New Business Director
San Francisco, CA, US (Hybrid)
Description
NEW BUSINESS DIRECTOR, WEST
Who We Are
Mekanism is an award-winning, independent, full-service advertising agency made up of creative entrepreneurs. With offices in San Francisco, New York and Seattle, we are collaborative business partners with some of the world’s best brands including Alaska Airlines, Harmless Harvest, and Charles Schwab. Our creative approach to brand building is best described as “The Soul & Science of Storytelling” - communicating a brand’s purpose with ideas informed by data and rooted in human truths.
What is a Mekanista you ask? Being a Mekanista requires a rare combination of being a weird, fearless and wonderful person who enjoys birthday cakes, well behaved dogs, and shared sensibility of family, respect and not taking ourselves too seriously.
Mekanism has been named to Ad Age’s “Agency A List” and twice to their “Best Places to Work”. We have also been listed on Creativity’s “The Creative 50” and have been recognized by Effie as one of the “Most Effective Independent Agencies”. We have been profiled by The New York Times, Fast Company and ABC’s Nightline.
The Role:
The Mekanism New Business Director is a self-assured, collaborative, strategic, proactive leader.
This person drives and manages West Coast New Business (San Francisco, LA, and Seattle), working directly with the agency’s leaders to expand Mekanism’s client portfolio and revenue through outbound prospecting, the inbound pipeline, pitches, and strategic opportunities.
This person also supports the New Business Department as a whole – ensuring the machine stays well oiled and consistently working to optimize it.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Go-To Person on All things West Coast New Business (SF & SEA)
- Internally
- Drive West Coast New Biz overall (managing and prioritizing the current pipeline, concepting overarching strategy, tracking goals, etc.)
- Be the main information artery for both senior leadership and other departments - managing upwards and outwards to foster communication and alignment. Also proactively socializing West Coast pipeline updates and other relevant information to the company as needed
- Always one step ahead for West Coast new business needs. You are leading, everyone looks to you for what to do next
- Partner closely with the East Coast New Business Director to ensure we are staying fully aligned and cohesive as an agency with our materials, processes, strategies, and goals
- Externally
- Act as the go-to point of contact for potential new clients
- Drive all new business opportunities from start to finish
- Have a deep understanding of what it takes to sell Mekanism. You know the agency’s capabilities, divisions, and culture inside and out and are able to speak about them fluently and charismatically.
Outbound Prospecting
- Facilitates networking opportunities for WC Leadership/Execs
- Consistently keep an ear to the ground, staying deeply in tune with the West Coast landscape and proactively sharing learnings + potential action items with team
- Search for and identify identify potential opportunities for Mekanism
- Proactively network and foster connections for Mekanism - creating opportunities for Mek Execs to meet with clients and consultants
- Attend relevant conferences and events on behalf of Mekanism
- Work closely with the Marketing department to ideate and identify marketing opportunities.
- Work closely with the Marketing department to develop creative and strategic outreach ideas for potential clients.
- Be a Mekanism credentials master - developing and customizing outbound materials for opportunities
Pitches
- Act as the overarching pitch ringleader - externally running and internally rallying all key players with minimal oversight
- Ensure we have a deep understanding of the client’s business and objectives
- Work closely with other pitch leaders to identify our “North Star” (the strategy for how we win) and ensure the entire team understands and is aligned
- Oversee all moving pieces, ensuring there is a clear roadmap and that teams are working together seamlessly and delivering on brief
- Lay the groundwork for a positive relationship with the client, championing Mekanism and making sure they love and trust us
- Work closely with Creative and Strategy to strategize how best to sell our ideas
- Always think strategically and creatively about how we can go above and beyond to seal the deal
- Set a positive and encouraging tone for the team
Support Financial Organization and Performance
- Stay closely aligned with how we are tracking towards our overall revenue goals and maintain a deep understanding of what’s needed from New Business, adjusting course as needed
- Manage and keep pitches within approved internal budgets
- Work closely with Brand Management and Creative Resourcing to develop and negotiate strategic scopes/proposals to ensure we are closing profitable opportunities
Embody the Mekanism Values
- Believe in bold
- Bring your weird
- Practice optimism
- Have each other’s backs
- Pursue what’s next
- Give a sh*t
Salary: $140,000
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