Senior Manager, Business Development
About The Position
Ovative Group’s Market Development team combines business development and marketing to support company growth. The Senior Manager, Business Development owns end-to-end deal strategy for assigned new-business opportunities, leading them from discovery and qualification through proposal, negotiation, and close. The role leads competitive RFPs and informal pursuits, with senior BD leadership providing guidance on the most complex opportunities and key commercial decisions. Opportunity sourcing is led by other team members. The Senior Manager learns each prospect’s needs, defines why Ovative is the right partner, and works with leaders across media, measurement, commerce, creative, technology, and Client Services to shape recommendations, scope, and commercial approach. The role owns the pursuit narrative and leads the team bringing it to life, converting assigned opportunities into signed business. Success is measured by annual fee value of signed business and qualified pursuit win rate. This is a hands-on position requiring strategic judgment, strong writing and presentation skills, and the ability to lead senior experts, keep multiple pursuits moving, and make clear recommendations amid ambiguity. 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 without current or future visa sponsorship.
Requirements
- At least 6 years of relevant professional experience, including direct business development experience in marketing services or adtech; experience in one of these industries is required.
- Demonstrated track record leading competitive pursuits and closing new business, with clear examples of ownership, strategic decisions, and results.
- Experience independently leading sales or pitch processes involving multiple decision makers and cross-functional teams, with sound judgment about when to seek senior guidance.
- Strong commercial understanding of marketing services or adtech, including 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.
- Ability to lead through influence, constructively challenge senior stakeholders, and build trust across disciplines.
- Ability to manage simultaneous pursuits at a fast pace, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and deliver high-quality work against tight deadlines.
- Legal authorization 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 agency 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
- Lead qualification and discovery, assess prospects’ businesses, decision makers, buying criteria, and competitive alternatives, and recommend where to invest pursuit effort.
- Develop a differentiated strategy and clear rationale for why Ovative is the right partner.
- Translate prospect needs into integrated recommendations with practice leaders; establish the storyline and synthesize expert contributions into a persuasive case supported by relevant proof.
- Lead pursuit teams by setting roles, priorities, decision points, and specific asks; constructively challenge thinking, resolve competing perspectives, protect expert time, and hold contributors and senior stakeholders accountable.
- Build the presenter team, lead focused rehearsals, coach presenters, and prepare teams for difficult questions.
- Write and shape RFIs, RFPs, proposals, and pitch presentations, partnering with content and design colleagues to ensure responses are clear, distinctive, accurate, and tailored to buyers.
- Partner with Finance, Legal, Client Services, and practice leaders on scope, staffing, pricing, and negotiations; communicate value, protect sustainable economics, and move opportunities through to signed agreements.
- 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 verifying accuracy.
- Share practical feedback and help teammates work through challenges on active pursuits.
Benefits
- Annual bonus opportunity of 25% of base salary.
- Competitive health insurance options, including coverage for same-sex partners.
- 401(k) match program.
- Generous paid vacation policy.
- Family formation benefits, including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs.
- Monthly stipend for mobile phone and data plan.
- Sabbatical program.
- Charitable giving program with paid time and a financial match.
- Access to office spaces in Minneapolis, New York City, and Chicago.
- Paid travel to the Minneapolis headquarters for company, team, and in-person collaboration events.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
