Business Development Director - National Accounts

at  Native

ABOUT US:

native. is a fast-growing, innovative, and dynamic company dedicated to bringing extensive content and experiences to the student marketplace. We have a student advertising platform, a ticketing platform, and a host of complementary services all focused on revolutionising and supercharging the university experience for students.
Our student advertising platform unifies the advertising landscape, making it easy for advertisers like GoPuff, Converse, and BBC Radio 1 connect with student consumers at scale.
Inspired by the founder’s desire to help students have the best time at university, native enriches the lives of students as well as enabling Student Unions to support them.
Students benefit. Student Unions benefit. Brands benefit. This is what we call the native. win-win-win.
Media Sales at native
Media sales at native occupies a unique place. We hold exclusive relationships for campus media inventory across the UK, and can address the 2.86m students in the UK market.
We are uniquely positioned to manage the blend of local, regional and national advertising selling both directly to clients and via agencies and media buying groups. We combine the scale of a national footprint with the opportunity to reach specially selected student populations, with tailored advertising propositions which enable brands to make major impacts.
The market opportunity is huge, and in managing this we need to expand our senior business development and sales capability.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Sales and Business Development Director - National Accounts will play a pivotal role in nurturing and securing partnerships with high-profile brands, You will lead relationship-building efforts at a senior level, driving business development, and ensuring integration of new clients. Your expertise in engaging with brands relevant to young people, particularly Gen Z and student-based audiences, will be crucial in propelling our company’s growth.
In addition, and in light of the growth potential, your leadership in the development of native’s capability, driving excellence in all aspects of relationship-management, and supporting the business in ever-better ways of delivering will also be key.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

• Business Development Identify, target, and engage with significant and recognised brands to build strong, long-lasting partnerships
• Client Relationship Management Lead the relationship-building process with senior stakeholders, ensuring a deep understanding of client needs and delivering exceptional service
• Strategic Planning Develop and implement strategic plans to secure new business, focusing on brands that resonate with Gen Z and student audiences
• Sales Leadership Drive the entire sales cycle from initial contact to agreement closure, including proposal development, negotiation, and contract management.
• Market Analysis Conduct through market research to identify trends, opportunities, and competitive landscape relevant to Gen Z and student-based advertising
• Visioning and Storytelling Create and present compelling narratives that showcase our unique value proposition and vision, effectively communicating our story
• Collaboration Work closely with internal teams to ensure seamless execution of advertising campaigns, aligning client objectives with our creative and operational capabilities
• Performance Tracking Monitor and report on sales performance, providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement