Associate Director, New Business

Company Description

We are the connected marketing agency, a full-service agency with modern creative & media, data, and technology services all under one roof. 

We are connected in the way we think and the way we work. At the heart of our company are great people that we call Unicorns. Our Unicorns are open, bold, and curious and love to solve complex problems for clients in unique ways.

Job Description

We are looking for an outstanding Associate Director who is responsible for working within the Growth/New Business team to provide marketing and business development support for Digitas globally. 

Tasks and responsibilities include:

Business Development Skills

• Demonstrates clear knowledge of Digitas offerings
• Seen as a go-to person for new business strategy, content and implementation
• Helps craft a story and weave a common thread throughout a presentation
• Effectively edits content to ensure points are clearly made and that the work is accurate
• Creates appropriate original client-ready pitch content (aka research findings)
• Packages work, such as case studies and other materials based on input by Digitas subject matter experts and senior leaders
• Identifies follow up comms strategies post pitch meetings

Continuous Improvement

• Drives shared goals, teamwork and active cooperation/ participation among regional Managing Directors and Growth team in weekly Growth status calls
• Ensures meeting Scorecards are completed and distributed within 24 hours of a prospect touch-point
• Consistently leads internal debrief discussions and can identify key themes for senior leaders in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Demonstrates strong data analysis: gathers, integrates and reports/ analyzes Growth performance
• Leads pitch de-briefs

Project Management

• Proactively identifies/resolves pitch and new business development issues and knows when to push back
• Is highly organized given the range of growth demands; is able to prioritize with minimal support (strong attention to detail & quality)
• Ensures team members take personal accountability for on-time, quality execution
• Demonstrates ability to read a situation and react appropriately to solve issues
• Is flexible, can deal with and work through ambiguity to operate effectively
• Manages complex pitches and prospect meetings, working effectively with all capabilities and using their expertise appropriately
• Manages a team to consistently and successfully deliver execution of complex programs/projects
• Is recognized by other capabilities as effectively balancing Digitas/Pitch participant and pitch team needs to deliver high-impact business development initiatives
• Proactively searches out best practices from around the Digitas network to strengthen the team’s delivery

Communication Skills

• Takes command and control of a room
• Is an effective presenter
• Focuses on outcomes, ensuring progress on key initiatives with all stakeholders
• Communicates urgent matters in a calm, professional, can-do manner
• Writes cohesive, organized and logical client-ready documents that are appropriate to senior audiences
• Uses appropriate judgment in fielding contacts from prospective clients and partners/ vendors; knows when to escalate to VP
• Uses effective listening skills to digest, process and guide strategy, identify opportunities, and resolve problems
• Builds relationships with external influencers and prospects and responds effectively to requests
• Drives professional, impactful standards within team for all written and verbal client contact
• Partners with Corporate Communications to identify appropriate events (e.g. conferences) and supports senior leaders in preparing for such opportunities

Pitch/Client Management

• Understands what Digitas does and the role different capabilities play
• Owns the quality and final deliverable of RFIs
• Is viewed as an advisor to senior leaders and pitch team
• Builds relationships with prospect client contacts
• Nurtures relationships with pitch consultants as needed
• Builds meaningful relationships with Publicis Media peers
• Understands and articulates client new business strategy – can steer this with insight when required
• Positively influences senior leaders and cross-capability teams in new business situations
• Understands and conveys the competitive/external environment to senior staff as appropriate
• Understands fundamental economics of the Digitas business

People and Teamwork

• Represents Digitas a