Head of Business Development

Head of Business Development

We’re looking for a super-proactive, personable, ambitious, and commercial Head of Business Development (Partnerships) to join our growing integrated agency.

Hello!

This is Paul, Agent’s CEO.

Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to have a look at this opportunity to work with us at Agent.

Like any big decisions in life, it’s important to have all the information at hand to help make sure the job choice you make is the right one. I’ve put together some essential ‘must-knows’ about us. It goes without saying that I could go on all day here – I promise I won’t. However, if you have any questions, please do give us a call, email, DM or drop by and have a word with one of the team about anything you’d like to know.

We established Agent back in 2006 – it feels like yesterday and what a ride it’s been. We turn 18 years old this year and the future has never looked brighter for us.

We’re a full-service brand and communications agency. In a nutshell, this means that we deliver a full integrated offering for our clients – from start to finish. Our clients are based all over the UK, across a whole range of different sectors and industries; clean growth and net zero, tech for good, logistics and connectivity etc. We’re in business for good and they are too. We help them share the great stuff they’re doing, whilst encouraging and supporting them to grow their businesses and make even bigger impact.

Last count, there are over 40 of us in our growing team; strategists, designers, animators, programmers, copywriters, digital marketers, canines – the lot. We’re a close-knit, passionate bunch that love working together and supporting each other; bringing our individual skills and talents together to create brilliant work that works is what we do best.

We’re a growing business and we’re doing it sensibly, responsibly, and sustainably. Last year we started on our B Corp journey – it’s high time we evidenced our long- standing commitment to the brilliant people and communities around us, the places we live and work, and of course, our planet. Talking about our incredible people…

We want amazing people to join us who want to play an active role in what our growth journey looks and feels like (and have a whole load of fun along the way). We want our team to grow with us so that we all do well, together. This role, as head of business development (partnerships), is an important one in helping us achieve our wider growth ambitions.

We’re proudly based in the North West and our teams work across our studios in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle and Manchester’s Oxford Road.

Our values are really important to us. We want to work with team members who really care about doing a great job and making a difference to other people’s lives, the places we call home, and of course, our planet. Our work and the way we work can really make a difference. If this isn’t you, probably best turning back now.

We want to use our business for good and make real, positive change, which is why we launched our brilliant Agent Academy in 2014, to help train and connect the generation of talent into the creative and digital sectors. We’ve helped hundreds of young people get their foot in the door and we’ve got big aspirations to do even more this year.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of everything that we do. We’re not perfect but we know that if we keep listening, learning, and investing we’ll only get better and make more of a difference. We want our agency to continue to be a place where everyone is welcomed, celebrated, and rewarded regardless of race, identity, the postcode we live in, our accents or anything else for that matter; a safe workplace where everyone does well.

We’ve got big growth plans for the future of Agent; they really are exciting. To achieve our dreams, we must have the right people with us to make them happen. If you’re up for it, so are we.

That’s it from me for now. The all-important job information follows next. We know that a job description never truly tells the full story of what’s involved in a role. So, if you’re interested you can certainly speak (in confidence and with no obligation to then apply) to one of the team who you’ll be likely working with. They can give you the full lowdown on the role and the inside track on Agent – easy, eh?

If you do apply, all the very best of luck. Thanks so much for looking at this opportunity!

Paul

CEO of Agent

We are looking for a driven, ambitious, and passionate Head of Business Development. Does this sound like you?

The important role will involve:

Sales activities:

• Collaborating with our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to align our business plan with a refreshed sales strategy
• Confidentially connecting and developing relationships with new clients that reflect our target sectors, industries, and profiles
• Working with our senior bid manager to plan, devise, and pen engaging, effective, and successful tenders
• Leading on creating interesting, well thought out and exciting proposals and pitching them enthusiastically, clearly, and accurately to new clients and partners
• Exceeding new business sales targets on a quarterly basis
• Attending conferences, meetings, and industry events to enhance our profile and build our brand awareness
• Working with senior client partners to effectively onboard all new clients

Partnership development:

• Researching and identifying relevant partners, clients and opportunities that are on-brand for us and will enhance our reputation and client portfolio
• Identifying and building new business opportunities which include delving into new markets, growth areas, trends, customers, partnerships, and new ways of reaching existing markets
• Raising the profile and visibility of Agent in specific and relevant sectors
• Being proactive in the development of new opportunities; identifying, engaging, and securing new partnerships for Agent and our clients
• Maintaining and developing relationships with existing clients and partners and maximising our relationships with them

Management and Leadership:

• Presenting sales pipelines, insight, and key data as part of our weekly senior leadership team meetings
• Managing and leading the wider business development team
• Working closely with our finance team to ensure that all projects are costed accordingly, invoiced on schedule and all systems (including HubSpot and Xero) are regularly updated and accurate
• Being an active and integral part of our Senior Leadership Team, shaping strategic decision making about the future direction of Agent
• Working across all departments ensuring effective and efficient lines of communication are delivered to all team members

You’ll need to have:

• A strong commercial outlook, experience, and evidence of delivering impressive sales results against agreed targets
• An impressive network of contacts and partners
• Evidence of proactively developing business networks and contacts
• Evidence of an impressive track record in writing and pitching successful proposals
• A strong track record of producing accurate cost proposals
• Experience of leading a motivated, passionate, and impactful team
• Excellent, confident, and accurate communication skills both oral and written
• An engaging, insightful, and confident style of presenting
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a proven track record in forming brilliant relationships with a range of regional and national clients
• The ability to manage multiple sales opportunities and proposals simultaneously

Other important things to have for this role:

• A strong set of personal values – we’re proud to be people-first and our values are extremely important to us. Yours should be to you, too
• People skills – you love to listen, lead, and inspire those working with you, and importantly, be inspired by them
• A commitment to ongoing development. You love to receive feedback, constantly learn, develop, and improve your skills
• Passion, commitment, and dedication to your craft and a can-do attitude
• A cool, calm, and considered working style. You work well under pressure and to tight You relish the energy that comes with being a busy professional