Head of Business Development (Studio)
Location: Flexible remote working with routine travel to Newcastle HQ
Type: Full-Time
Reporting to: Chief Commercial Officer
Start Date: ASAP
About Aircards
Aircards is a global creative innovation studio building boundary-pushing experiences across the physical and digital world, providing an end-to-end service and ensuring that our clients are able to most effectively leverage this immersive technology for commercial success.
Based in both Newcastle and New York, Aircards counts Diageo, Unilever, Red Bull as just a handful of our Enterprise clients. We specialize in:
* Virtual Worlds / Digital Twins
* CGI Content Production
* Mixed Reality & Spatial Computing
* Social AR
* Physical Installations
* Artificial Intelligence
* Gaming & Gamification
We work with leading brands and agencies to deliver projects that merge creativity with emerging technology, always aiming to inspire, engage, and innovate.
Role Overview
We are seeking an exceptional Head of Business Development to join our leadership team and drive top-line revenue growth. This is a hunter-style commercial leadership role, focused on identifying, sourcing, and closing new business opportunities across our core innovation verticals.
The person will underpin financial growth for the Aircards, working alongside our established, outstanding commercial team and identifying and securing partnerships, enhancing market share, and driving revenue growth with premium clients, partners, or segments.
You must be a natural dealmaker with deep brand and agency-side connections, capable of unlocking high-value commercial opportunities. This role is 100% focused on net new business, working closely with internal account teams who handle client farming and long-term relationship development.
As part of this commercial leadership position, you will also be responsible for building and mentoring a high-performance business development team, scaling our sales capability to meet growing global demand.
This role requires first class commercial experience and a demonstration of previous client success, exceptional relationship-building skills, and the ability to lead complex deal negotiations.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead outbound new business acquisition across brand and agency sectors.
* Build and maintain a strong, qualified pipeline of sales opportunities.
* Routine conversion of opportunities to commercially successful contracts
* Leverage your network and insight to open doors with senior decision-makers.
* Drive the full 360 sales cycle: from lead generation and qualification through to pitch, negotiation, and close handing over new client acquisition to client account team.
* Collaborate with strategy, creative, and production teams to deliver winning proposals and new RFP responses.
* Represent Aircards externally at key industry events, trade shows, and networking opportunities with a specific focus on new client acquisition.
* Build, lead, and coach a team of business development professionals as the commercial needs of the business grow.
* Working alongside senior-level partners, support strategic planning around go-to-market initiatives and partnerships.
* Maintain accurate pipeline reporting, forecasts, and performance KPIs using Salesforce CRM system.
* Expertise in managing and constructing tailored outreach programs using automated sales platforms.
* Work in partnership with both the CMO and CCO to align around marketing and client success storytelling for outbound activities
* As required, deliver responsibilities and duties outside of routine job activity i.e standing in for the Chief Commercial Officer
Requirements
* 10+ years of experience in business development or commercial delivery roles within a creative technology, immersive media, or innovation studio.
* Must have sold £1m + projects or workstreams with clients with proven track record
* Proven ability to close high-value deals with global brands and top-tier agencies.
* An established network of decision-makers in marketing, innovation, or creative leadership roles.
* Confident operating at C-suite level with strong commercial instincts.
* Deep knowledge of emerging technology trends in XR, AI, spatial computing, gaming, and experiential activations.
* Experience building or leading commercial teams.
* Excellent pitch, proposal, and verbal communication skills.
* High-energy, self-motivated, and proactive in driving outcomes.
* Ability to be strategic, creative, and commercial with technological capabilities.
* Previous experience working inside an agency, production studio, or experiential tech company.
* Understanding of technical project delivery workflows
Compensation & Benefits
* Competitive base salary + significant performance-based commission
* Flexible remote working with routine travel to Newcastle UK HQ
* Opportunity to build your own team and shape a global BD strategy
* Work alongside a world-class creative and technical team
* Be part of a fast-growing innovation studio at the forefront of immersive tech
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