Job: Business Development Director — Academic/Cultural, Non-Profit, or Corporate Vertical

Blue State Digital is seeking an experienced Business Development Director (BDD) — with a senior business development or account management background within an agency, public relations, or communications firm, and extensive sales, consulting, or delivery experience within the Academic/Cultural, Non-Profit, or Corporate vertical — to join its team.

General Position Overview

Blue State Digital (BSD) is a strategic consulting and technology firm. We have developed a large platform of software-as-a-service (SAAS) web tools to support online communications programs, which we typically deploy in conjunction with digital marketing services provided by our staff. The Agency Group within BSD provides superior digital marketing services to a variety of clients.

The Business Development Director (BDD) will be responsible for meeting revenue targets within his/her vertical, including both new business sales goals and client retention and upsell goals. This person will also be responsible for the overall client satisfaction of accounts within the assigned vertical (i.e., Academic/Cultural, Non-Profit, or Corporate). BDD’s work closely with Supervising Client Managers on meeting client expectations according to the project timeline, budget, and quality standards.

This position is located as follows, although candidates will be considered in other locations on a case-by-case basis.

Academic/Cultural: New York (preferred), Washington, DC, or Boston

Non-Profit: Washington, DC (preferred) or New York

Corporate: New York (preferred), Washington, DC, or Boston

Key Responsibilities

Sales and Pipeline

• Sell BSD digital marketing services, including campaign planning and execution, branding, website design and production, online advertising and video
• Sell corporate and institutional licenses to BSD web tools in conjunction with digital marketing services
• Build, manage and continually develop a vertical-specific sales pipeline to achieve targets for new, retained, and expanded business
• Manage pipeline and all opportunities for existing clients in vertical, and review with management and colleagues as necessary
• Communicate Blue State Digital’s value proposition to prospective clients in a manner appropriate for the target audience (tailor Business Development presentations to the audience)
• Develop and present opportunity-specific pitch materials that represent the breadth and depth of BSD services and experience within the context of a prospective client’s business goals
• Develop appropriate project scope, pricing, and timing during the business development process according to the client’s needs and the BSD delivery team’s capabilities

Delivery Support

• For each BSD client within the designated vertical, collaborate with all appropriate internal parties to help define client goals, set program objectives, develop plans and timelines, and monitor ongoing delivery to ensure client satisfaction
• Provide ongoing executive sponsorship and high-level advisory services to clients and prospective clients within designated vertical, in order to both ensure client retention, and identify and pursue upsell and cross-sell opportunities
• Monitor client billing to ensure accuracy and follow-up with clients on outstanding collections

Process Development and Collaboration

• Monitor profitability of existing pricing structures, and work with the delivery team to ensure pricing of future work is competitive and profitable
• Collaborate with other BDD’s, Client Management staff, BSD sales, delivery staff and BSD management to develop and implement systems and processes to monitor, ensure, and improve client satisfaction

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in business development or account management within an agency, public relations, or communications firm, or directly comparable experience working inside a corporation or institution
• Extensive direct experience working within the Academic/Cultural, Non-Profit, or Corporate vertical, either inside a relevant corporation or institution, or as a vendor or service provider
• College diploma or university degree
• Proven track record of managing and building relationships with new clients and the ability to retain current clients
• Ability to sell services and products into existing client base
• A proven track record for delivering consistent revenue growth
• Highly motivated, energetic personality with a proven track-record of managing a successful team
• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated mentality; driven at all times to meet and exceed goals
• Excellent in-person presentation skills, relationship building and experience in contract negotiations
• Ability to work with all levels within the team and across the organization
• Self-motivated and goal oriented
• Comfortable with high volume of client interaction both in person and through phone and email
• Impeccable ethical standards and professional presence
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Must have exceptional writing skills
• Understanding of Software-as-a-Service model

Compensation

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Blue State Digital offers a competitive benefits package to full-time employees. Blue State Digital is an equal opportunity employer.

About Blue State Digital

Blue State Digital (BSD) is a full-service agency that provides integrated digital marketing strategy as well as a Web-based licensed software platform to help organizations drive concrete results by building communities online. Since its founding in 2004, BSD has helped hundreds of organizations transform their relationships with the people that matter most to them and has made it easier for millions of individuals to engage with those organizations and take real action.

How to Apply

To apply for this position please send your cover letter and resume to client_jobs@bluestatedigital.com.