Growth Marketing & Business Development Director

Growth Marketing & Business Development Director

Chicago, NYC, or DC

Overview
Fifty Thousand Feet is an independent global design consultancy and creative agency that develops timeless brands for discerning audiences. From brand identity systems, marketing communications and advertising to all digital channels, Fifty Thousand Feet uses strategy, design and technology to help brands connect more deeply with their customers. Since 2001, Fifty Thousand Feet ('FTF') has crafted a distinctive approach to developing integrated strategic communications. The agency combines business intelligence, industry acumen and consumer insights to deliver immersive creative solutions that synchronize mobile, digital, broadcast, video, print and retail communications.

FTF is seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Growth Marketing & Business Development Director to lead the implementation and evolution of our growth playbook and new business processes. This role is central to driving pipeline growth, elevating brand awareness, and ensuring operational excellence across marketing and sales.

You’ll bring together the disciplines of growth marketing and business development—creating integrated campaigns, nurturing leads, and optimizing our pitch and proposal process in close partnership with leadership, editorial, strategy, and creative teams.

Responsibilities

Growth Marketing (Execution & Evolution)

• Lead execution of FTF’s Growth Playbook, including editorial publishing, newsletters, LinkedIn strategy, hosted events, paid social, panels/keynotes participation, conference sponsorship/attendance, and earned media.
• Oversee day-to-day marketing calendar—including longform content, testimonials, social assets, newsletters, and campaign creative.
• Manage team contributors and freelancers (e.g., writers, designers, PR), ensuring projects hit deadlines and maintain brand standards.
• Partner with strategy and creative leads on flagship content like original research, thought leadership, and case studies.
• Build the systems, templates, and checklists that help make marketing operations scalable, high-performing, and repeatable.
• Partner with leadership to conduct ABM and verticalized marketing campaigns and outreach
• Measure and report on campaign performance, refining tactics and investment based on results.

Business Development (Process, Pipeline & Enablement)

• Own Stages 1–2 of FTF’s new business process (qualify, pursue, and support pitch development)
• Build, track, and nurture top-of-funnel lead lists in partnership with leadership and Sales Navigator tools
• Implement systems for consistent proposal activation and retrospective reviews
• Manage and evolve the “Compendium of Proof,” including case studies, RFP templates, and proposal toolkit
• Partner with producers, strategists, and executives to support timelines, resource planning, and key deliverables in active pursuits

Ideal Experience & Skills

• We’re looking for a builder—someone who knows how to balance the art and science of growth. You’ve seen how the best agencies operate and know how to bring rigor, creativity, and momentum to a growth engine.
• 7–10 years of experience in growth marketing, brand strategy, or business development—with a strong preference for time spent inside a top-tier creative, brand, or digital agency
• A sharp strategic mind and strong creative instincts—you think like a CMO, with the sleeves-rolled-up drive of a head of growth
• A track record of building and executing campaigns across earned, owned, and paid channels—bringing ideas to life through content, events, thought leadership, and demand gen
• Fluent in the modern marketing stack—HubSpot, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and tools that drive automation and insight
• You know how to build a funnel, nurture it, and convert it—and you’re just as comfortable talking conversion metrics as you are positioning
• You’ve worked cross-functionally with strategy, editorial, and creative teams and know how to bring the best out of each
• You’re a strong writer, clear communicator, and natural collaborator who cares about great work as much as great outcomes

Why This Role Matters
CMOs are under greater pressure than ever to demonstrate impact. Our clients need partners who understand how to blend craft, insight, and evidence—and so do we. This role ensures that FTF is visible, compelling, and consistent in how we attract and convert the next generation of clients.

Bonus Points

• Familiarity with the B2B agency landscape—especially brand, design, and content-led firms
• Prior experience managing editorial publications, events, or research-based campaigns
• A POV on how AI and automation tools can enhance sales and marketing efficiency

At Fifty Thousand Feet, we believe that building and sustaining a culture that is diverse, equitable and inclusive is essential to creating meaningful work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected status.