Senior Sales Business Development

YouGov; Lombardia; On-site; EUR 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

YouGov is seeking a Senior Sales Business Development professional to accelerate growth in Italy. You will identify, develop and convert opportunities, acquire new clients and expand YouGov's presence across sectors.

You will combine sales expertise with data-driven insights to drive client growth and value. In this role you will manage the full sales cycle, engage with senior stakeholders, and collaborate with internal teams to position YouGov capabilities.

Qualifications

• 5 years in Business Development or B2B sales.
• Proven track record of acquiring new clients and hitting targets.
• Experience selling data-driven or technology/consulting solutions; international exposure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a proactive pipeline of new business opportunities in the local market.
• Build relationships with senior decision-makers across marketing, media, insights and commercial functions.
• Lead the full sales cycle from prospecting and solution design through negotiation and contract closure.

Skills

Business development

New client acquisition

Consultative selling

Relationship building

C-level engagement

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

At YouGov, we help some of the world's leading brands, media companies and agencies make better decisions through data, research and consumer intelligence.

We are looking for a commercially driven and entrepreneurial Senior Sales Business Development to accelerate the growth of our business in Italy.

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying, developing and converting new business opportunities, acquiring new clients and expanding YouGov's presence across new sectors and industries.

Working as part of a fast-growing, agile and international organization, you will combine strong sales capabilities with a consultative approach, helping clients leverage data, research and insights to drive better business decisions and growth.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll do:

New Client Acquisition

• Develop and manage a proactive pipeline of new business opportunities in the local market.
• Build relationships with senior decision-makers across marketing, media, insights and commercial functions.
• Lead the full sales cycle from prospecting and solution design through negotiation and contract closure.
• Deliver against ambitious new business and revenue targets.

Expanding YouGov’s Commercial Reach

• Identify new industry verticals and market opportunities for YouGov.
• Develop sector-specific commercial strategies and value propositions.
• Monitor market trends, client challenges and competitive dynamics.
• Collaborate with internal teams to effectively position YouGov's capabilities.

Consultative Selling

• Match client needs with the most relevant YouGov data, research and insight solutions.
• Develop compelling proposals together with research and specialist teams.
• Present solutions confidently to senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

Thought Leadership & Industry Representation

• Represent YouGov at conferences, webinars, industry events and networking initiatives.
• Deliver engaging presentations to clients, prospects and industry audiences.
• Build relationships across the marketing, media, technology and insights ecosystem.

Pipeline & Commercial Management

• Maintain accurate pipeline and opportunity reporting through Salesforce.
• Monitor performance, forecast revenue and track conversion metrics.
• Develop account plans for strategic prospects and opportunities.

Internal Collaboration & Account Development

• Work closely with Research, Client Services, Operations and Product teams.
• Ensure a seamless transition from sales to delivery.
• Collaborate with international colleagues to leverage YouGov's global expertise.

These are the essentials for having an interview:

• 5 years of experience in Business Development, New Business Sales or B2B commercial roles.
• Proven track record of acquiring new clients and achieving commercial targets.
• Experience selling consultative, data-driven, technology or professional service solutions.
• Background in media agencies, advertising sales houses, media owners, AdTech, MarTech, SaaS, data or insights businesses is strongly preferred.
• Experience within an international or multinational environment is a plus.
• Strong prospecting, hunting and relationship-building capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills, having the ability to engage confidently with senior and C-level stakeholders.
• Consultative, solution-oriented and commercially minded approach.
• Strong ownership, entrepreneurial mindset and public speaking abilities.
• English and local language full professional proficiency; additional European languages are a plus.

What success looks like:

• Consistent acquisition of new clients and revenue growth.
• A healthy pipeline with strong conversion rates.
• Expansion into new sectors and market opportunities.
• Increased visibility and positioning of YouGov within the local market.
• Meaningful contribution to the long-term growth of the business.

If you are a driven business developer who thrives on creating opportunities, opening doors, and converting prospects into long-term partnerships, this is the role for you. We are looking for someone who combines commercial ambition with intellectual curiosity and can confidently engage senior decision-makers on complex business challenges, positioning innovative solutions that deliver real value.

Most importantly, you are energized by the opportunity to join a fast-growing, agile, and internationally recognized organization where your contributions will have a direct and visible impact. Here, your ideas, initiative, and results will help shape the future of the business from day one.

The remuneration package includes a base salary in the range of Eur35k-45k per annum.