Saatchi & Saatchi

Director, Business Development

Saatchi & Saatchi$121K — $174K *
Business Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in account management, sales, or business development within a digital agency or consulting environment.
  • Bachelor's degree in advertising, marketing, or related field preferred.
  • Proven track record of driving revenue growth and successful new business pursuits.
  • Deep understanding of modern marketing, commerce, and digital transformation.
  • Familiarity with CRM platforms like Salesforce is required.
  • Strong executive presence with ability to engage senior client stakeholders.
  • Exceptional storytelling, communication, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and lead new business opportunities aligned with growth priorities.
  • Cultivate senior-level relationships with clients and industry stakeholders.
  • Develop tailored strategic pursuit and pitch win plans for each opportunity.
  • Collaborate with leadership to create integrated solutions and compelling narratives.
  • Manage the end-to-end pitch process including team coordination and final delivery.
  • Drive proactive business development through networking and outreach.
  • Maintain and grow a robust pipeline of opportunities across various categories.

Benefits

  • Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more.
  • Monetary support for Adoption, Surrogacy, and Fertility.
  • Health, wellness, and comfort reimbursements for work/life balance.
  • Tuition Assistance for ongoing education.
  • Flexible paid time off, including vacation and volunteer days.
  • Flexible working arrangements and 'Work Your World' Program for remote work options.
  • Business Resource Groups supporting diverse employee affinities.
Full Job Description
Overview

Publicis Digital Experience is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial Business Development Director to help drive the next phase of agency growth. This individual will play a critical role in identifying, pursuing, and converting new business opportunities across the commerce, retail, digital, and connected marketing landscape.

The ideal candidate is equal parts strategic storyteller, relationship builder, and growth operator. They possess a deep understanding of the modern marketing ecosystem and are energized by building relationships, uncovering opportunities, and leading integrated pitch processes from prospecting through close.

This role will partner closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams across Publicis Groupe to develop compelling solutions that solve complex client challenges and position Publicis Digital Experience as a differentiated growth partner.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a hybrid role that can be based out of either our Chicago or New York offices and will require onsite engagement an average of 3-4 days/week. All candidates should be commutable to one of these locations and willing to commit to a hybrid schedule.

Responsibilities

  • Identify, qualify, and lead new business opportunities that align with Publicis Digital Experience growth priorities and capabilities.
  • Build and cultivate senior-level relationships with prospective clients, agency partners, and industry stakeholders.
  • Develop strategic pursuit plans and pitch win strategies tailored to each opportunity.
  • Partner with executive leadership to shape compelling narratives, integrated solutions, and differentiated go-to-market approaches.
  • Lead end-to-end pitch management, including RFI/RFP responses, timeline management, team coordination, presentation development, and final delivery.
  • Collaborate across strategy, creative, media, commerce, retail, data, technology, and production teams to develop integrated client solutions.
  • Drive proactive outbound business development efforts through networking, industry events, thought leadership, and targeted outreach.
  • Maintain and grow a robust pipeline of opportunities across key categories and verticals.
  • Leverage a consultative approach to uncover client pain points, growth opportunities, and transformation needs.
  • Serve as a trusted and credible representative of Publicis Digital Experience and the broader Publicis Groupe Power of One model.
  • Partner with marketing and communications teams to evolve external-facing materials, case studies, credentials, and thought leadership content.
  • Track and report pipeline activity, pitch performance, and business development metrics through Salesforce and related systems.
  • Stay informed on emerging industry trends across commerce, retail media, AI, consumer engagement, and digital transformation.

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of progressively-responsible professional experience in account management, sales, business development, client leadership, growth strategy, or customer relationship management within a digital agency, commerce agency, consulting organization, or integrated marketing environment. Prior experience within Publicis Groupe or another holding company preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree in advertising, marketing, or related field preferred; experience may be substituted.
  • Proven track record of driving revenue growth and leading successful new business pursuits.
  • Deep understanding of modern marketing, commerce, retail media, digital transformation, and connected consumer experiences.
  • Familiarity with Salesforce or comparable CRM platforms.
  • Strong executive presence with the ability to engage and influence senior client stakeholders.
  • Experience leading complex, cross-functional pitch processes across multiple disciplines and stakeholders.
  • Ability to translate client business challenges into strategic, integrated marketing and commerce solutions.
  • Active listener with exceptional storytelling, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills as well as a high degree of emotional intelligence.
  • A natural sense of urgency with an ability to work quickly, efficiently, and accurately within tight deadlines and constantly-evolving project parameters, scope, and goals.
  • Flexible and adaptable with an ability to manage and drive success across multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities.
  • Comfort operating with a high level of ownership, autonomy, and accountability.
  • Highly collaborative but independently capable.

Additional information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

  • Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
  • Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
  • Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
  • Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
  • Matching Gifts programs
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • 'Work Your World' Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
  • Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

Compensation Range: USD $121,315.00 - USD $174,300.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. This role may also be eligible for bonus or incentive compensation. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 9/1/2026.

About Saatchi & Saatchi

Saatchi & Saatchi is a global advertising agency headquartered in New York City. The company was founded in London in 1970 by brothers Maurice and Charles Saatchi and is now part of the Publicis Groupe, a French multinational advertising and public relations company. Saatchi & Saatchi has over 6,000 employees in 114 countries and provides a range of advertising and marketing services to clients in various industries, including automotive, consumer goods, financial services, and telecommunications. The company is known for its creative and innovative advertising campaigns, including the iconic 'Nothing is Impossible' campaign for Toyota. Saatchi & Saatchi has won numerous awards for its work, including Cannes Lions, Clios, and Effies.
Learn more about Saatchi & Saatchi
Size
6,000 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Saatchi & Saatchi

More Business Services Jobs

Find similar Director, Business Development jobs: