Business Development Manager Agency / Creative
20 hours ago
Norwich
The opportunity Outthought is a branding and visual communications agency built around senior level expertise. We handle complex briefs, transform brand identities, and produce both digital and traditional creative work that actually moves the needle for clients across a range of sectors including financial services, housing/property, professional services and more. We have strong foundations and great work, a clear positioning, and a roster of clients we're proud of. Now we're pushing hard to grow. We're looking for a BDM who is energised by prospecting, building pipeline, and winning new business. This is a sales-led role with some account management responsibility. The role at a glance • Outbound prospecting & new client acquisition, • Driving new business to meet revenue targets, • Networking and developing client relationships, • Key sectors: Financial services, property/housing, professional services, • Reporting to the Creative Director Day to day responsibilities • Own the outbound pipeline. Build and work a structured prospect list using tools like Apollo. Identify the right contacts, run personalised outreach sequences, and consistently generate first conversations., • Book and lead new business meetings. You're the first impression. You'll conduct intro calls and first-stage pitches, qualifying opportunity and setting the table for the creative team to win., • Develop sector strategy. Work with the Creative Director to identify priority sectors, specific target businesses, and the most effective routes to market., • Manage and grow a CRM. Keep HubSpot current. Own the pipeline from first touch to proposal., • Build partnerships and referral channels. Identify and develop relationships with e.g. PR agencies, marketing consultants, and other collaborators., • Identify networking and industry events worth attending and represent Outthought in those rooms., • Leverage your own business networks to identify prospects., • Brief the creative team on new client requirements and support the production of proposals, pitches, and scoping documents., • Advise on social and content strategy to support the agency's broader business development presence. About you • Proven experience new business, B2B sales, or business development. Experience within a creative, design, or marketing agency context highly desirable although not essential., • A genuine love of prospecting. Cold outreach doesn't faze you. You know how to research a target, craft a compelling message, and follow through with winning sequences., • Comfortable with HubSpot (or a comparable CRM). Ideally, you've managed pipelines, and worked with buyer intent features., • Familiar with Apollo or similar prospecting tools. You know how to build a list, run a sequence, and iterate based on results., • Sharp, credible and confident communicator, written and verbal. You'll be talking to Marketing Directors, CFOs, and CEOs., • Broad understanding of branding and design in a business context is hugely beneficial, • Commercially minded with an understanding of deal economics, proposal structures, and how to move a conversation from interest to signed contract. Tools • HubSpot (preferred) or other CRM, • Apollo.io (preferred) or other prospecting tools, • LinkedIn Sales Navigator, • Google Workspace, • Microsoft suite Note: We are AI forward and welcome its use in streamlining processes, speeding up tasks and enhancing efficiency. However, we are seeking a candidate that can use their own judgement and insight to ensure that any AI led processes are fully assessed and edited to meet real world situations. We don’t pass off unedited AI content as our own and always carry out thorough review when using these tools. Whilst the use of AI is very much welcome, you should be able to functionally do your job without it if required. What we offer • Competitive salary, • Commission structure tied to new business revenue, • Expenses covered: networking events, membership organisations, client travel., • Hybrid working 4 days in our central Norwich studio and 1 day from home, • A genuinely nice place to work. Small friendly and experienced team., • A high degree of freedom to shape the role., • The chance to shape the agency's growth trajectory from the ground up with potential to convert to director level role. To apply Please provide your CV along with a cover note describing how you would approach the first 90 days in this role. Tell us who you are, what you've sold, and why this kind of agency role appeals to you. Please send applications to studio@outthought.co.uk with the subject line BDM application Outthought is an equal opportunities employer. Outthought is a trading name of Think Marketing Ltd. Registered in England and Wales: 13840109.