Business Development Manager

Make, Llc; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + bonus potential

Hybrid schedule

Inclusive, creative team culture

Growth trajectory opportunities

Top-tier talent and tools

Job summary

MAKE is a creative production studio seeking aSenior Business Development Manager to drive growth by building relationships, opening doors, and turning opportunities into long-term partnerships.

You will work closely with leadership, creative, and production teams to identify projects, shape conversations, and move opportunities forward with clarity and momentum.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in animation, VFX, production, or creative agency environments.
• Proven experience in new business, sales, or EP roles (client-facing a must).
• Deep understanding of the creative production lifecycle—from concept to delivery.
• Strong network within advertising, branded content, entertainment, or tech.
• Comfortable presenting to clients, crafting pitches, and closing deals.
• Naturally collaborative, entrepreneurial, and confident in leadership.
• Bonus: Experience with bidding, budgeting, and production workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead new business efforts across commercial, brand, and entertainment sectors.
• Identify, target, and develop strategic relationships with agencies, brands, and platforms.
• Respond to inbound opportunities and proactively generate outbound leads.
• Collaborate with creative and production teams on pitch strategy and proposal development.
• Represent the studio at industry events, festivals, and networking functions.
• Help shape how we position our work and capabilities in the market.
• Maintain and expand CRM pipelines and track business development KPIs.
• Lead high-level negotiations in partnership with EPs and executive leadership.

Skills

Client-facing sales

Relationship building

Pitching & presentations

Leadership & collaboration

Networking in ad/entertainment

Budgeting & bidding (bonus)

Job description

Open Position: Business Development Manager

Location: Remote / Hybrid (Minneapolis, MN)
Type: Full-Time
Experience: Senior-Level
Industry: Animation / VFX / Creative Production

About Us

MAKE is a creative production studio making work for brands, agencies, and entertainment for audiences worldwide. We have a big passion for short stories, the kind that punch above their length and live rent free in your head. Every frame gets obsessed over, and every second has a job to do, because short isn't easy, it's surgical. There's no fluff, just tight, expressive work that knows what it's saying and says it with style.

Our work spans commercials, branded content, original IP, music videos, and immersive experiences. We blend storytelling, craft, and innovation, and we're growing.

That's where you come in.

The Role

As a Business Development Manager, you'll help drive MAKE's growth by building relationships, opening doors, and turning opportunities into long-term creative partnerships. You'll work closely with leadership, creative, and production teams to identify the right projects, shape conversations, and move opportunities forward with clarity and momentum.

You know how to speak both "client" and "creative." You spot opportunity early. You bring connections with you. You understand how great work gets made and how to position it in a way that resonates. You don't just chase projects, you build relationships that turn into pipelines.

What You'll Do

• Lead new business efforts across commercial, brand, and entertainment sectors
• Identify, target, and develop strategic relationships with agencies, brands, and platforms
• Respond to inbound opportunities and proactively generate outbound leads
• Collaborate with creative and production teams on pitch strategy and proposal development
• Represent the studio at industry events, festivals, and networking functions
• Help shape how we position our work and capabilities in the market
• Maintain and expand CRM pipelines and track business development KPIs
• Lead high-level negotiations in partnership with EPs and executive leadership

What You Bring

• 6+ years in animation, VFX, production, or creative agency environments
• Proven experience in new business, sales, or EP roles (client-facing a must)
• Deep understanding of the creative production lifecycle - from concept to delivery
• Strong network within advertising, branded content, entertainment, or tech
• Comfortable presenting to clients, crafting pitches, and closing deals
• Naturally collaborative, entrepreneurial, and confident in leadership
• Bonus: Experience with bidding, budgeting, and production workflows

What We Offer

• Competitive salary + commission/bonus potential
• Flexible hybrid schedule
• Creative, inclusive, and passionate team culture
• Opportunity to shape the studio's growth trajectory
• Access to top-tier creative talent and tools
• Health benefits, PTO, and professional development support