Business Development Director

Sarasota Magazine is hiring a Business Development Director to help grow revenue across print, digital, events, sponsorships, branded content, partnership content, Content Studio, special sections, guides, and annual advertising programs.

The Business Development Director is responsible for building relationships with businesses, organizations, nonprofits, institutions, civic partners, and market leaders who want to reach, influence, and engage Sarasota Magazine’s audience.

The right candidate understands that Sarasota Magazine is more than a magazine. It is a trusted global media brand with print authority, digital reach, subscriber loyalty, event presence, community credibility, and storytelling capability.

This role requires someone who can prospect, listen, package opportunities, present clearly, close business, maintain relationships, and help clients see Sarasota Magazine as a long-term strategic partner.

A Business Development Director will help move Sarasota Magazine beyond transactional ad sales and into higher-value partnerships that support client growth and strengthen the magazine’s business model.

Core Responsibilities

Revenue Growth

The Business Development Director is responsible for generating new and recurring revenue across Sarasota Magazine’s product lines.

This includes:

• Print advertising


• Digital advertising


• Website advertising


• Newsletter sponsorships


• Social and digital promotion packages


• Event sponsorships


• Branded content


• Partnership content


• Content Studio packages\


• Sponsored guides


• Special sections


• Custom publications


• Annual advertising agreements


• Category ownership packages


• Integrated print, digital, event, and content programs

The goal is to build a more diversified, recurring, and profitable revenue base.

Prospecting and New Business Development

You will be expected to actively identify, pursue, and develop new business opportunities.

This includes:

• Building prospect lists by category


• Researching potential advertisers and partners


• Making outbound calls and introductions


• Scheduling meetings


• Attending community and business events


• Developing referral relationships


• Identifying growth categories


• Creating new opportunities from existing relationships


• Bringing new advertisers into Sarasota Magazine


• Priority categories may include home and design, real estate, luxury living, healthcare, dining, hospitality, arts and culture, philanthropy, finance, legal, education, wellness, professional services, civic institutions, and regional growth companies.

Account Management and Relationship Building

You will manage client relationships before, during, and after the sale.

This includes:

• Understanding client goals


• Recommending appropriate products and packages


• Maintaining regular communication


• Preparing for client meetings


• Tracking follow-up


• Coordinating with Revenue Operations on proposals and agreements


• Ensuring expectations are clearly documented


• Identifying renewal and upsell opportunities


• Helping clients understand the value of Sarasota Magazine

The goal is to build long-term relationships, not one-time transactions.

Proposal and Package Development

You will work with the Publisher and Revenue Operations to develop clear, compelling proposals.

This includes:

• Matching client goals with Sarasota Magazine products


• Recommending print, digital, event, sponsorship, and content packages


• Helping shape annual partnership opportunities


• Developing category-specific pitches


• Supporting custom proposals for larger clients


• Ensuring proposals are realistic, profitable, and operationally deliverable

The Business Development Director must be able to sell both standard products and custom opportunities without creating confusion for the internal team.

Partnership Content and Branded Content Sales

A key part of this role will be helping grow Sarasota Magazine’s new content-based revenue products.

Partnership Content refers to broader, higher-value storytelling relationships with businesses, nonprofits, institutions, and civic partners. These may include sponsored series, annual partnerships, community impact campaigns, issue-based content packages, event-linked storytelling, or custom content programs.

You will help identify which clients are good fits for these products, explain the value clearly, and work with Revenue Operations and Content Operations to make sure scope, pricing, deliverables, deadlines, approvals, and labeling are properly documented.

Key Measures

This role will be measured by both revenue production and relationship quality.

Key measures include:

• Total revenue sold


• New business revenue


• Renewal revenue


• Annual contract value


• Average deal size


• Number of qualified prospects


• Number of client meetings


• Proposal volume


• Close rate


• Renewal rate


• Event sponsorship revenue


• Digital revenue


• Branded content revenue


• Partnership content revenue


• Content Studio revenue


• CRM accuracy


• Forecast accuracy


• Client retention


• Internal handoff quality


• Collections support when needed

Required Skills and Experience
Proven sales, business development, advertising, sponsorship, media, agency, or partnership experience
Strong relationship-building skills
Ability to prospect and generate new business
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to present clearly and confidently
Ability to understand client goals and translate them into media or content opportunities
Comfort selling across print, digital, events, sponsorships, and content
Strong follow-through
Comfort using CRM systems, sales trackers, spreadsheets, and proposal documents
Ability to work across departments
Ability to manage multiple prospects, clients, deadlines, and proposals at once
High level of professionalism and discretion

Preferred Experience

• Experience in media sales, magazine sales, digital advertising, event sponsorships, branded content, agency services, nonprofit partnerships, luxury categories, or local business development


• Existing relationships in Sarasota, Manatee, or the broader Gulf Coast region
  Experience selling to business owners, marketing directors, nonprofit leaders, developers, real estate professionals, healthcare organizations, cultural institutions, or civic leaders


• Familiarity with print and digital media products
  Familiarity with content marketing or branded storytelling
  Familiarity with event sponsorships and community partnerships
  

Personal Qualities

The right candidate is:

• Commercially sharp


• Relationship-driven


• Confident but not pushy


• Curious


• Organized


• Persistent


• Strategic


• Professional


• Community-minded


• Comfortable with accountability


• Strong with follow-through


• Able to listen before selling


• Able to sell value, not just space


• Comfortable representing a premium local brand