Associate Director, New Business

Company Description

Digitas is the Networked Experience Agency, built on the vision that we create magnetic experiences that earn the right for brands to exist in human networks. Today, and tomorrow. We deliver Networked Experiences by leveraging comprehensive data, technology, creative, media and strategy capabilities. Digitas delivers ambitious outcomes via unique solutions that include Creative Experiences, Integrated Media, Addressable Relationships, Social Marketing and Total Commerce. Celebrated by AdAge as Data and Insights Agency of the Year, U.S Campaign’s Brand Experience Agency of the Year, Media Network of the Year and celebrated by Forrester and Gartner, Digitas serves the world’s leading brands through a global network comprised of more than 5,500 employees across over 65 offices in 43 countries.

The Digitas culture is made up of fearless, inventive and generous Unicorns of all kinds.

Overview

We are looking for an outstanding Associate Director of Growth who is responsible for working within the Growth (new business) team to provide marketing and business development support for Digitas globally. 

Job Responsibilities

Business Development Skills

• Demonstrates clear knowledge of Digitas offerings
• Seen as a go-to person for new business strategy, content, and implementation
• Helps craft a story and weave a common thread throughout a presentation
• Effectively edits content to ensure points are clearly made and that the work is accurate
• Creates appropriate original client-ready pitch content (aka research findings)
• Packages work, such as case studies and other materials, based on input by Digitas subject matter experts and senior leaders
• Identifies follow-up comms strategies post-pitch meetings

Continuous Improvement

• Drives shared goals, teamwork, and active cooperation/ participation among regional Managing Directors and the Growth team in weekly Growth status calls
• Ensures meeting Scorecards are completed and distributed within 24 hours of a prospect touch-point
• Consistently leads internal debrief discussions and can identify key themes for senior leaders in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Demonstrates strong data analysis: gathers, integrates, and reports/ analyzes Growth performance
• Leads pitch de-briefs

Project Management

• Proactively identifies/resolves pitch and new business development issues and knows when to push back
• Is highly organized, given the range of growth demands; is able to prioritize with minimal support (strong attention to detail & quality)
• Ensures team members take personal accountability for on-time, quality execution
• Demonstrates ability to read a situation and react appropriately to solve issues
• Is flexible, can deal with and work through ambiguity to operate effectively
• Manages complex pitches and prospect meetings, working effectively with all capabilities and using their expertise appropriately
• Manages a team to consistently and successfully deliver execution of complex programs/projects
• Is recognized by other capabilities as effectively balancing Digitas/Pitch participant and pitch team needs to deliver high-impact business development initiatives
• Proactively searches out best practices from around the Digitas network to strengthen the team’s delivery

Communication Skills

• Takes command and control of a room
• Is an effective presenter
• Focuses on outcomes, ensuring progress on key initiatives with all stakeholders
• Communicates urgent matters in a calm, professional, can-do manner
• Writes cohesive, organized, and logical client-ready documents that are appropriate to senior audiences
• Uses appropriate judgment in fielding contacts from prospective clients and partners/ vendors; knows when to escalate to VP
• Uses effective listening skills to digest, process, and guide strategy, identify opportunities, and resolve problems
• Builds relationships with external influencers and prospects and responds effectively to requests
• Drives professional, impactful standards within the team for all written and verbal client contact
• Partners with Corporate Communications to identify appropriate events (e.g., conferences) and supports senior leaders in preparing for such opportunities

Pitch/Client Management

• Understands what Digitas does and the role different capabilities play
• Owns the quality and final deliverable of RFIs
• Is viewed as an advisor to senior leaders and the pitch team
• Builds relationships with prospective client contacts
• Nurtures relationships with pitch consultants as needed
• Builds meaningful relationships with Publicis Media peers
• Understands and articulates the client s new business strategy – can steer this with insight when required
• Positively influences senior leaders and cross-capability teams in new business situations
• Understands and conveys the competitive/external environment to senior staff as appropriate
• Understands fundamental economics of the Digitas business

People and Teamwork

• Represents Digitas appropriately with Publicis Media, clients, community, and personal network
• Develops trust-based relationships within the capability, at Digitas, and with clients
• Personally strives to positively influence peer group and cross-capability team
• Plays a key role in ensuring recognition for our cross-capability pitch teams and the individuals within them
• Is a strong team builder, clarifying roles and expectations
• Anticipates interpersonal problems and resolves them – is willing to give and receive constructive feedback
• Is recognized across the NB team and extended organization as a key advisor on new business-related issues
• Partners with NBD leadership to set a vision for the extended team and mobilizes everyone to meet common goals
• Actively participates in other capabilities’ feedback processes
• Is a visible presence with senior management

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in Marketing or related degree, advanced degrees a plus
• 5-7 years of experience in professional services, business-to-business, and/or sales environments
• Knowledge and understanding of the agency marketplace
• Experience in setting and managing customer expectations, as well as developing advantageous business relationships
• Exemplary written and oral persuasive communication skills
• Experience developing and delivering presentations
• Self-starter with a penchant for proactively identifying opportunities and the confidence to explore them
• Proven ability to multitask and meet corresponding deadlines
• Expert knowledge of Windows and/or OSX and Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) along with other presentation software (Macromedia, Apple Keynote, etc.)
• Candidate must be open to travel as needed
• Familiarity with prompt-based interaction and commonly used generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, DALL·E, Midjourney) is a plus, especially for tasks like ideation, research, or content generation.

Additional Information