Director, Business Development

Overview

Publicis Sports, the sports marketing division within Publicis Groupe, is searching for a Director, Business Development, to join its team based in Chicago, IL. This position requires a highly motivated and entrepreneurial-minded person to design and implement tailored solutions and product strategies that maximize our clients’ sports marketing initiatives.

This role will act as a key liaison between our prospects, existing clients and our internal teams to help clients better understand the sports products and solutions available at Publicis and how to best implement these products to achieve clients’ business goals. Responsibilities include understanding client needs, building and proposing solutions aligned to those needs, conducting demos of Publicis Sports products and solutions, and ensuring successful implementation.

You will report to the VP, Business Development, while collaborating closely with the rest of the Publicis Sports team and other key internal stakeholders.

This is a hybrid role, requiring three days in-office each week. If you are contacted for an interview, your recruiter will discuss specifics with you, inclusive of any necessary reasonable accommodations.

• Prospect, build relationships and close new brand clients for Publicis Sports business amongst the existing Publicis client roster and external brand prospects
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders across the Publicis agency ecosystem. These include global client leads, strategy, media investment teams and others.
• Prospect, lead the business development process, and close new business for Publicis Sports products – i.e. sports vertical media and or research/data focused products for brands and rights holders.
• Serve as sports content subject matter expert while working with other Publicis agency teams on new business and/or upsell opportunities.
• Analyze and understand client business strategies and objectives, and utilize that understanding to identify, develop and deliver high-value marketing services and solutions.
• Maintain superior knowledge of the dynamic marketplace/client needs in order to react quickly to identify unique opportunities for revenue growth.
• Play active role in major agency new business pitches.
• Meet and exceed new business goals for the Publicis Sports consulting business and for sports vertical products.
• Take a disciplined approach to prospect development, forecasting, tracking and managing sales pipeline conversations.

• Minimum 10 years of relevant sports marketing experience in consulting, business development, or sales at an agency, media property or rights holder (league or team).
• Deep understanding of sports marketing and sports media industries, including trends, stakeholders, and market dynamics.
• Proven experience collaborating across teams and lines of business within large organizations, including influencing stakeholders and working with diverse teams.
• Ability to anticipate and quickly assess continually changing client needs and adapt resources and strategies accordingly.
• Self-starter with ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced, environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities, capable of articulating complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and derive actionable insights.

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If…