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- Tasks: Drive sales by managing new business from start to finish, engaging with clients creatively.
- Company: Join a vibrant ad agency known for championing Underdog brands with a fun and irreverent culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a ÂŁ2k training budget, extra holidays, private healthcare, and occasional trips to the French Alps.
- Why this job: Experience freedom in sales without micromanagement, shaping your own success while having fun.
- Qualifications: Proven consultative selling skills and a passion for sports are essential; no ad agency experience required.
- Other info: Work hybrid with just three days a month in London; everyone gets a response to their application.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 50000 ÂŁ per year.
Which would you prefer?
- Selling something boring. Rigid, straight-faced and bound by red tape. Constantly forced to waste good sales-time on admin.
- Selling creative ideas. Freedom to make it your own, where you simply crack on with the job, nobody micro-managing you. A role where you live to sell.
We’re “b”. An ad agency. But we’re not saying, “Join an ad agency”. We’re saying, “Join us”. Because, unlike other ad agencies, you won’t have to put up with the constant internal meetings and guessing how many wins you’ll give us this year, no salesperson with their salt likes being micro-managed.
We go against the grain in the industry. It’s why our clients love us. You’ll present ideas that don’t come around often and rarely land anywhere else.
Coming here’s the sales equivalent of going from sailor to pirate. Coder to hacker. You can do things your way.
You don’t even need to have sold for an ad agency before. We’ll teach you that side. Just show us you can sell. Join us and you’ll finally be free to do the best selling you’re capable of.
Top-level details:
- Business Development Manager / Sales Manager
- Full-time or Part-time
- UK (commute to London for 3 days, once a month)
- ÂŁ40-50k - ÂŁ100k OTE year 1, ÂŁ200k OTE year 2
What else you’ll get:
- Training budget. You get a ÂŁ2k annual training budget to use on whatever helps you improve.
- No evenings or weekends. If someone’s being unreasonable, we’ll back you - no questions asked. If you spot a smarter way to do things, let’s change how we work.
- Extra holidays. Two company-wide holidays; 2 weeks off at Christmas and 1 week off in August. Plus the statutory 28 days.
- Private healthcare. Provided by BUPA.
- Sabbatical. 6 weeks on full pay, on top of holidays, once you’ve been here 4 years.
- Travel. Occasional trips to the French Alps, because Paul lives there and thinks it’s the bee’s knees.
What you’ll be doing:
You’ll shape the kinds of clients we bring in, defining how we grow while building your own profile. You’ll manage new business from end to end - identifying prospects, initiating conversations, and converting them into paying clients. Of course, we’ll help you, so you won’t start from scratch.
You’ll specifically:
- Profile and find decision-makers in our target Underdog brands.
- Build and manage a healthy pipeline with tailored, human outreach.
- Lead sales conversations, present the agency and handle objections.
- Take and shape briefs, co-write scopes with the MD and close deals.
- Onboard new clients smoothly, aligning everyone on scope and delivery.
Hybrid or remote? Kinda both... We operate a weird mix. Annoyingly, there isn’t a name for it. As a minimum, we all get together in person 3 days a month in London, when Paul (the MD) is in town. Apart from that, you can work from anywhere within a European time zone. (You need the right to work in the UK, no visas offered).
What you’ll need:
You understand consultative selling. We don’t care if it’s SPIN, Sandler – we like Blair Enns’ Win Without Pitching – as long as you can open dialogues with prospects and reach a clear opportunity to discuss working together. That “next step” potential is what we want to see. A maybe to a no or a yes, nothing in between. We don’t need a mile-long pipeline of maybes.
You’ve closed deals that take 3-9 months to materialize, worth 20-200k. That’s what we do – not transactional selling – so that’s what we need. Doing so, you’ve doubled your wage in commission – or, at least, you should have, because that’s what you’ll be doing here.
You’ve persuaded prospects to buy the unconventional. And you can demonstrate how those decisions have aligned with a client’s business outcomes.
You’ll have a love and knowledge of sport (and sporty clients), as we’ve grown a sports client base and are actively chasing Underdog sport brands.
About us:
We’re an independent advertising agency with a reputation for making distinctive advertising, specialising in getting Underdog brands noticed. We bring fun, irreverence and chutzpah into our work and culture. A small and friendly team.
We unsettle the top dog of the category. Our clients are household names and scrappy wannabes on the way up. But they all have one thing in common: they’re Underdogs with something to say.
How to move things along:
Email mitch@mellorandsmith.com with your most recent CV (even if it’s not fully up to date). Everyone gets a response.
Business Development Manager with Underdog DNA. Sales. employer: Mellor&Smith
Contact Detail:
Mellor&Smith Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager with Underdog DNA. Sales.
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the concept of consultative selling, as it's crucial for this role. Understand how to open dialogues with prospects and identify clear opportunities for collaboration, which is exactly what they’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your ability to close long-term deals worth significant amounts. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully navigated lengthy sales cycles and achieved impressive results.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your passion for sport and knowledge of Underdog brands. Research their current clients and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth in this niche market.
✨Tip Number 4
Emphasise your desire for autonomy in your work. This agency values freedom and creativity, so be prepared to discuss how you thrive in environments that allow you to take initiative and drive your own success.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager with Underdog DNA. Sales.
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant sales experience, especially in consultative selling. Emphasise any achievements in closing deals worth 20-200k and how you've doubled your wage through commissions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your personality and passion for sales. Mention your love for sport and how it aligns with the agency's focus on Underdog brands. Show them why you're the perfect fit for their unique culture.
Showcase Your Sales Philosophy: In your application, briefly explain your approach to sales, particularly your understanding of consultative selling techniques. Highlight how you open dialogues with prospects and create opportunities for collaboration.
Follow Up: After submitting your application, consider sending a polite follow-up email if you haven't heard back within a week or two. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you on their radar.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mellor&Smith
✨Show Your Sales Passion
Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for sales during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've successfully closed deals and the strategies you used. This role is all about selling creatively, so let your passion shine through!
✨Understand Consultative Selling
Familiarise yourself with consultative selling techniques, as this is crucial for the position. Be prepared to discuss your experience with methods like SPIN or Sandler, and how you've applied them to open dialogues and create opportunities.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Underdog Brands
Since the agency focuses on Underdog brands, show that you understand their unique challenges and opportunities. Discuss any relevant experience you have with similar clients or industries, particularly in sports, to highlight your fit for the role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Long Sales Cycles
Prepare to talk about your experience with longer sales cycles, especially those that take 3-9 months to close. Share examples of how you've navigated these processes and the results you've achieved, as this aligns with the agency's approach to business development.
