Client Development Director

Join to apply for the Client Development Director role at Rakuten Advertising1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicantsJoin to apply for the Client Development Director role at Rakuten AdvertisingGet AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features. Job Description : Rakuten International oversees 7 businesses with over 4,000 employees globally. Rakuten Advertising provides advertising technology and consumer insights to the world's leading brands and retailers. Working with agencies and brands around the world, Rakuten Advertising unites technology, client strategy and consumer insights to deliver advertising experiences that drive increased brand awareness and marketing performance. With access to Rakuten's diverse media properties and audiences, combined with an award‑winning performance network and proprietary consumer research, Rakuten Advertising creates the right conditions to reach new customers and sustain long‑lasting loyalty. Job Summary This role is tailored for an accomplished Client Development Director with a robust background in both finance and travel sales (a background in retail sales an added plus). You will be instrumental in driving revenue growth, fostering strategic client relationships, and leveraging your deep industry expertise to achieve ambitious business objectives. Key Responsibilities Lead and close enterprise‑level affiliate deals mainly focused on the Finance and Travel verticals with large brands and agencies. Accountable for an annual revenue target, on‑time pipeline reporting and achievement of strategic objectives as defined by the VP, Commercial, ANZ. Strategy and planning: Targeted Prospecting – work in close collaboration with the Business Development Representative (BDR) organization to develop sophisticated prospecting strategies. Utilize a multi‑faceted approach encompassing phone, email, and LinkedIn to identify and engage key stakeholders within financial institutions, fintech companies, airlines, hotel groups, online travel agencies, and other relevant travel entities. Strategic Performance & Growth – demonstrate a proven track record in developing and executing successful sales strategies; exhibit expertise in analysing performance metrics, consistently achieving ambitious targets for revenue growth, and expanding market share. Proactive Client Engagement – deliver proactive and compelling proposals to new‑to‑channel clients entering the affiliate space within finance and travel. Industry‑Specific Marketing Collaboration – collaborate closely with the Marketing organization to plan and execute targeted events and campaigns; ensure a strong brand presence at industry‑specific conferences, trade shows, and digital forums relevant to finance and travel. Strategic Relationship Building – cultivate and nurture meaningful, long‑term relationships with prospective and current clients across the finance and travel sectors; engage with key decision‑makers such as CMOs, Head of Digital, Head of Partnerships, and other senior executives within banks, investment firms, insurance companies, airlines, hotel chains, online travel agencies, and related industry players. Needs‑Based Solutioning – develop a deep understanding of each client's unique business needs, financial goals, and travel‑specific challenges; leverage this insight to craft bespoke proposals that clearly articulate how our solutions align with their strategic objectives, drive ROI, and address their specific market dynamics. Responsive Lead Management – ensure prompt and efficient responses to all incoming leads, prioritising those from high‑potential finance and travel entities; implement a rapid qualification process to identify viable opportunities and initiate engagement swiftly. CRM Excellence & Pipeline Transparency – log all client activity and conduct comprehensive reports within Salesforce; ensure complete transparency of client communication, accurate forecasting of opportunity progression, and provide actionable data to optimise sales strategies within the finance and travel verticals. Financial Target‑Driven Revenue Generation – directly responsible for the achievement of quarterly and annual sales targets specifically within the finance and travel verticals, driving significant revenue growth from both new client acquisition and the expansion of existing accounts in these key sectors. Strategic Financial Contribution – possess a comprehensive understanding of how your individual sales targets directly contribute to and impact the collective annual revenue goals and overall financial health of the organization. Ad‑hoc Sales Process Optimisation for Finance & Travel – proactively support Management in identifying and analysing bottlenecks within the sales process, particularly those unique to navigating the complex sales cycles and regulatory environments of the finance and travel industries. Process Improvement for Sector Growth – collaborate with Management to develop and implement process improvements that streamline sales operations, enhance efficiency, and accelerate deal closures; optimise proposal generation for financial products, refine onboarding procedures for travel partners, or improve CRM utilisation to better track sector‑specific client journeys. Qualifications Technical / functional expertise: Extensive Digital Advertising & Affiliate Platform Experience (7+ years) – deep specialisation in affiliate platforms, spanning both media agency and advertiser‑side roles, with a proven track record within the finance and travel verticals. Industry Value Chain Knowledge – understanding of the digital advertising industry value chain, with particular emphasis on various affiliate models (CPA, CPL, CPS) and how these are uniquely applied, optimised, and regulated in the financial services sector (credit cards, loans, insurance, investments) and the travel industry (flight bookings, hotel reservations, package holidays, car rentals). Salesforce Mastery for Complex Sales Cycles – advanced knowledge of Salesforce, leveraging its full capabilities to manage complex sales pipelines characteristic of finance and travel deals, tracking intricate sales activities, forecasting revenue, and generating insights. Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Software Solution Sales – extensive experience selling sophisticated software solutions to senior stakeholders across both finance and travel landscapes, engaging with C‑suite executives, heads of digital, marketing directors, and product leads within banks, fintech companies, airlines, hotel groups, and large OTAs. Exceptional Negotiation, Sales, and Presentation Skills – outstanding negotiation, sales, and presentation skills, honed through direct experience in closing significant deals within the finance and travel sectors. Personal Effectiveness – Agility in Dynamic Markets; Strategic Deal Leadership; Trusted Industry Advisor; Exceptional Communication for Complex Sectors; Results Focus – Quantifiable Success in Specialised Markets; Winning Mentality in High‑Stakes Environments; Teamwork – Collaborative Integration for Sector Success. Five Principles for Success – Shugi Principles of Success: Always improve, Always Advance – Only be satisfied with complete success – Kaizen; Passionately Professional – Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best; Hypothesize – Practice – Validate – Shikumika – Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory; Maximize Customer Satisfaction – The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile. #J- #J-18808-Ljbffr