Role overview

APPLY is seeking a Business Development Senior Manager to lead growth initiatives within its Sports & Media vertical. The company partners with leading consumer and entertainment brands—including Arc’teryx, NFL, Lululemon, and Kraft Heinz—to design and deliver AI-powered customer experience solutions that drive commercial impact.

Key responsibilities

Develop and manage a portfolio of priority accounts, converting account intelligence into qualified business opportunities and closed revenue.
Originate new opportunities through targeted prospecting, industry relationships, partner channels, and account-based strategies rather than traditional cold outreach.
Lead client conversations and pursuits from initial engagement through contract closure, shaping opportunities and mobilizing relevant APPLY capabilities.
Create and refine proposals and pitch strategies, demonstrating how digital experiences and emerging AI capabilities can deliver measurable business value to senior executives.
Build a sustainable pipeline and generate $3 million or more in new revenue during the first full year.
Work closely with the Vertical Growth Lead and Pursuit Operations team while operating with substantial independence and accountability for revenue outcomes.
Foster internal collaboration to assemble the right cross-functional teams and resources needed to win complex opportunities.

Requirements

Minimum five years of business development and enterprise sales experience, with a proven track record of consultative selling and account-based business development.
Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior executives and navigate complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.
Strong curiosity and commercial instincts, with the capacity to identify and create genuine value propositions for prospects unfamiliar with APPLY.
Experience managing and closing larger accounts and more sophisticated pursuits with full ownership of pipeline and revenue responsibility.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across internal teams and external partners.

What makes this role worth considering

This is a senior individual contributor position offering meaningful autonomy and strategic influence rather than a transactional sales role. The Sports & Media vertical represents a significant growth opportunity within a company working at the forefront of AI-driven customer experience innovation. The hybrid and remote-friendly work environment supports candidates based in the United States or Canada, with preference for Eastern Timezone alignment.