Derris is a brand consultancy headquartered in New York City and London. We approach our work methodically, telling stories with universal impact through strategy, positioning, content and communications. We challenge conventional thinking and seek to work with people who have an open mind for new ideas. We have a dual-pronged approach: first we help clients shape their message and then we help them communicate that story through media, only working with people, companies and causes we believe in.

About Derris

Derris is here to help build great brands. From lifestyle and fashion, to food, health & wellness, home & hospitality, technology, non-profit, finance, real estate, sports and more — we work with both new and established companies to develop narratives that stand out in cluttered industries. We create unique messaging and execute strategic media relations programs that blend traditionally separate practice areas to offer clients a holistic approach to both consumer and business storytelling. A few of the clients on our roster include: Warby Parker, Reformation, Everlane, SKIMS, Good American, Harry's, Bombas, RSE Ventures, Juxtapose, Ruggable, and Away.

Derris is looking for a Director of Business Development to join our Senior Leadership Team and work closely with key stakeholders to shape new business strategy and drive conversations forward. In collaboration with the PR/Brand Strategy, Content and Creative, Influencer Marketing, and Experiential teams, the Director of Business Development will champion Derris’ capabilities and help us make smart decisions as we build our client relationships. Furthermore, we are looking for candidates passionate about contributing to a unique company culture, and joining us in a key time of growth as we begin our partnership with BerlinRosen!

Do you have excellent project management skills, and enjoy building processes and keeping them organized? Are you passionate about writing and crafting the perfect sentence? Do you enjoy learning about new industries and meeting new people daily? If yes, read on!

Responsibilities:

• Lead Derris’ business development strategy by understanding areas of opportunity, evaluating marketplace trends and making informed recommendations
• Spearhead new business funnel from top to bottom; qualifying incoming inquiries, coordinating and joining initial calls with prospective clients, tracking all leads and producing comprehensive weekly status updates and step-back monthly analysis reports
• Track outcomes on an ongoing basis in collaboration with both Derris leadership (role reports to President of Derris) and BerlinRosen leadership to evaluate approach and pivot where needed in order to strategically scale the business
• Develop content including but not limited to; capabilities decks and case studies, pitches, responses to RFPs, and scopes of work by drawing on practice area knowledge, as well as oversee related assignments such as client and competitive research, collaborating with key internal stakeholders (client team leadership, designers, etc.) for the best outcomes
• Lead multiple projects at once, engaging with many different people and personalities, coordinating between teams, researching new projects and drafting tailor-made, engaging written content
• Maintain an organized system of templates, and train staff on how to support business development by following processes and honing their own writing skills
• Collaborate with leadership and the operations team to initiate and develop Derris marketing efforts; award submissions, employer brand materials and more

Qualifications:

• 4-6 years of professional experience, across relevant backgrounds such as public relations, legal, professional services or business sectors
• Experience in business development, including drafting new business proposals and producing tailored research (note: this is not a sales job)
• Excellent project management, with the ability to prioritize work streams and track progress and bandwidth across multiple teams
• Expert multitasker. Ability to keep up with a fast-paced environment while being nimble and maintaining close attention to detail to produce high quality output
• Writes and researches well. Your background in research and written communication includes ensuring every stone is overturned and extensive experience developing sharp, compelling content
• Organization obsessed! Ability to streamline drive folders and create a sustainable and accessible file system for key templates and other materials, for all stakeholders to access

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in client relations—whether it’s been in professional services or elsewhere, we appreciate candidates from all professional backgrounds and are excited to incorporate your myriad of experiences into our work
• Strong proficiency in Google Docs and Google Slides

Derris offers competitive industry rate salary bands with the goal of retaining and growing talented individuals. We regularly review and adjust our compensation structure as needed to ensure equity across teams and levels. 

Compensation: The salary range for this role is $100,000 - $130,000 commensurate with experience.

Employees are eligible for a competitive end of year bonus, employee referral bonuses, annual merit increases, and commission for any referrals that lead to formal client partnerships. Derris is also committed to providing each employee with continued training and education as you grow within your careers with our Education Reimbursement Policy.

Benefits & Perks

• Employer-sponsored Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Pre-tax commuter benefits via JustWorks
• Life insurance
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• 401K program after 1 year of employment - We match dollar-for-dollar on the first 3%, then 50% of everything you contribute between 4% - 5%
• Parental leave
• Monthly cell phone data reimbursement
• Summer Fridays
• 13 company-paid holiday days
• Free lunch on Thursdays
• Discounted gym memberships
• Flex Weeks - Work from anywhere (on EST hours) for up to four weeks a year

Benefits of Working for Derris

Our office is located in the Flatiron district of New York City and is an easy commute from most train lines. We work in a beautiful, open space with natural light and communal working areas that provide access to all levels of the organization. We maintain a hybrid approach to work life in order to offer flexibility; a minimum of three days per week in the office.

The cornerstone of our company is our culture — where we place a large amount of emphasis on growth, collaboration and professional development. We offer top-notch benefits and perks. From summer Fridays, catered lunches, and discounted gym memberships to company-sponsored sabbaticals, wellness and mentorship programs, we value and facilitate a fully inclusive and holistic employment experience.

Derris provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.