Senior Business Development Lead

Job description

 We’re hiring! 

Salary Range: £55,000 - £65,000 DOE

Hybrid Working

Who are we?

Bearded Kitten is a global creative experience agency with a portfolio of award-winning work. Our mission is clear: to fearlessly champion fun and create the unforgettable. Don’t be deceived by our  name - Bearded Kitten is the real deal. From large scale brand experiences and sampling tours to culturally led launch events, from building immersive worlds to conferences and employee engagement initiatives - we cover it all.

It’s an exciting time to become a Kitten, in the past year alone the company has grown rapidly and we’ve worked with some of the world’s biggest brands. With an ever growing client base across the UK and beyond - this is an opportunity to join a fast paced, close-knit and energetic team.

What's the role?

The Senior Business Development Manager leads the agency’s new-business function, acting as the strategic and operational driver behind pitch growth, lead conversion, and market expansion. This role is responsible for managing new client pipelines, shaping high-quality pitch responses, aligning internal resourcing, and feeding into the long-term commercial strategy of the agency.

The position combines strategic thinking, creative development oversight, external relationship building, and strong commercial judgement to accelerate the agency’s growth.

Role Structure:

• New Business Leadership & Pitches – 60%
• Marketing, Social, Website, SEO & Awards – 20%
• Agency Growth & Market Development – 15%
• Industry Insights & Intelligence – 5%

 What will you do?

1. New Business Leadership & Pitch Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for new client enquiries, managing relationships from initial approach through to final pitch delivery.
• Conduct chemistry sessions, establish client needs, and ensure seamless communication throughout the pitch process.
• Lead internal resourcing for pitch responses—working with Senior Leadership to identify the strongest team based on expertise, capacity, and strategic fit.
• Maintain oversight of pitch development, ensuring deadlines, creative direction, and client requirements are met.
• Manage freelancers (creative, strategy, design) as needed for pitch support and new-biz tasks.
• Help build pitch budgets and oversee commercial accuracy in submissions.
• Ensure the Director of Production and Production Team receive clear briefs for pitch costings and logistical outlines.
• After each pitch, gather and analyse client feedback (win or loss) to improve future performance and shape internal best practices.

2. Agency Growth & Commercial Development

• Identify opportunities to grow existing accounts through upselling, cross-selling, and integrated client partnership development working closely with the Managing Partner.
• Map and research new clients, sectors, and market opportunities aligned with agency ambitions, especially within:
• Support the Director of Production in expanding BK Studios—enhancing outbound activity, attending chemistry sessions, and representing the studio during calls, meetings, and workshop tours.
• Contribute to high-level commercial strategy and revenue planning alongside Senior Leadership.

3. Marketing, Social & Industry Engagement

• Drive marketing initiatives including content creation, campaign support, thought leadership, and case-study development.
• Lead the awards programme—managing submissions, identifying opportunities for Senior Leadership to speak, judge, or join panels.
• Support the planning and delivery of the agency’s first self-produced owned event.
• Represent the agency at industry events, conferences, networking sessions, and trade shows to support visibility and new-business growth.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor positioning, and market shifts to inform strategy and identify new opportunities.

4. Operational Management & Internal Processes

• Lead the weekly New Business meeting, setting agenda, actions, and follow-up.
• Manage internal budgets for Ads & Marketing, Awards, Social Media, Client Entertainment, New Business, and Pitch Freelancers.
• Oversee website updates and ensure all new projects and case studies are added promptly.
• Maintain and refine the agency creds, ensuring it remains up to date and fit for purpose.
• Manage the New Business calendar, keeping the Managing Partner informed of pipeline health and resourcing needs.
• Maintain the new-biz spreadsheet, including pitch pipeline, conversion metrics, and win/loss tracking.

Who are we looking for?

• Proven experience leading new business pitches within a creative, marketing, or production agency
• Ability to own the pitch process end-to-end, from initial enquiry to final submission
• Confident running chemistry meetings and building senior client relationships
• Strong experience briefing and coordinating creative, strategy, and production teams
• Solid commercial awareness, including pitch budgeting and cost control
• Highly organised, with strong project management and deadline ownership
• Experience managing new business pipelines, tracking opportunities, and reporting clearly
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Confident, professional, and credible in client-facing environments
• Nice-to-Have
• Experience driving account growth through upselling and cross-selling
• Involvement in agency marketing, case studies, or thought leadership
• Experience managing or contributing to an awards programme
• Comfortable representing an agency at industry events and networking opportunities
• Experience managing freelancers for pitch or project support
• Familiarity with CRM systems, dashboards, or pipeline reporting tools
• Experience supporting studio, product, or production-led growth initiatives

❤ The Perks

• 25 days paid holiday, plus Bank Holidays. 1 additional day added per year of service up to 5 days.
• Approximately five additional days off over the Christmas/New Year period.
• Hybrid working. Minimum 3 days from the office, compulsory office day on Wednesdays.
• Flexi-time policy.
• Generous overtime policy.
• New Business Incentive Scheme from day one.
• Employee Referral Incentive Policy from day one.
• Employee assistance programme with free access to mental health resources.
• Monthly team socials, plus an annual team offsite with overnight stay.
• Guaranteed hilarity and nonsense on a daily basis.

If this sounds like a bit of you, apply now!

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Greater London

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

01-02-2026

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English