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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business development efforts and build meaningful client relationships.
- Company: Join Elmwood, a global brand design consultancy shaping impactful brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, private health insurance, and a vibrant studio environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a new department driving growth and creativity in a purpose-driven agency.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior business development roles within branding or creative industries.
- Other info: We celebrate diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
About Elmwood
We’re a globally recognised, award-winning strategic brand design consultancy with studios in London, New York, Singapore and Shanghai. Every day, we partner with some of the world’s most ambitious consumer, corporate, and healthcare brands to craft high-impact creative that moves people and markets.
Rooted in purpose and powered by creativity, our mission is simple: get our clients from intent to impact — faster.
As proud members of the MSQ Group and B Corp certified, we unite strategy, design, and experience to shape brands that are not only standout but stand FOR something.
“The world doesn’t need more brands, it needs better ones.” Daniel Binns – Elmwood Global CEO
About The Department
This is a brand new, purpose-built department at Elmwood — and you’ll play a central role in shaping it.
As Elmwood enters a new 3-year growth phase following five years of significant expansion, the New Business & Marketing team will be the engine driving our strategic business development efforts. The department will define and deliver clear, intentional plans for growth — turning bold ambition into smart action.
From developing high-impact new business strategies to refining our market positioning and outreach, this team will set the pace for how Elmwood shows up in the world — with clarity, purpose and momentum.
About The Role
As Business Development Director, your purpose is to fuel growth with intent — scaling Elmwood’s new business efforts as well as business growth through a strategic, sector-savvy, and creatively aligned approach.
You’ll take the lead in expanding our client base and service offering across our three core pillars: health, consumer, and B2B brand design. With an eye on long-term opportunity and short-term impact, you’ll shape and deliver a new business strategy that aligns with Elmwood’s future-first positioning, working closely with creative, strategy, and marketing teams to land high-value, high-impact partnerships.
You will be a strategic thinker and persuasive communicator who thrives on building meaningful client relationships. Working alongside our Marketing and Studio teams, you’ll amplify our brand promise – Branding with Intent – and bring it to life through intelligent, well-matched new business wins.
As Elmwood moves into its next phase of growth in FY25/26, you’ll also play a vital role in amplifying the scale and breadth of our MSQ network — helping us show the full strength of our collective capabilities while keeping Elmwood’s agility and strategic creativity at the forefront.
This role isn’t just about winning work — it’s a pivotal leadership role that will shape the future of the agency.
What You’ll Do
Lead Generation & Market Engagement
- Develop and implement a future-focused new business strategy aligned to Elmwood’s repositioning.
- Identify, assess and engage new prospects within our core sectors (consumer, corporate, healthcare).
- Attend and represent Elmwood at key industry events, establishing thought leadership and meaningful connections.
Pitching & Conversion
- Lead and orchestrate pitch processes from brief to delivery, ensuring creative and strategic excellence.
- Craft compelling proposals in collaboration with strategy and creative teams that demonstrate value, clarity, and momentum.
- Confidently present Elmwood’s story and proposition to C-suite decision-makers.
Relationship Building
- Build long-term partnerships with prospective clients rooted in trust, insight, and mutual ambition.
- Ensure a seamless handover of new business into client teams while maintaining oversight of strategic growth opportunities.
Collaboration & Innovation
- Build relationships with our Global Growth team and local Studio leads to share plans and progress; supporting global cohesion
- Partner with Marketing to develop content, campaigns, and initiatives that attract high-value prospects.
Performance & Reporting
- Monitor pipeline health using our CRM system (HubSpot).
- Analyse key metrics and performance against KPIs to optimise efforts and outcomes.
- Regularly report progress and insights to senior leadership.
What You’ll Bring to Elmwood
- Passionate about building brands with purpose, clarity and measurable impact.
- Delivered consistent year-on-year revenue growth through new business acquisition.
- Proven experience in a senior new business development role, ideally within the branding, design or relatetd creative industry
- A track record of generating new business and achieving high growth through conversion of high-quality leads into successful, retained clients.
- Distinct reputation in the industry and extensive contact list
- Grown brand consultancy footprints within existing clients through smart cross-selling and strategic partnership-building.
- Operated confidently in high-level pitch environments within the branding, design, or broader creative industry.
- Entered new markets or categories and delivered commercial value at speed.
- Extensive and demonstrable experience in senior business development roles within brand consultancy, design, or creative services ideally.
- Natural connector, confident communicator and strategic seller.
- Commercially astute with a strong understanding of brand strategy and design.
- Adept at navigating complex organisations and identifying opportunities others might miss.
If your experience looks different from what we’ve described, but you believe you’d make a great fit — we’d love to hear from you.
What We Offer (London Studio)
We care about our people, and that’s why we create a collaborative culture where new thinking is celebrated, ambition is supported, and people are rewarded for their contribution. Whilst a competitive package, professional development and the opportunity to shape our next chapter is all standard here at elmwood, we thought we would highlight a few of our favourite benefits:
- Hybrid working with flexi start/end time (8-10am / 4-6pm)
- A vibrant studio space in the heart of Covent Garden with unlimited tea/coffee, fruit baskets, showers, bicycle storage etc
- 26 days annual leave + wellbeing days + 3 additional days over Christmas & New Year + Enhanced parental leave
- Workcation (work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks per year)
- Private health insurance
- Wellbeing initiatives like subsidised Gym, Physio Sessions, GP Services, Life Coaching
- Apple MAC and iPhone hardware
Let’s Build Better Brands — Getting them from Intentto Impact Faster
If you're ready to help shape the future of brand consultancy by growing purposeful, performance-driven partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Elmwood is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and value difference, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences — including underrepresented groups.
Need adjustments to support your application? Let us know. We’re happy to provide alternative formats, remote interviews, or any other support you might need to show your best self.
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Business Development Director (London) employer: Elmwood Brand Consultancy
Contact Detail:
Elmwood Brand Consultancy Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Director (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network strategically within the branding and design industry. Attend relevant events, workshops, and conferences where you can meet potential clients and industry leaders. Building relationships in person can significantly enhance your chances of landing this role.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Elmwood's recent projects and case studies. Understanding their approach to brand consultancy will allow you to speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their growth and align with their mission during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your thought leadership by sharing insights on industry trends and challenges through social media or professional platforms like LinkedIn. This not only showcases your expertise but also positions you as a valuable asset to Elmwood's new business strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully built client relationships and driven revenue growth in previous roles. Being able to articulate your past successes will help you stand out as a candidate who can deliver results for Elmwood.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Director (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and expectations of the Business Development Director position at Elmwood. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with their needs.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should not only introduce yourself but also convey your passion for brand consultancy and your strategic vision for driving growth. Use specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to build meaningful client relationships and achieve high business growth.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, focus on showcasing your proven track record in new business development, particularly within the branding or creative industries. Include metrics and achievements that illustrate your success in generating new business and converting leads into retained clients.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: Elmwood is looking for a strategic thinker. In your application, provide examples of how you've developed and implemented successful business strategies in the past. Highlight your ability to navigate complex organisations and identify opportunities that others might miss.
How to prepare for a job interview at Elmwood Brand Consultancy
✨Understand Elmwood's Mission
Before the interview, make sure you fully grasp Elmwood's mission of getting clients from intent to impact. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with this goal and how you can contribute to their vision of building better brands.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
As a Business Development Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to develop and implement effective business strategies. Prepare examples of past successes where you've driven growth through strategic initiatives, particularly in the branding or design sectors.
✨Prepare for High-Level Pitches
Since you'll be leading pitch processes, practice presenting Elmwood’s story and proposition confidently. Tailor your pitch to resonate with C-suite decision-makers, highlighting your understanding of their needs and how Elmwood can meet them.
✨Emphasise Relationship Building Skills
Building long-term partnerships is crucial for this role. Be ready to discuss your approach to relationship management and provide examples of how you've successfully built trust and insight with clients in previous roles.
