Business Development and Growth Lead, EMEA - GCI UK

Who we are:

GCI Health, part of WPP, is the leading global health impact agency built to realize the future of health. We turn client innovation into health impact through engagements that transcend traditional communications. From molecules to the masses, we embrace the entire healthcare spectrum in every corner of the world, spanning North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Our services include pipeline and product communications, brand marketing, corporate and enterprise communications, medical affairs and clinical trial marketing.

GCI Health is a celebrated, highly respected healthcare agency with industry honors that include PRWeek Best Place to Work, PRWeek Global International Agency of the Year, MM+M PR Agency of the Year, PRovoke Media Global Healthcare PR Agency of the Year and PRovoke Media Agency of the Decade.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

More about the role:

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Business Development & Growth Lead, EMEA, will play a critical role in delivering GCI Health's growth ambitions. The role will build and manage a high-quality new business pipeline, lead priority pitches, strengthen the agency's business development capability, and identify opportunities to expand relationships with existing clients.

Although the role's primary geographic responsibility is as part of the UK office, this person will lead and support opportunities involving UK, European, Middle Eastern covering Global healthcare communications. Working closely with GCI Health market leaders and specialist teams, and colleagues across Burson and WPP, this person will bring together the right expertise to develop integrated, multi-market solutions for prospective and existing clients.

The role combines strategic business development, commercial judgement, pitch leadership, pipeline management, and senior relationship building. This person will model constructive, respectful, and inclusive leadership, while helping teams deliver consistently high-quality new business outcomes.

GCI Health has created and nurtures a business, environment, and culture of which we are very proud. You will be expected to always behave in a positive manner, motivating all staff you work with and those in the wider team both professionally and personally. You are expected to be respectful, friendly, approachable, and conscientious always.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

UK Growth Strategy and Pipeline

• Translate the UK business strategy into a focused business development plan, priority prospect list and actionable pipeline
• Identify, qualify and progress new business opportunities, applying clear bid/no-bid criteria and commercial judgement and following a tiered approach based on size of opportunity and business critical nature
• Build and activate relevant professional networks to generate qualified opportunities and strengthen GCI Health's market profile
• Maintain accurate new business pipeline information, forecasts, opportunity status and next steps, providing clear updates to senior leadership
• Drive UK new business growth, meeting or exceeding agreed revenue, pipeline and conversion targets

New Business Leadership and Conversion

• Lead the end-to-end response process to priority RFIs, RFPs and proactive opportunities, from qualification and team formation through to presentation, negotiation and close
• Work with GCI Health teams in the UK, EMEA, US and Globally to shape compelling pitch strategies, positioning and content that are grounded in insight, creativity, measurement and the client's business goals
• Assemble and coordinate the right UK, European and Global experts for each opportunity, setting clear roles, milestones and decision points
• Build trusted relationships with prospective clients throughout the pitch process and communicate complex recommendations credibly to senior audiences
• Lead post-pitch reviews, capture learning and apply insights to improve future conversion and client experience

Organic Growth and Cross-Selling

• Partner with Client Leaders and Managing Directors to identify growth potential within priority existing accounts
• Connect clients with relevant GCI Health, Burson and WPP specialists or internal capabilities, based on clearly identified client needs
• Support the development of account growth plans and senior client engagement strategies where business development expertise adds value, along with Managing Directors and Global Head of Growth

Business Development Capability and Infrastructure

• Own and continuously improve the UK new business process, ensuring it is clear, efficient, scalable and consistently applied
• Maintain high-quality credentials, case studies, intellectual property, propositions and other reusable pitch materials
• Establish consistent standards for opportunity qualification, pitch planning, content development, rehearsals, approvals and follow-up
• Use pipeline data, market insight and pitch feedback to identify priorities and recommend improvements

Leadership, Coaching and Collaboration

• Coach pitch teams and emerging business development talent, providing timely and constructive feedback
• Build business development capability across the UK by sharing tools, learning and effective practice
• Create inclusive pitch teams that draw on diverse perspectives, markets and specialist expertise from within the agency and the Burson and WPP network
• Model collaborative, respectful and solutions-focused leadership and contribute positively to the wider agency culture

Communication and Stakeholder Management

• Keep senior leadership and relevant senior leaders informed about pipeline health, priority opportunities, risks, decisions and progress
• Adapt communication and facilitation style in response to the audience, context and feedback
• Communicate with clarity, precision and creativity across written proposals, presentations and senior client conversations
• Build productive working relationships across GCI Health, Burson and WPP, within the UK, across EMEA and with US and Global colleagues across the globe

Inclusion, Equity and Diversity

• Demonstrate flexibility in an evolving work environment and be part of an open, supportive and inclusive workplace culture
• Use self-awareness to deflect biases and seek guidance through our dedicated IED resource on how to bridge differences between yourself and others and embrace ideas and opinions from diverse sources and individuals.

*The job description is a summary of typical job functions and is not an exhaustive list of possible duties. The jobholder's responsibilities and duties may differ from those outlined above. Other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job.

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You belong at GCI Health:

Our vision is for GCI, a Burson Group company, to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

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