Senior Business Development Director - Retail Services

Company Overview:

Sparks is a live + digital brand experience agency. We specialize in creating connection–-real human connection–-onsite, online or anywhere. Through a mix of sound strategy, breakthrough creative and flawless execution, we create memorable trade show exhibits, live and virtual events, brand activations, retail stores, corporate environments and other immersive experiences that deepen relationships, inspire action, and build trust--and we do it all over the world.

We operate an open and inclusive culture where all recognize, respect, appreciate and encourage individuality regardless of race, gender, age, religion, culture, ideology, economic status, disability or sexual orientation. We believe that everyone at all levels of our organization is accountable for building this culture and we are challenging ourselves daily to seek and build diversity and equality in any way that we can–and we welcome your ideas to do so.

Position Overview:

This position will focus on strategic sales and engagement with net new clients and banners. The position will work with some of the world’s leading brands to understand their retail needs, audiences and challenges, and then deliver smart, strategic, results-driven sales recommendations across the Retail, SEE and Freeman Enterprise portfolio with a focus on creative and fabrication services that build long lasting and engrained relationships which can grow into other areas of our business.

This role will be responsible for adhering to the overarching Retail strategy through prospecting, event attendance, lead identification, proposal management, and the facilitation of a smooth handover to Account Directors and Retail Production teams as available.

The position requires an advanced level of business acumen and ability to maintain and report on pipeline progress in addition to other analytics as required. The position will manage multiple competitive proposals and projects per year in varying capacities and may work on projects independently or as part of a larger team.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Strategic Business Development Sr Director, Retail position is responsible for creating opportunities for sales growth within our target markets and across our multiple business lines, products and services. This is a results-driven position primarily measured by opportunity created and business closed.

Responsibilities:

Learn Sparks’ complete portfolio of products and services and have the ability to present our complete portfolio offering with special emphasis on Custom Store Fixtures, Shop-In-Shop and POP/ Visual Merchandising displays.

Develop sales plans tailored to sell Sparks products/services within identified target accounts and vertical markets specializing in Custom Store Fixtures and Shop In Shop Fixtures

Work collaboratively with the sales and marketing teams and foster a culture of continuous process improvement and a more sophisticated Go-To-Market process

Pursue target accounts, evaluate opportunities, build relationships, collect key information and drive internal teams to create proposals and presentations to prospects.

Utilize all business development techniques: phone, email, html, direct mail, association involvement, public speaking and networking...to build relationships and create opportunities.

Record all contact and activity in Salesforce with a focus on accuracy and timely reporting.

Follow up and evaluate opportunities that come into Sparks in the form of RFP’s, RFI’s and general inquiries.

Work with Sparks Design, Engineering, Account Managers, Project Managers, Install Team and Account team assigned to the each project or opportunity to understand and drive requirements, timeline, budget and delivery of project.

Develop relationships and process that allow for seamless transition to account team once new banners are onboarded.

Provide weekly reporting on items such as prospect meetings, new opportunities, project development, targeted campaigns and forecast updates.

Desire to own projects and exceed expectations, with ability to find solutions and deliver results within a rapidly changing, entrepreneurial, technology-driven culture

Ability to identify and solve client issues strategically

Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with management and cross-functional teams, for both technical and non-technical audiences

Work collaboratively with the sales and marketing teams and fosters a culture of continuous process improvement and a more sophisticated Go-To-Market process

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Minimum 7-10 years of senior sales management experience

Proven track record of building brand awareness, relationship development and successful closing business.

Has proven ability to manage their own book of accounts in the profitable production of revenue opportunities totalling approximately $10M or more.

Assertive relationship building, resourceful networking, solid presentation skills and creative thinking

MUST be willing to consistently cold call and solicit new business.

Experience in the Store Fixture and retail/ apparel industries a plus

Travel is required

Preferred Skills:

Experience or comfort working independently or in a remote environment

Experience with, or willingness to learn Sparks custom instance of Salesforce

Proficient in Google Drive and Microsoft Office

Strong attention to detail, a positive attitude, and a team player

Ability to operate within a fast-paced environment

Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills

Think you’ve got what it takes to hang with us?

We’ve built our reputation on creating awesome experiences for our clients, but equally important is the experience we create for our people. Yes, we work hard. But we also make it a point to have fun. And we find our people work that much harder when work doesn’t feel so much like, well, work. If you share our mindset, we should chat.

We’ve always got our eyes peeled for smart, hungry people who think that what we do isn’t so much a job as it is a way of life. And while any company can supply stuff like benefits (and, of course we do too!) our greatest benefit comes from the amazing people you’ll interact with daily, who will challenge and push you to think harder, be more creative and love what you do.

Sparks, a Freeman company, provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.