Senior Manager, Business Development & Production
New York City, NY (On-site)
Posted 9 days ago
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Job Description
The Senior Manager, Business Development & Production is a cross-functional role responsible for fielding and managing inbound business opportunities and developing winning proposals, while providing strategic production support on select projects. This person serves as the primary point of contact for incoming RFPs and client inquiries, coordinating internally across design, production, and leadership to develop competitive proposals and ensure smooth handoffs to execution.
The majority of the role is dedicated to business development intake, proposal strategy, and pipeline management. The remainder is focused on production support and internal operational coordination where production expertise adds value to the sales process.
This role is well-suited to someone with a solid background in production or a related field who is ready to step into a client-facing, commercially driven leadership role — working closely with Partners and directors to identify, pursue, and convert new business opportunities rather than leading productions day-to-day.
Key Responsibilities:
BusinessDevelopment&Opportunity Intake
Serve as the first point of contact for all inbound new business inquiries from prospective and current clients
Qualify and evaluate incoming opportunities, summarizing scope, fit, and feasibility for the company
Manage RFP processes from receipt through submission, keeping all internal stakeholders on track
Coordinate between design, production, and executive leadership to align on proposal direction and capacity
Maintain client communication throughout pitch cycles, ensuring timely follow-up and a professional experience
Track pipeline activity and provide regular status updates to Partners
Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and generate repeat business
Support outbound business development efforts, networking opportunities, and strategic partnerships as needed
Proposal Development & Coordination
Lead the assembly of pitch materials, including:
Strategic outlines and positioning
Creative references and location recommendations
Production timelines and preliminary budgets
Ensure proposals reflect company positioning, available capacity, and profitability targets
Support Partners in deal structuring and commercial review
Help navigate vendor onboarding and procurement requirements for new clients
Develop compelling client presentations and proposals that effectively communicate Prodject's creative capabilities
Production Support
Provide strategic production guidance on select projects to ensure successful delivery and continuity between the development, design and execution teams
Assist with vendor coordination, scheduling, and logistics on active projects as needed
Contribute to post-project reviews to help refine systems and improve profitability
Vendor & Resource Coordination
Help source and vet vendors, creatives, and production resources as needed
Assist in maintaining company brand materials including pitch decks, website, and social media
Support the ongoing development of business development materials, case studies, and proposal templates
Qualifications & Experience
5–8 years of experience in business development, in live event production, experiential marketing, or a related field
Familiarity with production processes, budgets, and vendor management — enough to credibly guide proposals and communicate with clients
Experience supporting or managing RFP processes and proposal development
Demonstrated ability to build client relationships and manage opportunities from initial inquiry through contract execution
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
Clear, confident communicator — comfortable interfacing with clients and senior stakeholders
Financially literate; comfortable working with budgets and reviewing commercial terms
Based in New York and comfortable working full-time in-office
Compensation
Basesalary:$100k-130k
Bonus:Goal-based performance bonuses tied primarily to business development outcomes, and overall company growth with consideration for production delivery support
Compensation expected to grow with expanded impact and company scale
Prodject embraces and celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Prodject provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our team!
The Independents is a global ecosystem of 21 best-in-class partner agencies crafting extraordinary brand experiences that captivate audiences worldwide. In collaboration with its clients across the luxury and lifestyle industries, The Independents creates meaningful connections between people and the brands they love.The Independents’ curation reflects an expansive roster of industry pioneers, including 2 x 4, Atelier Athem, Atelier Lum, Bureau Béatrice, Bureau Betak, Bureau Future, Ctzar, Inca Productions, k2, Karla Otto, Kennedy, Kitten Production, Kitty Events, Lefty, Lucien Pagès Communication, MA+Group, Prodject, Sunshine, Terminal 9 Studios, The Qode and We Are Ona. The group’s capabilities span research, core strategy, communications strategy, design, production and distribution, a scope that adapts to every creative challenge.The group translates strategic insights into creative concepts, which are developed into personally relevant experiences that engage local and global audiences by way of its presence in Milan, Paris, London, Munich, Barcelona, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Riyadh.In March 2025, The Independents launched L’Incubateur, a pioneering initiative conceived to identify, support and accelerate the next wave of talent, entrepreneurs and creative agencies on a global scale. Since June 2023, The Independents has been backed by Banijay Group and TowerBrook Capital Partners.
