Senior Business Development Director

West-Cary-Group-LL; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

West Cary Group is seeking a Senior Business Development Director to lead the agency’s long-range growth strategy from its Richmond office. The role focuses on strategic market expansion, high-value partnerships, and go-to-market initiatives to position the agency as a top strategic partner in marketing and innovation.

Reporting to executive leadership, you will shape revenue pipelines, align capabilities with client needs, and drive transformative client engagements through data-driven market

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; advanced degree beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Market & Growth Leadership: Develop and lead the agency’s long-range business development strategy; identify emerging markets and revenue channels; conduct market and competitive analyses; create data-driven go-to-market strategies.
• Strategic Partnerships & Channel Development: Identify and manage strategic partnerships; develop ROI evaluation frameworks; represent the agency in strategic engagements.
• Enterprise-Level Opportunity Leadership: Lead strategy and positioning for major pitches and RFPs; shape growth narratives; translate market insights into differentiated solutions.
• Internal Strategic Influence & Capability Alignment: Lead RFP development with senior leadership; develop new services; ensure insights inform decisions; oversee pricing strategies and deal frameworks; enhance pitch and proposal processes; oversee business development initiatives.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Market analysis

Partnership development

Executive communication

Go-to-market strategy

RFPs & pitches

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Advanced degree a plus

Job description

West Cary Group's Senior Business Development Director is an in-office role, located at 5 West Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220.

Position Summary

The Senior Business Development Director serves as a strategic growth leader responsible for shaping and executing the agency’s long-term business development vision. This role drives proactive market expansion by identifying future opportunity areas, forging high-value partnerships, and developing go-to-market strategies that position West Cary Group as a leading strategic partner in the marketing and innovation ecosystem. Acting as a key advisor to the executive team, the Senior Business Development Director synthesizes industry intelligence, emerging market trends, and competitive insights to define growth pathways, influence agency positioning, and architect the strategies that win high-impact, transformative client engagements. This role is accountable for building sustainable revenue pipelines, expanding market presence, and ensuring that agency capabilities are aligned to evolving client and industry needs.

Position Responsibilities

Strategic Market & Growth Leadership:

• Develop and lead the agency’s long-range business development strategy.
• Identify emerging markets, growth verticals, and revenue channels.
• Conduct market and competitive analyses.
• Create data-driven go-to-market strategies.

Strategic Partnerships & Channel Development:

• Identify and manage strategic partnerships.
• Develop frameworks for evaluating partnership ROI.
• Represent the agency in strategic engagements.

Enterprise-Level Opportunity Leadership:

• Lead strategy and positioning for major pitches and RFPs.
• Shape the agency’s growth narrative.
• Translate market insights into differentiated solutions.

Internal Strategic Influence & Capability Alignment:

• Lead RFP development process, working with senior leadership and functional heads, ensuring alignment with agency vision, mission and strategic goals
• Collaborate with leadership to develop new services.
• Ensure strategic insights and competitive intelligence inform decisions.
• Oversee scalable pricing strategies and deal frameworks.
• Lead enhancements to pitch and proposal processes.
• Oversee/manage initiatives related to business development and communication strategies
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Role Qualifications

• Proven experience leading strategic business development or growth initiatives at a Director-level (or above), ideally within an advertising, creative, consulting, or integrated marketing agency.
• Demonstrated success in market analysis, partner strategy, and development of long-range growth plans.
• Strong executive communication and narrative-building skills; able to craft compelling strategic stories that resonate with C-suite audiences.
• Deep understanding of the marketing and advertising landscape, including emerging technologies, market shifts, and competitive dynamics.
• Experience identifying and cultivating strategic alliances, channel partners, and enterprise-level opportunities.
• Ability to influence across senior leadership and drive alignment around growth priorities.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; advanced degree a plus.
• Experience creating growth roadmaps, partnership ecosystems, or strategic go-to-market plans.
• Exceptional executive-level presentation skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.

Reporting to this position: No direct reports; may provide oversight for related initiatives.