Executive Director, Growth & Development (Opportunity Owner)
Our Growth and Development team leads the charge in securing high-value, strategic partnerships across the nation. From identifying and pursuing transformative opportunities to seamlessly onboarding new clients, this is the team behind the agency’s momentum — and we’re just getting started.
As an Executive Director, Growth & Development, you’ll play a dual role: overseeing our high-stakes business development efforts while directly owning and converting opportunities. This is a senior, client-facing growth partner role that requires sharp critical thinking, strong pitch leadership, and the ability to operate autonomously with confidence.
You are expected to be well-connected, proactive, and highly strategic—bringing a deep knowledge of digital and offline marketing, technology, and how to navigate the modern RFP/RFI process with nuance and speed.
Here’s what you should know if you want to be an Executive Director, Growth & Development at R/GA:
On any given day, you might:
- Independently manage the end-to-end process of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), from initial assessment through to handoff—including briefing, response strategy, proposal development, and live presentation.
- Confidently lead prospect conversations and briefings—identifying when to bring in discipline leads and when to run point on your own.
- Navigate RFI asks with strategic clarity and agility in light of constantly shifting market conditions and technological innovation.
- Lead pitch efforts from both inbound and outbound sources—shaping the agency POV and identifying where we can win across product, experience, and creative opportunities.
- Manage complex personalities and workflows involved in a pitch—balancing prospective clients, procurement partners, and internal teams spanning creative, strategy, tech, and growth operations.
- Collaborate closely with senior executives, both locally and globally, building strong relationships that help unlock opportunity.
- Proactively initiate new client relationships and identify organic growth and backchannel opportunities.
- Define and evolve the new business strategy and processes in partnership with the SVP, Head of Growth, Americas and other growth leaders.
- Contribute to capabilities presentations, prospecting decks, and thought leadership efforts that support our outbound strategy.
- Maintain a live database of client and prospect intelligence.
- Lead internal pitch meetings and new business updates to leadership.
The ideal person:
- Is a natural leader and closer—capable of identifying, pursuing, and winning business across categories and client types.
- Brings a sharp POV and strong storytelling skills that stand out in a crowded pitch landscape.
- Has a personal interest in business, marketing, and advertising—particularly through the lens of digital, social, and emerging tech.
- Is a skilled operator—able to manage high-pressure timelines and workflows while keeping teams aligned and focused.
- Balances strategic thinking with tactical excellence, knowing when to take ownership and when to delegate.
- Brings calm, clarity, and cohesion to fast-moving pitch environments with many voices in the room.
You bring:
- 8+ years of business development, marketing, or consulting experience within an agency, creative services firm, or digitally focused business.
- Proven ability to independently manage RFP/RFI processes, pitch teams, and live prospect engagement.
- A strong network and a track record of building meaningful client relationships that lead to retained business.
- Experience managing complex deals with procurement and legal counterparts.
- Strong presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.
- A passion for finding the signal in the noise—and turning that signal into real opportunity.
Bonus:
- Deep knowledge of the Product & Experience Design space.
Candidates must be in the NYC area or be willing to relocate before their start date. This position offers a hybrid work model, but regular in-person collaboration is expected.
The base salary hiring range for this position is $230,000 to $250,000, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this base range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s applicable skills, pertinent experience, and qualifications.