Managing Director, Platform Practice

What to know

The MD, Platform Practice is responsible for managing and growing our Platform offering, which includes technology consulting, website design and development, website optimization, and product innovation. You will articulate a vision of how the offering should continue to evolve and help position Blue State effectively in the market. You’ll work across a diverse range of causes and campaigns to achieve progress and impact through innovative technical services and solutions. You’ll be a critical leadership voice on teams of multi-disciplinary colleagues, including product managers, project managers, tech leads, designers, and content strategists.  

This role’s responsibilities span different areas of the business, requiring experience in business development; client services and project management; and team and personnel management.

The company

Blue State is a purpose-driven agency. We partner with leading causes, brands, and campaigns and create real change. From Google and UNICEF to Amnesty International and Oxfam, we transform how brands and causes raise money, influence policy, build platforms, and grow communities of supporters. Led by the most creative and analytical minds from the political, nonprofit, and brand worlds, Blue State is a part of WPP Digital and has 150+ employees in the US

A day in the life

Business Development Responsibilities 

The MD, Platform Practice will track and anticipate market changes and be responsible for shaping our offerings and generating our business pipeline. Supported by salespeople, this person will help define how we package and sell our work.

Specifically, the MD will: 

• Help develop, clarify, and differentiate the substance and positioning of our Platform offering.
• Develop a clear, compelling, and accurate value proposition across marketing materials and conversations with prospects. 

• Generate a sales pipeline by leading outbound and marketing activities for our platform offerings, which includes representing Blue State at targeted events and in relevant  publications to help drive reputation and reach.
• Identify opportunities in the marketplace and improve the quality of the business development lifecycle, across all opportunities, to turn prospects into long-term clients that are set up for success.
• Identify our strengths and weaknesses and, in conjunction with other leaders, develop plans to evolve and strengthen the quality and positioning of our offerings over time.

On a day-to-day basis, this person does everything from leading individual new business opportunities, to leading large-scale marketing initiatives, to generating target lists, to leading the evolution of our Platform offering and value proposition in collaboration with Team Leads and the Exec team.

Team Management Responsibilities

The MD, Platform Practice serves as leader of our Project Management practice and team as well as oversight of our Product, Technology, and MarTech teams. The PM team at Blue State is the front line for client management and communication around Platform work. The MD is responsible for ensuring that the PM practice at Blue State is best-in-class. Specifically, this person will:

• Ensure we have the proper tools, team members, and processes in place to deliver our work successfully and efficiently.
• Ensure alignment in our approach to software, product development and project management across teams. Ensure processes are documented and implemented effectively across projects.
• Clearly communicate expectations, buoy team morale, facilitate knowledge sharing, and improve the performance of their reports through empathy, mentorship, and accountability. 
• Serve as a direct line manager and mentor for project managers. Conduct regular 1:1s with team members to craft goals and professional development plans, provide regular feedback and guidance as issues arise, address training and onboarding needs, and conduct annual performance reviews. 
• Develop relationships and work collaboratively within the team and across the agency, including frequent collaboration with our Chief Technology Strategist and SVP, Platform Partnerships. Partner with leaders at Blue State to integrate our services and deliver stronger work. 
• Build understanding of our offerings across the agency.
• Accountable for overall quality of team output.

Client Responsibilities

At the client and project level, the MD, Platform Platform is the senior sponsor of a portfolio of Platform accounts. They are ultimately accountable for the health and growth of our client relationships, those working in service of those relationships on the Project Management team, and the work we produce for our clients. Responsibilities include the following:

• Act as a lead on key clients; seen as a trusted ear to the most senior C-suite clients.
• Serve as a point of escalation and mediation for internal teams and for clients as challenges arise, serving in an oversight role and providing feedback to project teams and on deliverables as needed, and developing long-lasting, positive partnerships with key client stakeholders. 
• Strong communicator with colleagues and clients; able to answer questions on the fly and read a room. Inspires client confidence when presenting solutions and recommendations. Anticipates what client feedback might be, and comes prepared with options and answers. 
• Effective at delivering clear and constructive feedback to project team members. Sets an example for effective and positive collaboration. 
• Provide mentorship on projects. Inspire passion and great work; rallies and celebrates the team.

What we offer

• Unlimited time-off (inclusive of sick, personal, and vacation days)
• $1,000 annually in professional development funds
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Inclusive family planning coverage, including fertility, surrogacy, and adoption benefits
• Flexible and health savings accounts
• 401K & employer match
• Generous paid holiday schedule
• 12-week fully-paid parental leave for all parents-to-be
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Remote work flexibility

We approach in-office working with a hybrid model. On-site presence is welcome for US staff who are within commuting distance of the NY or DC office. Managers retain discretion to require in-person attendance for folks on their discipline or client teams as necessary, including for those whose roles require them to be in person. To enter our US offices or attend Blue State events, staff and visitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including with a booster shot when eligible. Exceptions for protected grounds will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $190,000; compensation will be commensurate with experience.

Some things we're looking for

1. You have 15+ years of relevant experience (e.g. client services, digital marketing, technology, project management, business development). 
2. You are steeped in the art of empathy, practice mutual respect, and will act as a role model at Blue State. A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is vital.
3. You are an experienced people manager.
4. You are comfortable and confident in serving as an escalation point to internal team members and senior client partners alike.
5. You are proactive about keeping your finger on the pulse of the market and offering evolutions.
6. You have command of a room and superb presentation skills. You have the ability to build trust and confidence in early interactions with stakeholders at the highest level, and you understand the art of how to sell great ideas and great work.
7. You’re a strong collaborator and relationship builder across levels and teams.
8. You develop clear plans but operate with a tolerance for ambiguity.

At Blue State, diversity is a necessity, not a nice-to-have. We encourage those from underrepresented communities — women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, those with disabilities and people at all the intersections in between — to apply. Even if you don’t think your current skill set checks every box below, but this role seems to align with your strengths, we want to hear from you.

Blue State is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible application and interview process. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject line: Accommodation Request to get started.