National Account Manager - New Business Development

Role Summary

Are you passionate about new business opportunities, a strategic thinker who has a knack for building strong relationships and uncovering hidden opportunities? We're seeking a Strategic Account Manager/Business Development Specialist to join our growing New Business Development team. In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with internal partners to craft tailored business solutions, scope opportunities, and strategize to win competitive bids.

This isn’t just about closing deals; it’s about understanding what’s being said—and what’s not. Your ability to read between the lines, ask the right questions, and identify the real needs of potential clients will be pivotal. As a natural extrovert, you’ll thrive in picking up the phone, navigating awkward conversations, and confidently asking for the business when the solution makes sense.

Patience is key—our sales cycles range from 6 to 18 months. This is a unique opportunity to dive deep into long-term projects, provide thoughtful solutions, and celebrate the big wins after months of effort. If you’re ready to contribute to a team that’s passionate about growth and eager to turn opportunities into success stories, we’d love to hear from you!

Experience Requirements

• 5 years Strategic Account Management or Business Development experience.
• Proven track record of increasing sales via prospecting, marketing, and client relationship development
• Excellent client presentation skills
• Proven ability to identify, negotiate and manage strategic partnership opportunities, preferably with Fortune 1000 companies: from lead through close and onboarding
• Marketing, promotional products distributor and/or agency background preferred
• Innate understanding of large, complex organizations; how they think, make decisions, measure, and partner
• Deep industry knowledge to quickly evaluate competitive advantages that will expose competition

Job Skills & Traits

• Excellent (both internal and external) authentic relationship building skills
• Quick study: Ability to grasp BDA’s divisions, departments, and overall service offering
• Proficient at penetrating and navigating a large company via research, marketing, social media outreach, and by building relationships
• Strategic evaluation and approach for the right business opportunities
• Ability to engage in strategic conversations across all levels of a company, including executives
• Proven ability to manage, with a team, multi-million-dollar business proposals
• Advanced communication skills (both written and oral).
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

Duties & Responsibilities

• Ability to strategically assist in directing new business projects, proposals, presentations, and follow-up materials.
• Hunt and evaluate new business opportunities with new and existing clients.
• Assist in preparing written presentations and proposals
• Salesforce and other technology (MS Office Suite, Clearslide) proficiency
• Create (with executive support) strategy and plan to deliver and measure impact of innovative client-centric solutions
• Collaborate with all Business Unit Sales Teams and appropriate departments (ex: finance for P&L development)
• Provide insight, predict, and address current and potential opportunities and challenges to ensure a seamless onboarding
• Meet extremely tight deadlines and provide exceptional client experiences.
• Partner with business development team to assist in overall RFP journey; first contact, RFP responses, consistent and prompt client communication, close, contract negotiations and on-boarding
• Other duties as assigned