Business Development Specialist

1021 Creative is the global cultural intelligence engine that keeps brands in sync with how people live, think, scroll, buy, and connect. We're the call clients make before the brief — spotting cultural shifts before they go mainstream and helping brands get there first, backed by a human-led, tech-enabled network spanning 44+ countries, 47+ languages, and 500+ subcultural communities. We are looking for a Specialist, Business Development with a research-driven, entrepreneurial mindset to help our VP of Business Development open doors, build the pipeline, and win new business.

1021 Creative is seeking a Specialist, Business Development to work directly alongside our VP of Business Development in driving net-new growth. This role is built for someone who loves the hunt: researching the right prospects, finding the right angle in, and turning cold outreach into booked meetings. The ideal candidate is a sharp researcher, a persistent and creative communicator, and genuinely plugged into culture — comfortable navigating digital and social channels to identify who to talk to and what will resonate with them.

The Specialist, Business Development will be responsible for building and managing outbound pipeline activity, securing meetings with qualified prospects, and partnering with the VP of Business Development to shape compelling, well-researched proposals. This is a highly collaborative, hands-on role that combines rigorous research with relationship-building and sales support — a great fit for someone early in their sales career who wants to grow into a bigger business development leadership role.

Responsibilities

Meeting Generation and Outreach

• Research and identify prospective clients that align with 1021 Creative's target accounts including brands, media companies, market research buyers, and B2B2C tech platforms
• Conduct deep, thoughtful research on each prospect's business, culture, and pain points to craft outreach that gets a response
• Own outbound prospecting across email, LinkedIn, and other digital and social channels to secure qualified first meetings for the VP of Business Development
• Track response rates and continually refine outreach messaging and targeting to improve meeting conversion
• Qualify inbound and outbound leads by understanding their needs, timeline, and budget before scheduling a meeting

Proposal Development

• Partner with the VP of Business Development to build compelling, well-researched proposals and pitch materials tailored to each prospect
• Pull together relevant cultural intelligence, case studies, and market research to strengthen proposals and sales narratives
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure proposals accurately reflect 1021 Creative's capabilities and service offerings

Database & Pipeline Management

• Maintain an accurate, up-to-date database of accounts, contacts, and outreach activity in the CRM
• Support weekly and monthly pipeline reporting and deal forecasting alongside the VP of Business Development

Cultural & Digital Fluency

• Stay closely tuned to culture, digital trends, and social platforms to identify smarter prospects and sharper outreach angles
• Act as a brand ambassador for 1021 Creative, conveying a genuine understanding of our capabilities and culture in every interaction
• Work closely with the marketing and editorial teams to source insights and sales materials that engage prospects

Creative & Marketing Support

• Plan and host field events including dinners, meetups, and local gatherings
• Support production of business development newsletter, by pulling together content, coordinating sends, and tracking engagement
• Bring a creative eye to outreach and event follow-up, helping translate cultural intelligence into materials that resonate with prospects

Required experience

•  2-3 years of B2B2C sales experience, ideally within a services, media, research, or tech platform business
• A proven track record of researching prospects effectively and converting outreach into booked meetings
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including outreach and proposal writing
• Genuine love of culture and a strong pulse on digital and social platforms
• Familiarity with CRM and work-management tools such as Monday.com to manage pipeline, content, and outreach activity
• Comfortable using AI tools to speed up research, drafting, and outreach — without relying on them in place of your own judgment or creativity
• Some experience or interest in planning small events or gatherings a plus
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and comfortable working independently in a remote-first environment
• Strong collaborator who can work closely with a VP-level leader and cross-functional teams

Travel Requirements: In person field dinners, events, and occasional travel estimated at once per quarter

Job type: Full-time 

Starting Salary Range: $55,000-65,000 USD
Total Compensation: Base salary + target annual bonus of up to 25%, based on achievement of qualified opportunity quota goals

Final compensation will be determined in partnership with the hiring team based on skills, experience, and overall fit for the role.

Location: United States - Remote (New York Metropolitan Area or Los Angeles preferred)

Remote requirements: We’re proud to provide a remote work environment that allows employees the ability to reduce their commute and operate within a comfortable home environment. Please be aware that due to legal requirements and the sensitivity of the material we handle for our clients, this position requires that you be able to work a consistent schedule from a location (home office, coworking space, etc.) within your home state or locality.

Benefits

• Work from home
• Generous annual and sick leave in addition to paid holidays
• Health insurance, group life insurance, and FSA
• 401K retirement plan with up to 2% company match
• Employee Assistance Program