Senior Director, Growth & Business Development

Ruder Finn; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Ruder Finn is seeking a collaborative Senior Director of Growth & Business Development to strengthen the firm’s growth engine. You will identify opportunities, build a strong pipeline, and coordinate across the firm to tell a differentiated story to prospective clients.

You will work with senior leaders to manage RFI/RFPs, pitches and pursuit strategies, aligning teams and creating compelling responses that win new business.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in business development, agency growth, or related field.
• Proven track record managing RFI, RFP and pitch processes.
• Strong writing, presentation, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage RFI, RFP and pitch efforts from opportunity assessment through presentation.
• Shape pursuit strategies, timelines and differentiated viewpoints.
• Develop compelling responses, presentations and pitch experiences with senior leaders.
• Coordinate pitch teams, rehearsals and follow-through to win opportunities.
• Drive strategic prospecting and build a healthy pipeline.

Skills

Business development

RFI/RFP management

Pitch strategy

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/marketing or related field

Job description

Ruder Finn is looking for a collaborative, commercially minded Senior Director, Growth & Business Development to help strengthen the firm’s growth engine. This person will play a key role in identifying and pursuing the right opportunities, building a strong pipeline, and bringing together the best of Ruder Finn to tell a compelling, differentiated story to prospective clients. Working closely with senior leaders and teams across the firm, the Senior Director will manage strategic prospecting and RFI, RFP and pitch efforts from opportunity through presentation. They’ll help shape pursuit strategies, connect the right people and capabilities, and build relationships that create new opportunities for the agency. The Senior Director will also partner with leaders across the firm to develop and drive proactive outreach strategies, helping identify new opportunities, strengthen relationships and create meaningful connections with prospective clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage RFI, RFP and pitch efforts from opportunity assessment through submission and presentation.
• Help shape pursuit strategies, teams, timelines and differentiated points of view.
• Partner with senior and practice leaders to develop compelling responses, presentations and pitch experiences.
• Bring pitch teams together, coordinating collaboration, rehearsals and follow-through.
• Drive strategic prospecting and help build, qualify and advance a healthy pipeline.
• Develop priority prospect lists, account strategies and thoughtful engagement plans.
• Identify new areas for growth, industry white space and opportunities to deepen relationships.
• Build connections across practices, geographies and external partners to unlock opportunities.
• Support senior leaders with relationship mapping, outreach, meeting preparation and follow-up.
• Provide clear visibility into active pursuits, pipeline activity, market opportunities and next steps.
• Connect growth priorities with thought leadership, executive visibility, RF.com and broader marketing efforts.

Desired Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience in business development, agency growth, strategic partnerships, consulting, marketing communications or a related field.
• Strong experience managing RFI, RFP and pitch processes.
• A track record of building relationships, contributing to new business growth and moving opportunities forward.
• Excellent strategic thinking, writing, presentation and project management skills.
• Confidence partnering with senior executives and leaders across different disciplines.
• Strong judgment, organization and follow-through, with the ability to keep multiple opportunities moving at once.
• A collaborative, low-ego approach and comfort working across a fast-moving, matrixed organization.

The anticipated salary range for this position, at the time of posting, is $100,000 - $140,000.

In addition, a range of medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and/or other benefits also are available by the company.

Ruder Finn provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Ruder Finn will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Ruder Finn believes that diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Ruder Finn, Inc. is one of the world's largest independent global communications and creative agencies. Founded in 1948, Ruder Finn serves the global and local communication needs of over 250 corporations, governments, non-profit organizations and startups. The agency is organized around four strategic pillars that reflect its core areas of expertise: Health & Wellness, Corporate Reputation & Transformation, Technology & Innovation, and Consumer Connections. RFI Studios, the agency's full-service digital practice, leads the industry in designing and developing internal collaboration platforms, building conversations and communities around brands, and staying top-of-mind in the world of mobile applications.