Senior Manager, Business Development & Production

The Independents • New York, NY

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Business Development & Production is a cross-functional role responsible for fielding and managing inbound business opportunities and developing winning proposals, while providing strategic production support on select projects. This person serves as the primary point of contact for incoming RFPs and client inquiries, coordinating internally across design, production, and leadership to develop competitive proposals and ensure smooth handoffs to execution. The majority of the role is dedicated to business development intake, proposal strategy, and pipeline management. The remainder is focused on production support and internal operational coordination where production expertise adds value to the sales process. This role is well-suited to someone with a solid background in production or a related field who is ready to step into a client-facing, commercially driven leadership role — working closely with Partners and directors to identify, pursue, and convert new business opportunities rather than leading productions day-to-day.

Requirements

• 5–8 years of experience in business development, in live event production, experiential marketing, or a related field
• Familiarity with production processes, budgets, and vendor management — enough to credibly guide proposals and communicate with clients
• Experience supporting or managing RFP processes and proposal development
• Demonstrated ability to build client relationships and manage opportunities from initial inquiry through contract execution
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Clear, confident communicator — comfortable interfacing with clients and senior stakeholders
• Financially literate; comfortable working with budgets and reviewing commercial terms
• Based in New York and comfortable working full-time in- office

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for all inbound new business inquiries from prospective and current clients
• Qualify and evaluate incoming opportunities, summarizing scope, fit, and feasibility for the company
• Manage RFP processes from receipt through submission, keeping all internal stakeholders on track
• Coordinate between design, production, and executive leadership to align on proposal direction and capacity
• Maintain client communication throughout pitch cycles, ensuring timely follow-up and a professional experience
• Track pipeline activity and provide regular status updates to Partners
• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and generate repeat business
• Support outbound business development efforts, networking opportunities, and strategic partnerships as needed
• Lead the assembly of pitch materials, including: Strategic outlines and positioning, Creative references and location recommendations, Production timelines and preliminary budgets
• Ensure proposals reflect company positioning, available capacity, and profitability targets
• Support Partners in deal structuring and commercial review
• Help navigate vendor onboarding and procurement requirements for new clients
• Develop compelling client presentations and proposals that effectively communicate Prodject's creative capabilities
• Provide strategic production guidance on select projects to ensure successful delivery and continuity between the development, design and execution teams
• Assist with vendor coordination, scheduling, and logistics on active projects as needed
• Contribute to post-project reviews to help refine systems and improve profitability
• Help source and vet vendors, creatives, and production resources as needed
• Assist in maintaining company brand materials including pitch decks, website, and social media
• Support the ongoing development of business development materials, case studies, and proposal templates

Benefits

• Goal-based performance bonuses tied primarily to business development outcomes, and overall company growth with consideration for production delivery support

What This Job Offers

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