Business Development Director

Building A Brand Starts With Our Story

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency serving clients in various industries, including financial services, technology, new & traditional media, aerospace, healthcare, and professional services. FIRST has received numerous accolades, including being listed among the 2025 Most Innovative Marketing Agencies of the Year by Chief Marketer, named Top Agency of the Year 2024 by Event Marketer, highlighted as a Global Agency of the Year, over 100 Employees by C&IT, and listed among the "200 Top Marketing Agencies" in 2024, 2023, & 2022 by Chief Marketer.

Learn more at www.firstagency.com
What You Would Get To Do:

The Business Development Director is responsible for continuously creating and securing new business for FIRST. A self-starter with a natural ability to build and cultivate lasting and successful business relationships, this role will build rapport with prospects and targets and identify how FIRST can provide the right solutions. This role will be responsible for identifying, developing, and closing new business opportunities, building strong relationships, and leading strategic efforts to deliver new business revenue and new client accounts.

The position will also be accountable for an acquisition focused financial target. The Business Development Director should be a skilled business development professional with a proven track record of success in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. This role has a requirement to travel to industry conferences and client meetings both domestically and internationally as needed

Your Contributions:

Sales & Acquisition

• Contribute to the business development strategy to align with company short- and long-term goals
• Identify, research and cultivate new business opportunities that drive new revenue to meet and exceed targets
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key targets and industry influencers
• Develop and execute a "hunting" plan to achieve sales targets through all applicable sales channels
• Drive the proactive outreach to agreed targets to establish strong client relationships using skills, tenacity, insights and the marketing tools provided
• Drive the sales pipeline and all activities associated to make the process effective and continue to analyze the sales process, track/report KPI metrics and proactively implement changes as required to meet revenue goals
• Partner with prospective clients to understand their business needs, pain points, and business objectives to build rapport and identify how FIRST can be successful to support future projects
• Define project requirements, negotiate and focus on winning and closing new business
• Produce regular reports on sales activity, pipeline status, and analysis
• Requirement to travel to industry conferences and client meetings

Industry Research & Representation

• Maintain a deep understanding of the market, customers, competitors and industry trends
• Represent company brand, values, and business internally and at various conferences, tradeshows, and networking events to help raise awareness, generate leads, attract new clients and understand competitors' offerings and trends in the industry
• Identify and cultivate potential partnerships and strategic alliances to expand market reach and access new opportunities

Team Collaboration

• Collaborate with Client Services and Delivery teams to effectively transition newly secured clients into the management and execution phase
• Collaborate with internal teams, including Client Services, Marketing, and Strategy, to ensure alignment on business development strategies and provide market feedback
• Contribute to the refinement of sales processes and tools

What We Are Looking For:

Our ideal candidate is someone who thrives on hunting new business and driving revenue growth. We are looking for someone who is a proactive go-getter with a strong sales instinct, capable of identifying opportunities, forging strategic partnerships, and closing high-value deals! We're looking for someone who is not only motivated by numbers but passionate about building new business and long-lasting relationships.

Please be aware that we know experience does not always look like we describe it. If you believe you would be an excellent fit for this role, please apply - we would love to see how you could fit at First.

• 8+ years of sales experience and selling into fortune 500 companies
• Experience working in an agency environment or event management company is preferred
• Proven client relationship skills, ability to support stakeholders across an organization, create advocacy and ability to "hunt" for new clients
• Personable, credible and able to establish trust with team members
• Team player; work in tandem with other divisions in expanding the business and adhering to standard operating procedures and efficiencies
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office - solid experience in Excel required for data manipulation and report analysis
• Strong time management, multi-tasking and follow-through skills
• Ability to effectively communicate with impeccable written and verbal communication skills
• Strong leadership experience: both leading and motivating colleagues in a manner that enhances working relationships and encapsulates the company brand and values
• Resourceful and highly motivated individual with the ability to work independently, think analytically and remain calm under pressure to meet established deadlines

At FIRST, we believe that our success is driven by the passion, creativity, and commitment of our teams. That's why we offer a range of benefits and perks to support your personal and professional growth:

• Medical, Dental & Vision which includes the option of a high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA)
• 401 (k)
• Five Flexible Spending Accounts Options
• Generous Paid Time Off Allowance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life, Disability & Pet Coverages
• Wellness Stipend
• Mobile Phone Allowance
• Complimentary access to Headspace, Teladoc, Maven, Rocket Lawyer, Mobilo & more
• Aura Identity Theft Protection
• Discretionary Bonus Structure
• Global Opportunities: With a presence in 7 countries worldwide, including headquarters in London, New York, and Singapore, you may have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different locations.

United States Residents: The base pay for this position ranges from $80,000 to $90,000 + this role will be eligible for sales commissions with a targeted total compensation of up to $140,000 annually (Base + Commission). The commission bonus is dependent on individual generating new business. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

#LI-CB1

FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If any candidate feels that they are unable to meet the requirements of the role, please get in touch to discuss adjustments or other suitable roles.