Business Development Lead - Commercial & Branded

Sawhorse Productions is a Los Angeles based, award-winning full-service creative agency turning ideas into unforgettable experiences through captivating branded content, viral social moments, and groundbreaking interactive experiences. We partner with industry-leading brands, artists, and studios such as Walmart, Google, NBCU, Fanatics, Toyota, Pepsi and Alo to deliver industry leading, innovative multi-platform content. At Sawhorse, we believe in fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and relentless excellence while shaping the future of digital storytelling.

Our projects include:

• Branded content
• Social/Digital Content
• Broadcast campaigns 
• UGC Gaming platform experiences
• Interactive/Web3 activations (AR, VR, MR, AI)

Sawhorse Productions is seeking a Business Development Lead to drive growth and expand partnerships across brands, studios, agencies, and entertainment properties. This role focuses on securing high-value opportunities across the commercial and branded content space, from traditional broadcast spots to digital and social campaigns, as well as marketing studio IP.

You will build and execute sales strategies, identify new opportunities, and work closely with top-tier clients to deliver bold, forward-thinking content. Success in this role means having a strong understanding of commercial marketing, media trends, and the evolving content landscape, with a passion for building relationships and creating work that stands out.

Requirements

• Build and manage a robust sales pipeline: Leverage market insights to identify, target, and convert high-value prospects into long-term partnerships that drive revenue growth.
• Expand and strengthen client relationships: Uncover new opportunities, increase project scope, and introduce existing clients to the full range of Sawhorse’s capabilities.
• Develop and execute targeted outreach strategies: Implement strategic outreach initiatives to engage brands, studios, agencies and partners looking for innovative marketing solutions.
• Bidding & pitch workflow: Help lead and streamline business development conversations within the high-volume pitch and bidding process.
• Establish and nurture industry relationships: Engage with key decision-makers at brands, entertainment studios and partners to drive long-term collaborations.
• Collaborate on tailored client solutions: Work cross-functionally with creative and production teams to develop compelling sales decks and customized proposals that align with client objectives.
• Leverage data-driven prospecting: Implement analytical strategies to refine outreach efforts, improve conversion rates, and maximize sales effectiveness.
• Increase Sawhorse’s industry presence: Represent the company at conferences, networking events, and industry gatherings to establish new connections and showcase our expertise.
• Track performance and optimize strategies: Monitor sales metrics, client interactions, and pipeline progress to refine approaches and ensure continued growth.
• Stay ahead of industry trends: Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies in marketing, media, and generative AI to uncover new opportunities and keep Sawhorse at the cutting edge and on the forefront of trends.
• Conduct competitor research: Analyze industry trends and competitor offerings to refine Sawhorse’s positioning and uncover market gaps.
• Enhance sales processes and CRM strategy: Improve lead qualification, CRM tracking, and overall sales workflows to increase efficiency and deal velocity.

Qualifications

A strong candidate for this position should have the following qualities:

• Proven business development experience: 5+ years in business development, partnerships, or a sales-driven role, with a history of securing and expanding high-value client relationships.
• Brand partnership experience: Proven ability to identify, develop, and secure strategic partnerships with brands, studios, and partners.
• Proven success in exceeding growth targets: A track record of consistently achieving or surpassing revenue and sales goals.
• Relationship-building skills: Ability to establish and sustain long-term partnerships, leveraging strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to drive business growth.
• Sales strategy development: Experience crafting and refining sales materials, including pitch decks, proposals, and case studies, to effectively communicate Sawhorse’s value proposition.
• Industry representation: Comfortable attending and speaking at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to build relationships and increase brand visibility.
• Strong communication and negotiation abilities: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Data-driven approach: Proficiency in business intelligence tools (e.g., ZoomInfo), LinkedIn, and CRM platforms (e.g., Airtable, Asana) to identify, track, and manage high-potential prospects.
• Strategic and analytical mindset: Ability to translate market trends and data insights into actionable business strategies that drive measurable growth.
• Self-starter with a proactive mindset: Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment, identifying opportunities and taking initiative with minimal direction.
• Performance-driven approach: Ability to define, track, and optimize key business development KPIs to measure success and refine strategies.

Nice To Have's

• Experience with account-based marketing: Knowledge of strategic marketing practices to enhance client acquisition and retention.
• Multi-lingual or international experience: Ability to work across different regions and cultures to expand Sawhorse’s global reach.
• Experience with Immersive and Interactive Content: Proven experience in business development or sales with interactive experiences, UGC platforms, VR/AR, AI, and experiential activations.

Benefits

• $100,000 - $140,000 plus commission

• Medical, Vision, and Dental
• PTO 
• 401(k)

EEO Statement

Sawhorse Productions is an equal employment opportunity employer. All employees and applicants are evaluated on the basis of their qualifications, consistent with applicable state and federal laws. In addition, Sawhorse Productions will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Sawhorse Productions will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and federal law.