Director, Business Development - Data & AI

Who We Are

WillowTree is a leading digital consultancy that partners with the world’s most admired brands to orchestrate winning experiences across the customer journey. Experiences that are personalized, on-brand, and consistent across channels and platforms. Experiences that can both drive customer delight and reduce operating costs.

Our services include digital strategy consulting, product development, brand and experience design, digital marketing, and data and AI services. WillowTree’s client roster spans industries and growth stages, including T-Mobile, Marriott, Allianz, Dexcom, PepsiCo, Brightline Trains, Synchrony Financial, Domino’s, and Dairy Queen. Check out how we have impacted our clients digital portfolios over the years.

In January 2023, WillowTree was acquired by TELUS Digital (Symbol: TIXT), a leading provider of next-generation digital customer experience (CX) solutions for global and disruptive brands. The combined firm brings an unparalleled ability to deliver seamless, trusted, digitally-enabled experiences across any channel a customer might choose — including mobile apps, websites, voice UI, chatbots, email, customer service agents, and retail associates.

Location

This role is a Work From Near (Hybrid) role that will be based out of one of our offices (Boston, MA, Charlottesville, VA, Durham, NC, or Columbus, OH) that has a Business Development team presence.

The Opportunity

The Director, Business Development role is responsible for leading relationships with key strategic accounts, and for cultivating relationships with key prospective accounts. This role will be focused on our Data and AI vertical. The Director will ensure that all aspects of account work, from strategic development to execution, are exceeding client expectations. While working with Business Development and Marketing leadership on a combination of product, brand, market, and sales strategies, the Director will coordinate new leads, field new business opportunities, and win new business.

WillowTree’s Business Development team encompasses a range of skilled professionals that drive innovation and growth on the front lines of client engagement. As a team, we rally around three distinct areas in the client journey map: Prospecting, Pursuit, and Expansion. A few responsibilities across our team include: identifying new relationships and opportunities, nurturing ongoing relationships with client partners, contracting agreements, writing proposals, pitching our services to prospective clients, and more.

Responsibilities

• Full autonomy to execute and engage prospective clients paired with the opportunity to collaborate with our VPs of Business Development for development and career growth
• Identify target accounts to optimize services and communicate WillowTrees capabilities to clients
• Competently articulate the approach, product detail, and technical requirements to successfully implement technology solutions that drive business outcomes for clients
• You’ll collaborate with our Solutions Architects and Product teams to craft executive-level proposals, pitches, and SOWs for prospective and existing clients
• Cultivate and extend existing C-level relationships with current clients
• You’ll team up with our delivery leadership to respond to opportunities and team-sell through RFP responses or other types of sales cycles
• Advise WillowTree’s internal teams on industry and vendor trends to remain well-positioned to assist our clients

Competencies  

• Experience in Data and/or AI custom services sales or consulting engaging with F5000-level client accounts
• Experience in net-new client logo acquisition and/or cross-selling within existing client accounts
• Proven knowledge in AI, Machine Learning, Machine Learning Ops, Data Engineering, and/or Data Science
• Self-driven and intellectual curiosity about the Data & AI market and trends, specifically interested in the GenAI movement
• Ability to identify and characterize business issues, while demonstrating a ‘nose for value’ to discern what is important
• Maintains the capability to scope and plan underlying analyses that will yield critical answers to the questions at hand. Understand the required data to complete the analysis and procure them accordingly. Analyze data and translate findings into meaningful insights and recommendations
• Ability to communicate effectively and succinctly, both verbally and on paper, and across all levels of an organization. The ideal candidate excels in client relationships/communication and possesses the executive presence to influence appropriate senior stakeholders

Bonus Points

• Experience in GenAI custom services sales or consulting
• Background in Data Engineering or Data Science
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration

Why WillowTree?

We offer a place to be yourself.

Our differences, both visible and invisible, benefit our teams, our communities, and the products we craft. That’s why WillowTree strives to build a team with diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. You’ll work hard here; however, we’ll balance that with a culture that supports your growth and cares about your well-being. We’re committed to creating an environment of inclusion — a place where every Tree can thrive.

We want you to reach your fullest potential and part of your professional development at WillowTree will include dedicated time to innovate on passion projects and an annual stipend to fund your professional pursuits.

WillowTree upholds our core values in every aspect of our work. We promote safe and inclusive work environments and maintain a drug-free workplace. We celebrate our differences and provide equal employment opportunities to all team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Diverse teams build better products. We acknowledge that the tech industry especially lacks opportunity for those who are of non-traditional backgrounds and in underrepresented groups. In order to create the best products for everyone, we know that its important for our team to reflect the diversity of our users, and we are committed to being the change we want to see.