Jobs at fluent360 (Now Hiring) — 2 open

Vice President, Business Integration (New Business, Sales & Marketing)

Location: Chicago, Illinois 
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Position Summary

The Vice President, Business Integration is a strategic executive leader responsible for driving agency growth through the acquisition of new clients, expansion of revenue opportunities, and development of a sustainable new business pipeline. This role serves as the agency's chief growth architect, leading all aspects of new business strategy, prospecting, relationship development, pitch development, and revenue generation. The Vice President, Business Integration will play a critical role in shaping the agency's future, influencing strategic direction, and driving transformational growth.

The Vice President, Business Integration will oversee the agency's new business function, manage the new business development team, cultivate consultant and referral partner relationships, and collaborate with agency senior leadership to identify, pursue, and secure high-value opportunities. As a key member of the senior leadership team, this individual will develop and execute growth strategies that position the agency as a leading multicultural marketing and advertising partner for brands seeking to connect with diverse audiences. 

The ideal candidate is a proven business development leader with deep advertising industry expertise, a strong network of client and consultant relationships, exceptional presentation skills, and a demonstrated track record of generating significant agency revenue growth. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Growth Leadership

• Develop and execute the agency's annual and long-term new business growth strategy.
• Establish revenue targets, growth objectives, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for new business development.
• Identify emerging market opportunities, industry trends, and high-growth sectors aligned with the agency's capabilities.
• Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team to shape the agency's growth vision and strategic priorities.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities that supports sustained agency growth.

New Business Development

• Lead all new business acquisition efforts from prospect identification through contract execution.
• Develop and implement proactive outreach strategies targeting prospective clients across key industry verticals.
• Build senior-level relationships with CMOs, marketing leaders, procurement teams, and decision-makers at target organizations.
• Drive agency participation in RFPs, RFIs, and strategic pitch opportunities.
• Negotiate business terms and facilitate successful contract discussions in collaboration with agency leadership.

Consultant and Referral Network Management

• Develop and manage relationships with marketing consultants, search consultants, procurement advisors, and industry influencers.
• Create and execute strategies to maximize opportunities generated through consultant networks.
• Establish referral programs and partnership initiatives that expand the agency's visibility and access to new business opportunities.
• Represent the agency at industry conferences, networking events, and business development forums.

New Business Operations & Process Management

• Oversee the agency's end-to-end new business process and infrastructure.
• Implement best practices for lead generation, qualification, pipeline management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Manage CRM systems and ensure accurate tracking of opportunities and business development activities.
• Develop processes that improve efficiency, responsiveness, and win rates across the new business function.
• Monitor competitive activity and provide market intelligence to agency leadership.

Pitch Strategy & Development

• Serve as the lead architect and strategist for all agency new business pitches and presentations.
• Direct the development of compelling agency positioning, value propositions, and customized pitch strategies.
• Collaborate with strategy, creative, media, analytics, and account teams to develop integrated responses to prospective client opportunities.
• Coach and prepare pitch teams for presentations and finalist meetings.
• Evaluate pitch performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives to increase conversion rates.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the agency's new business development team.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, innovation, and results.
• Establish performance goals and professional development plans for team members.
• Manage departmental budgets and resource allocation to support growth objectives.
• Promote collaboration across all agency departments to support successful business development efforts.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO on agency growth opportunities and market positioning.
• Participate in agency leadership meetings and contribute to overall business planning.
• Provide regular reporting on pipeline health, forecasted revenue, win/loss analysis, and growth performance.
• Act as a brand ambassador for the agency in the marketplace and industry community.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive sales, business development, and marketing experience within the advertising, marketing, media, or communications industry.
• Proven track record of generating significant new business revenue and delivering sustained agency growth.
• Demonstrated success leading agency new business teams and managing complex sales cycles.
• Extensive experience developing and winning competitive RFPs and agency pitch opportunities.
• Strong understanding of multicultural marketing, consumer insights, integrated marketing communications, digital marketing, media, and brand strategy.
• Experience cultivating and managing consultant, procurement, and agency partner relationships.
• Proven experience working directly with executives and senior marketing decision-makers.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic business development and growth planning expertise.
• Exceptional presentation, storytelling, and persuasive communication skills.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team management capabilities.
• Advanced negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of agency economics.
• Ability to analyze market trends and identify growth opportunities.
• Experience with CRM platforms, pipeline management, and sales forecasting.
• High degree of professionalism, executive presence, and entrepreneurial mindset.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, Advertising, or a related field required.
• MBA or advanced business degree preferred.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Achievement of annual new business revenue targets.
• Growth of qualified pipeline opportunities.
• New client acquisition and revenue contribution.
• Improvement in pitch win rates.
• Expansion of consultant and referral relationships.
• Strength of forecasting accuracy and pipeline management.
• Development and performance of the new business team.

Salary Range $150,000 - $180,000 plus year-end company performance bonus

About us

fluent360™ is one of the foremost agency leaders shaping the multicultural marketing industry. Equal parts integrated marketing agency and cultural hub, we specialize in giving brands a resonating voice to effectively speak to various cultural segments– both ethnic and consumer niche followings. As a multi-talented, multicultural agency, we offer a full spectrum of communication services. Find out more about us at www.fluent360.com.

Agency Benefits & Perks

fluent360 offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability, and a generous PTO and sick leave policy. In addition, we have some amazing agency perks including paid gym membership, summer hours, 17 paid holidays, and flexible schedules.

fluent360 is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO, AAE, MF/Disability/Vet.

Our organization participates in E-Verify. For more information visit https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.