Assistant Director - Sales and Business Development

Job Purpose The role of Assistant Director in the Primary Research division, which is a segment of the C&C Vertical at Acuity Knowledge Partners, is open for application. We are in search of a sales expert who is well-versed in all aspects of the sales cycle, including generating leads, fostering client relationships, and finalizing deals. The ideal candidate is a fast learner with robust negotiation abilities and a proven history of sales success, capable of motivating others to achieve similar results. The successful candidate will be tasked with achieving a minimum revenue target of over USD 1 million from new sales and will also be expected to grow the division's existing customer base by:

• The person in this role will be charged with discovering and capitalizing on fresh business prospects to increase revenue. They will craft and execute a strategic plan aimed at broadening the company's clientele by acquiring new customers.
• Additionally, the candidate will maintain a solid pipeline and provide precise predictions regarding new business ventures, revenue streams, and the duration of sales processes.

Key Responsibilities The candidate will be responsible for generating revenue through various channels such as digital sales, event sponsorships, and bespoke roundtable discussions. They will keep up-to-date with industry developments and have a thorough knowledge of the company's offerings. The role involves building and nurturing solid client relationships to ensure ongoing client contentment and collaborating with different teams to provide top-notch customer service. Responsibilities include:

• Meeting or exceeding annual sales goals.
• Expanding the roster of key clients and maintaining close engagement with them.
• Keeping a strong sales pipeline and making accurate predictions about new ventures, income, and the timeline of sales activities.
• Proactively seeking new sales opportunities through regular business review calls, roadshows with the Sales & Marketing team, and converting these prospects into active sources of revenue.
• Representing the organization at trade shows and conferences.
• Conducting in-depth analyses of the business pipeline, including reviewing RFPs and monitoring live project data across teams.
• Enhancing existing client partnerships and establishing new ones, advocating for the company at the executive level within client organizations.
• Identifying chances to cross-sell services across different regional relationships.
• Leading the drafting of proposals and responses to RFPs/RFQs.

Key Competencies The ideal candidate will possess an MBA or an equivalent qualification, coupled with a solid background in sales and a consistent history of achieving or exceeding sales goals. They should bring over 10 years of extensive experience in Market Research or Knowledge Process Outsourcing, with expertise in selling comprehensive Market Research services, including experience with Online panels/Survey solutions and Data Collection methods like CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing), CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) services, and others. Key competencies include:

• Exceptional skills in managing both stakeholders and clients.
• A vibrant personality with strong connections within the Market Research industry.
• A proactive and self-motivated individual who takes ownership of their work and excels as an independent contributor.