and other agency resources to improve visibility, reporting and institutional knowledge.
Identify opportunities to strengthen new business processes, improve collaboration and support strategic initiatives that contribute to agency growth.