Group Director, Business Development- Activation

Real Chemistry; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great Place to Work certification

Generous benefits

Free snacks

Job summary

Real Chemistry is seeking a Group Director, Business Development to lead our U.S.-based Growth team and drive integrated new business efforts across Healthcare Activation, including Media, Social, Creator/Influencer, and Content capabilities.

The role calls for a seasoned leader who excels in high-impact pitches, aligns cross-functional teams, and translates complex client briefs into compelling narratives that showcase Real Chemistry's differentiated capabilities across markets.

Qualifications

• 10-12+ years in a Media/Influencer/Content agency environment, healthcare preferred.
• Ability to navigate complex hybrid organizations and markets to coordinate BD efforts.
• Proven experience leading or supporting successful new business pitches.
• Strong storytelling, writing, and presentation skills.
• Understanding of integrated marketing, medical and activation disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support priority new business pitches from RFI/RFP through final presentation.
• Translate client briefs into strategic frameworks and compelling pitch narratives.
• Coordinate teams across disciplines and markets for cohesive responses.
• Manage pitch timelines, workflows, and deliverables across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Support the development of pitch materials, decks, and presentations.
• Keep senior stakeholders informed on progress, risks and resource needs.
• Drive post-pitch debriefs and capture learnings to improve future performance.
• Contribute to tracking win rates, pitch outcomes, and performance trends.
• Support hybrid team management and development across locations.

Skills

Media industry experience

Storytelling

Writing

Presentation skills

Integrated marketing knowledge

Healthcare industry experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Hybrid work experience

Job description

At Real Chemistry, making the world a healthier place isn’t just an aspiration—it’s our everyday reality. Our drive to transform healthcare is informed by our blend of deep scientific expertise, human-centred creativity, and AI-driven insights, fostering a unique environment where innovation thrives and our people are impact-obsessed. As a global agency, we provide a full suite of services across healthcare communications and marketing to our clients, including top players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Our #LifeatRealChem culture is rooted in our people—we believe we are best together and are committed to excellence for both our clients and colleagues. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, if you share our passion for healthcare and connection, we invite you to explore our opportunities.

Discover your purpose. Embrace innovation. Experience #LifeatRealChem.

Group Director, Business Development - Activation

The Role

Real Chemistry is seeking a Group Director, Business Development to join our U.S.-based Growth team and support our Activation Capability Area which includes Media, Social, Creator/ Influencer, Content, Omnichannel etc

This role is ideal for a seasoned business development leader who excels at leadinghigh impactpitches, supporting organic growth opportunities, and strengthening how teams come together to win new work. Reporting to theGlobalHeadOfBusiness Development, the Group Director plays a key role in shaping and delivering compelling, integrated new business efforts across our healthcare portfolioin partnership with corporate and capability teams.

WhatYou’llDo

• Lead and support priority new business pitches from RFI/RFP through final presentation, partnering closely with Client Leads, Growth Leaders, andcross functionalteams
• Translate client briefs into clear strategic frameworks and compelling pitch narratives aligned to Real Chemistry capabilities
• Coordinate teams across disciplines and markets to ensure cohesive, differentiated responses
• Manage pitch timelines, workflows, and deliverables across multiple concurrent efforts
• Support the development of pitch materials, including proposals, decks, and presentations
• Keep senior stakeholders informⲚed on progress, risks, and resource needs
• Drivepost pitchdebriefs and help capture learnings to improve future performance
• Contribute to tracking win rates, pitch outcomes, and performance trends
• Supporthybrid team management and development—including mentoring, capability uplift, performance support, andcross functionalteam alignment.

This Role Is a Good Fit If You

• Thrive in a fast paced,deadline drivenagency environment
• Enjoy collaborating across teams and disciplines to deliver strong outcomes
• You adapt quickly as priorities shift and enjoy working in a dynamic environment.
• Are a strategic thinker who can also execute with precision
• Bring a proactive,solutions orientedmindset to complex challenges
• You can manage multiple priorities in a fast paced,deadline drivenenvironment.
• Are comfortable leading through influence rather than authority
• Value continuous improvement and building scalable, repeatable approaches

What You Should Have

• 10-12+ years of experience in a a Media, Social, Influencer/Creator, Content agency environment, ideally within healthcare
• Ability to navigate across complex hybrid organizations and markets to centralize and coordinate business development efforts.
• Proven experience leading or supporting successful new business pitches
• Strong storytelling, writing, and presentation skills
• Solid understanding of integrated marketing, communications, medical, and activation disciplines
• Healthcare industry experience across pharmaceutical, biotech, or related sectors
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort working across disciplines.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Comfort working in hybrid teams across locations and functions
• Familiarity with new business tracking, reporting, or performance tools

Pay Range: $150,000-$170,000

This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to work experience, skills, certifications, and geographical location. The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time

Real Chemistry is proud to be Great Place to Work®certified; check out what our people shared about our culture and workplace on our Great Places to Work Profile here.

We believe we can do our best when feeling our best, which is why we’ve put together a benefits program designed to give you the support you and your family need at every stage of life. Real Chemistry offers a comprehensive benefit program and perks, tailored to your region. Globally, this includes offices in our key markets with free snacks to keep you running all day long, generous holiday and paid time off, options for private medical, dental, and vison plans, and support in saving for the future. Other perks include mental wellness coaching and supportandaccess to more than 13,000 online classes with LinkedIn Learning.Learn more about our great benefits and perks and search specific offerings in your region at: www.realchemistrybenefits.com.

Real Chemistry is an Equal Opportunity employer. We continually strive to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable work environment where our employees feel empowered to leverage all they bring from their personal lived experience and professional expertise, to make our team the best in the industry. We encourage motivated and qualified applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ethnic or national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local employment discrimination laws where Real Chemistry operates. Should you require accommodations throughout the interview process please let your recruiter know.