Recess Studios is a brand agency built to challenge the expected. With offices in Portland and New York, we deliver end-to-end brand solutions, foundational development, consistent application across every touchpoint, and strategic amplification that drives impact. Our multidisciplinary team imagines worlds, crafts honest narratives, and creates experiences at the intersection of culture and commerce. We prize Good Honest Work by Good Honest People, building lasting partnerships through clear standards, tidy operations, and results that exceed expectations.
JOB OVERVIEW
Recess is seeking a Head of Growth to lead the agency’s new business, partnerships, and pipeline strategy. This role owns the full growth engine, from outbound prospecting and inbound qualification to proposal development, pitch leadership, and deal closing. The Head of Growth is responsible for building a repeatable, scalable system for generating new opportunities with brand partners across categories, with a strong focus on the agency’s core areas: brand, experiential,and content.
This role blends strategic thinking, sales rigor, storytelling, and relationship-building. The ideal candidate is a confident closer, a proactive connector, and an operator who builds process, accountability, and momentum across the business
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Pipeline & Opportunity Development
- Build and manage a proactive new business pipeline that aligns with Recess’ strategic priorities and revenue targets.
- Identify, prospect, and develop relationships with new brand partners, agencies, and strategic collaborators.
- Own outbound efforts: outreach, coordination, follow-ups, and lead qualification.
- Respond to inbound inquiries with urgency, clarity, and strategic framing.
- Maintain CRM discipline, reporting, and visibility across leadership.
Partnerships & Growth Strategy
- Build and evolve a clear growth strategy that reflects market trends, agency positioning, and category opportunities.
- Develop industry-specific vertical strategies (e.g., sports, lifestyle, tech, retail) that open doors and create momentum.
- Establish relationships with complementary partners, production studios, platforms, and talent.
- Design and lead proactive partnership programs that drive recurring work.
Pitch Leadership & Conversion
- Lead the end-to-end pitch process: strategy, storytelling, proposal development, pricing, and negotiation.
- Partner with Account, Strategy, and Creative to ensure pitches are differentiated, compelling, and winnable.
- Present confidently with executive presence and clarity.
- Bring a commercial lens: define scope, resourcing, and margin implications before proposals go out.
- Track conversion rates and continually refine process.
Marketing & Awareness
- Work with Creative and Strategy to craft thought leadership, case studies, decks, and proactive materials.
- Partner with Recess’ social team to ensure Recess shows up with clarity on channels, showcasing our best work and POV.
- Build awareness with key decision makers across brand, innovation, and experience.
- Reporting, Forecasting & Accountability
- Provide clear visibility into pipeline, forecasts, and conversion health.
- Create KPIs, dashboards, and cadence for leadership reporting.
- Build repeatable systems that ensure predictable, scalable growth.
- Work closely with Finance and Department Leads to ensure growth is profitable and operationally feasible.
WHAT YOU BRING
- Strategic and commercial thinker with a builder’s mindset.
- Confident, articulate, and proactive — you create opportunities rather than wait for them.
- Strong presenter and storyteller who can frame the value of Recess clearly and compellingly.
- Natural relationship builder with strong follow-through and accountability.
- Data-driven approach to pipeline management, forecasting, and growth.
- Comfortable leading pitches, proposals, and negotiations from start to close.
- Values clarity, consistency, and craftsmanship in all external-facing materials.
- Calm, solutions-oriented operator who brings focus and drive to the business.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years of experience in new business, growth, partnerships, or agency leadership.
- Proven track record leading successful pitches and closing multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnerships.
- Deep network across brand, agency, sports, lifestyle, or experience categories.
- Understanding of agency economics, pricing, resourcing, and margin discipline.
- Strong communication, relationship-building, and executive presence.
- Experience working with creative, strategic, and production teams.
- Familiarity with CRM systems, pipeline reporting, and forecasting.
BENEFITS
- Salary: Potential total comp package $220,000+
- Medical, dental & vision insurance
- Life Insurance
- Competitive company Holidays
- Flexible PTO
- WFH Flexibility
- 401K w/ Company match