Senior Manager, Business Development

Ovative Group•Minneapolis, MN

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. The Market Development team combines business development and marketing to grow the company, working with leaders across media, measurement, commerce, creative, and technology to explain Ovative’s value and develop new client relationships. The Senior Manager, Business Development owns end-to-end deal strategy for assigned new business opportunities, from discovery and qualification through proposal, negotiation, and close. The role leads competitive RFPs and informal pursuits, consulting senior BD leadership on the most complex opportunities and key commercial decisions. The Senior Manager learns prospect needs, defines Ovative’s right to win, shapes recommendations, scope, and commercial approaches, and leads cross-functional teams to deliver persuasive proposals. Opportunity sourcing is led by other team members. Success is measured by annual fee value of signed business and qualified pursuit win rate. This is a hands-on position requiring the ability to lead senior experts, develop executive summaries, challenge generic responses, and manage multiple pursuits at once. The role involves making clear recommendations amid ambiguity, moving quickly, and helping colleagues do their best work. 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 full-time without current or future visa sponsorship.

Requirements

At least 6 years of relevant professional experience, including direct business development experience in marketing services or advertising technology (adtech).
Business development experience in marketing services or adtech 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 clear recommendations and engage senior buyers confidently.
Proven 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.
Legally authorized 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

Own assigned opportunity strategy, lead qualification and discovery, understand prospects’ businesses, decision makers, buying criteria, and alternatives, and recommend where to invest pursuit effort.
Translate prospect needs into integrated recommendations with practice leaders, set the storyline, and synthesize expert contributions into a persuasive, evidence-backed case for Ovative.
Lead pursuit teams by setting roles, priorities, asks, and decision points; constructively challenge thinking; resolve competing perspectives; protect expert time; and hold contributors and senior stakeholders accountable.
Build the presenter team, lead purposeful rehearsals, coach presenters, and prepare the team to deliver a cohesive recommendation and respond to difficult questions.
Write and shape RFIs, RFPs, proposals, and pitch presentations, partnering with content and design teammates to make responses 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 next steps through signed agreement.
Keep deal status, risks, and revenue timing current in the CRM; capture win/loss lessons and reusable proof; and use AI and shared tools to improve speed and quality while protecting confidentiality and checking accuracy.
Share practical feedback and help teammates work through challenges on active pursuits.

Benefits

Annual bonus opportunity of 25% of base salary.
Competitive, holistic benefits and health insurance options, including coverage inclusive of same-sex partners.
Generous paid vacation policy.
401(k) match program.
Family formation benefits, including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs.
Monthly stipend for mobile phone and data plan.
Sabbatical program.
Charitable giving through paid time and a financial match program.
Access to office spaces in Minneapolis, New York City, and Chicago.
Frequent paid travel to the Minneapolis headquarters for company and team events and in-person collaboration.