Business Director

Shape Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Pension

Profit share bonus

Annual leave growth with service

Job summary

Shape Recruitment is seeking a commercially-minded Business Director to lead senior client relationships, shape media strategy and mentor a close-knit team in a dynamic independent agency.

In this hands-on role you will blend brand and performance thinking to maximise media investment, drive growth and contribute to the agency’s ongoing success. The position offers flexible working and a rewarding benefits package.

Qualifications

• Senior AD/BD level experience in a media agency, able to discuss digital and offline channels together.
• Experience leading senior client relationships and developing strategic media recommendations.
• Commercially aware with budgets, forecasting, account growth and profitability.
• Ability to interpret research/data to support clear client advice.
• Experience managing or developing a team and contributing to pitches or new business.
• Proactive, strategic thinker with hands-on delivery capability.
• Charity or not-for-profit experience preferable for existing client work.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and act as a key contact for a portfolio of clients.
• Shaping media strategies and plans that respond to client objectives and KPIs.
• Oversee research, insight, planning and evaluation, turning data into actionable recommendations.
• Present strategic proposals and advise on the broader role of media, creative and tech in clients' businesses.
• Lead and develop a small team, supporting growth and coaching managers.
• Identify opportunities to grow client relationships and improve profitability, including forecasting.
• Lead or contribute to new business pitches and internal projects with the senior leadership team.
• Collaborate with planning, investment, finance and media-owner partners to ensure quality implementation.

Skills

Senior AD/BD

Client relationships

Strategic media planning

Forecasting

Team leadership

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Outlook

Power BI

Google Analytics

Campaign Manager 360

Job description

A great opportunity for a commercially-minded Business Director to join an independent, award-winning media agency with a varied client portfolio.

This role will focus on senior client relationships, shaping media strategy and leading a close-knit team. It’s a hands-on position bringing together brand and performance thinking, helping clients make the most of their media investment and contribute to the agency’s continued growth.

Role responsibilities:

• Lead and develop trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, acting as a key point of contact for a portfolio of existing and prospective clients.
• Understand, interpret and challenge briefs, then shape media strategies and plans that respond to clients’ objectives and KPIs.
• Oversee research, insight, planning and evaluation, turning data into clear recommendations and useful measurement.
• Present strategic proposals and advice, helping clients consider the wider role of media, creative and technology in their business.
• Lead and develop a small team, supporting their growth and helping managers bring out the best in their people.
• Identify opportunities to grow client relationships and improve commercial performance, including forecasting and profitability.
• Lead or contribute to new business pitches and internal projects with the senior leadership team.
• Work closely with planning, investment, finance and media-owner partners to ensure high-quality implementation and value.
• Share useful developments in the media landscape and champion client successes through case studies and award entries.

What we’re looking for:

• Senior AD/ BD level experience in a media agency, with the ability to speak confidently about both digital and offline channels and how they work together.
• Experience leading senior client relationships and developing strategic media recommendations.
• Commercial confidence, with a good grasp of budgets, forecasting, account growth and profitability.
• The ability to make sense of research and data, and use them to support clear client advice.
• Experience managing or developing a team, and contributing to pitches or new business.
• A curious, proactive approach and the confidence to get involved in both strategic thinking and practical delivery.
• Charity or not-for-profit experience would be preferable, particularly for some of the existing client work.

Technical and systems experience

• Confident using Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook; experience with Power BI is useful.
• Comfortable working with media planning, audience research, campaign evaluation and attribution tools. Experience with platforms such as E-Telmar, TGI, YouGov, TouchPoints, Nielsen Ad Intel, DDS, TechEdge, Adalyser or TVSquared would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with web analytics and tracking tools such as Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics; Meta Business Manager; ad-serving platforms such as Campaign Manager 360 or Flashtalking; search analysis tools such as SEMrush; or call-tracking platforms such as Infinity or ResponseTap would also be useful.

What’s on offer

A competitive salary (up to £85,000 depending on experience) plus a benefits package that includes flexible working, annual leave that increases with service, pension, profit share bonus and more.

*Please note we are unable to consider candidates who require sponsorship now or in the future.