At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive new business opportunities and create impactful client solutions in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a leading insights company focused on innovation and client success.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of agile solutions and make a real difference for clients.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience in B2B services with strong consultative skills.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with significant potential for career advancement.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
Function/Team: Business Development (Insights UK)
Location: London (Hybrid)
Reporting to: Head of Business Development
Role Type: Hunter (end-to-end selling; includes significant—but not all—conversion activities)
Role Purpose (Why this role exists): We’re looking for an Agile Solutions Business Development Director (Hunter) who is obsessed with clients, thrives on creating net-new opportunities, and consistently converts client tensions into pipeline and wins. You will open doors and win work across Agile Solutions and entry-level / productised offers (e.g., Innovation, Brand, Creative, CX and other adjacent solutions), with a clear focus on accelerating adoption and revenue through Kantar Marketplace. This is a role for someone who brings pace, curiosity, and commercial energy—someone who loves being in front of clients and knows how to translate needs into crisp propositions, strong proposals, and closed deals (especially for smaller, faster-moving opportunities).
Scope & Operating Model (End-to-end, with smart handoffs): You will own the sales cycle end-to-end for smaller/productised and agile opportunities, while partnering with specialist colleagues for complex conversion steps where needed. Practically, that means:
- You collaborate and “pull in” conversion/programme design/expert teams for larger, more complex, higher-risk opportunities—staying accountable for momentum, client experience, and outcome.
- You operate with a strong bias toward velocity, clarity, and CRM discipline, ensuring clean pipeline hygiene and accurate forecasting.
What Success Looks Like (12-month outcomes):
- Net-new growth: Consistent new-logo and cross-sell wins and meaningful pipeline creation, particularly through Kantar Marketplace and agile/entry-level solutions.
- Pipeline health: High-quality pipeline with clear stages, next steps, and close plans; strong discipline on qualification and prioritisation.
- Client time obsession: A meaningful proportion of working time spent with prospects/clients (in-person and online), pro-active networking at events, to create and progress opportunities.
- Cross-functional impact: Trusted partnerships with Marketing, Domains, and Thought Leadership that increase lead flow and improve conversion.
Key Responsibilities:
- New Business Hunting & Opportunity Creation: Build and execute a focused hunting plan that targets priority sectors/accounts and unlocks new buying points. Identify, map, and engage senior decision-makers; create demand through proactive outreach, networking, and events. Reactivate dormant/lapsed accounts with strong potential, turning re-entry conversations into funded work.
- Consultative Discovery & Deal Shaping (Agile + Productised): Lead discovery conversations that surface client tensions, decision criteria, and urgency—then translate into clear, compelling proposals. Shape “right-sized” solutions across Innovation, Brand, Creative, CX and adjacent offers—optimised for agility, speed, and repeatability. Position Kantar Marketplace as the fast path to value for productised needs and agile test-and-learn programmes.
- End-to-End Selling & (Selective) Conversion Ownership: For larger/complex opportunities, coordinate with relevant experts (domains/programme design/conversion support) to strengthen solution credibility and win probability—without losing pace. Maintain tight control of next steps, stakeholder mapping using MEDDPICC, and mutual action plans to keep deals moving.
- Marketing, Domains & Thought Leadership Partnership: Work closely with Marketing and Thought Leadership to convert campaigns, content, events, and insights into qualified leads and active opportunities. Partner with domain teams to package relevant proof points, case stories, and POVs that accelerate client confidence and shorten cycles. Run a disciplined pipeline rhythm: accurate staging, probabilities, close dates, and next actions. Maintain forecast accuracy and clear reporting of opportunities, risks, and mitigations. Confidently use core commercial tools and platforms (e.g., CRM, Maconomy, LinkedIn, Sales Navigator) to drive efficiency and data quality.
Skills, Experience & Attributes (What you’ll bring):
- Core Experience: Proven track record in consultative/SaaS hunting / new business sales (B2B services, insights, consulting, tech, media, or data-driven solutions). Comfortable selling both agile/productised offers and shaping more tailored solutions with specialists. Strong commercial judgement: qualification, deal strategy, value articulation, and closing discipline. Excellent discovery, storytelling, and proposal shaping—able to turn ambiguity into clarity and action. Strong internal collaboration skills; able to mobilise Marketing and domain experts without losing accountability.
- Mindset & Behaviours: Client-obsessed: prioritises client time, listens deeply, and is energised by client outcomes. Hungry & pacey: proactive, resilient, relentless about making progress. CRM disciplined: treats pipeline hygiene as part of professional excellence.
Key Performance Indicators:
- New qualified opportunities created (volume + quality)
- Net-new revenue closed (especially agile/productised and Kantar Marketplace led)
- Pipeline coverage and stage health (accuracy, next steps, momentum)
- Conversion effectiveness on owned deals; effective partner-led conversion on complex deals
Business Development Director, Agile Solutions employer: Kantar Group
Contact Detail:
Kantar Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Director, Agile Solutions
✨Tip Number 1
Get out there and network! Attend industry events, meet-ups, and conferences where you can connect with potential clients and decision-makers. Remember, it’s all about building relationships and creating opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Be proactive in your outreach. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; reach out to prospects directly. Use LinkedIn to engage with them, share insights, and position yourself as a thought leader in Agile Solutions.
✨Tip Number 3
When you get a chance to meet clients, make it count! Focus on understanding their needs and pain points. This consultative approach will help you shape compelling proposals that resonate with them.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep your pipeline clean and organised. Use CRM tools effectively to track your leads and ensure you’re following up at the right times. A well-maintained pipeline is key to closing deals and hitting those targets!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Director, Agile Solutions
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Clients: Make sure to highlight your obsession with clients in your application. We want to see how you thrive on creating new opportunities and converting client needs into successful proposals.
Be Clear and Concise: When crafting your written application, clarity is key! Use crisp language to describe your experience and how it aligns with the role. We love a well-structured proposal that gets straight to the point.
Demonstrate Your Hunting Skills: We’re looking for someone who can build and execute a focused hunting plan. Share examples of how you've successfully identified and engaged decision-makers in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kantar Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the company’s Agile Solutions and Kantar Marketplace. Understand their offerings and how they create value for clients. This knowledge will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs and demonstrate your genuine interest.
✨Showcase Your Hunting Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully hunted for new business opportunities in the past. Highlight your consultative selling approach and how you've turned client tensions into wins. Use metrics to back up your claims—numbers speak volumes!
✨Be Client-Obsessed
During the interview, emphasise your client-centric mindset. Share stories that illustrate how you've prioritised client time and outcomes. Show that you’re not just about closing deals but also about building lasting relationships and understanding client needs deeply.
✨Master the Art of Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with marketing and domain experts, be ready to discuss how you've effectively collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight your ability to mobilise resources while maintaining accountability and momentum in the sales process.