Executive Director, Growth

R/GA; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

R/GA in New York, NY is seeking an Executive Director, Growth & Development to oversee high-stakes business development and own opportunities. This senior, client-facing role requires sharp strategic thinking and confident pitch leadership in a hybrid NYC environment.

You will manage end-to-end RFP/RFI processes, lead conversations, and collaborate across creative, strategy, tech and growth teams to turn opportunities into retained business.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of business development, marketing, or consulting experience in an agency or digitally focused firm.
• Proven ability to independently manage RFP/RFI processes, pitch teams, and live prospect engagement.
• Strong network and track record of building meaningful client relationships that lead to retained business.
• Experience managing complex deals with procurement and legal counterparts.
• Strong presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage end-to-end RFPs, from assessment to live presentation.
• Lead prospect conversations and briefings with discipline leads when needed.
• Navigate RFI asks with strategic clarity amid shifting market conditions.
• Lead pitch efforts across inbound and outbound sources to win across product, experience, and creative.
• Collaborate with creative, strategy, tech, and growth ops and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Build relationships with senior executives locally and globally to unlock opportunities.
• Proactively seek new client relationships and identify growth/backchannel opportunities.
• Define and evolve the new business strategy with senior growth leaders.
• Contribute to capabilities decks and thought leadership supporting outbound strategy.
• Maintain a live database of client and prospect intelligence.

Skills

Business development

Marketing

Consulting

RFP/RFI management

Pitch leadership

Client relationship building

Negotiation

Job description

Executive Director, Growth & Development (Opportunity Owner)

Our Growth and Development team leads the charge in securing high-value, strategic partnerships across the nation. From identifying and pursuing transformative opportunities to seamlessly onboarding new clients, this is the team behind the agency’s momentum — and we’re just getting started.

As an Executive Director, Growth & Development, you’ll play a dual role: overseeing our high-stakes business development efforts while directly owning and converting opportunities. This is a senior, client-facing growth partner role that requires sharp critical thinking, strong pitch leadership, and the ability to operate autonomously with confidence.

You are expected to be well-connected, proactive, and highly strategic—bringing a deep knowledge of digital and offline marketing, technology, and how to navigate the modern RFP/RFI process with nuance and speed.

Here’s what you should know if you want to be an Executive Director, Growth & Development at R/GA:

On any given day, you might:

• Independently manage the end-to-end process of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), from initial assessment through to handoff—including briefing, response strategy, proposal development, and live presentation.
• Confidently lead prospect conversations and briefings—identifying when to bring in discipline leads and when to run point on your own.
• Navigate RFI asks with strategic clarity and agility in light of constantly shifting market conditions and technological innovation.
• Lead pitch efforts from both inbound and outbound sources—shaping the agency POV and identifying where we can win across product, experience, and creative opportunities.
• Manage complex personalities and workflows involved in a pitch—balancing prospective clients, procurement partners, and internal teams spanning creative, strategy, tech, and growth operations.
• Collaborate closely with senior executives, both locally and globally, building strong relationships that help unlock opportunity.
• Proactively initiate new client relationships and identify organic growth and backchannel opportunities.
• Define and evolve the new business strategy and processes in partnership with the SVP, Head of Growth, Americas and other growth leaders.
• Contribute to capabilities presentations, prospecting decks, and thought leadership efforts that support our outbound strategy.
• Maintain a live database of client and prospect intelligence.
• Lead internal pitch meetings and new business updates to leadership.

The ideal person:

• Is a natural leader and closer—capable of identifying, pursuing, and winning business across categories and client types.
• Brings a sharp POV and strong storytelling skills that stand out in a crowded pitch landscape.
• Has a personal interest in business, marketing, and advertising—particularly through the lens of digital, social, and emerging tech.
• Is a skilled operator—able to manage high-pressure timelines and workflows while keeping teams aligned and focused.
• Balances strategic thinking with tactical excellence, knowing when to take ownership and when to delegate.
• Brings calm, clarity, and cohesion to fast-moving pitch environments with many voices in the room.

You bring:

• 8+ years of business development, marketing, or consulting experience within an agency, creative services firm, or digitally focused business.
• Proven ability to independently manage RFP/RFI processes, pitch teams, and live prospect engagement.
• A strong network and a track record of building meaningful client relationships that lead to retained business.
• Experience managing complex deals with procurement and legal counterparts.
• Strong presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.
• A passion for finding the signal in the noise—and turning that signal into real opportunity.

Bonus:

• Deep knowledge of the Product & Experience Design space.

Candidates must be in the NYC area or be willing to relocate before their start date. This position offers a hybrid work model, but regular in-person collaboration is expected.

The base salary hiring range for this position is $230,000 to $250,000, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this base range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s applicable skills, pertinent experience, and qualifications.