Business Development Manager

As the research and analysis division of the Economist Group, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) helps leaders prepare for opportunity, empowering them to act with confidence when making strategic decisions. The EIU is the global standard in providing quality, actionable intelligence to the public and private sector, assessing issues that impact the marketplace for over two hundred countries.

The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network (EICN) is the executive briefing and networking service of The EIU. Participating in our members-only C-suite group helps international firms understand the political, economic and business environments of the markets where they operate, and particularly what impact changes in this macro environment will have on business. This opportunity is open to candidates located in Beijing or Shanghai.

The EICN service is delivered in a few main ways:

• Through a programme of meetings that create the opportunity to hear from outside experts, and from peers within EICN;
• Through private briefings (presentations) delivered to clients at their management and strategy meetings;
• Through summary reports and data (covering key economies and business issues).

In this exciting role you will be responsible for new business development for our group in Shanghai, selling EICN memberships to senior-level executives of China based international firms and local MNCs. You will also seek out other revenue opportunities with new clients in this territory including event and research sponsorship, and paid speaking engagements.

How you would contribute:

• Work with the Commercial Director, Network Director and other stakeholders to develop and personally execute an aggressive new members acquisition plan in China
• Meet and exceed revenue and renewal targets in the region
• Develop and sustain an aggressive personal pipeline of new client opportunities
• Achieve deep market penetration across the full spectrum of sectors
• Manage the whole sales cycle from prospecting through to closing the sale
• Ensure the right level and number of participants attend member events
• Take ownership of your remit as if it was your own business
• Act as a trustworthy and reliable Economist Group brand ambassador

The ideal skills of the role are:

• Relevant years of B2B sales experience
• Some degree of experience in selling (preferably content-related) solutions to C-suite using in-person, phone and online channels on a high-volume, high-frequency basis
• A certain level of refinement and sophistication when communicating
• Ability to build and maintain trusted partner relationships at the highest level (C-suite/executive)
• The ability to work independently and to be a self-starter
• High degree of intellectual curiosity, and an interest in international business and current affairs
• Native or near-native English skills
• Confidence to approach people at high levels of seniority
• An ability to thrive upon expectation and exposure

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