Business Development Manager, Commercial Partnerships

About the Position

The Kyiv Independent, Ukraine's leading English-language publication, is looking for a Business Development Manager to join our Commercial Partnerships team. In this role, you'll be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building long-term relationships with international clients, and growing strategic commercial partnerships that support independent journalism.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new B2B business opportunities in international markets.
• Conduct outbound sales through cold outreach via email, LinkedIn, calls, and networking.
• Build relationships with international brands, agencies, NGOs, and organizations.
• Present The Kyiv Independent's advertising, branded content, sponsorship, event, and partnership opportunities.
• Lead the entire sales cycle, from prospecting and qualification to negotiation and closing.
• Prepare commercial proposals, presentations, and business correspondence in English.
• Coordinate commercial projects from initial discussions through successful delivery, working closely with internal teams.
• Prepare, negotiate, review, and coordinate commercial agreements and other contractual documentation.
• Own client relationships beyond the initial sale, serving as the primary point of contact throughout the partnership.
• Proactively identify opportunities for renewals, upselling, and cross-selling to generate repeat business and long-term partnerships.
• Maintain an organized sales pipeline and consistently achieve commercial targets using CRM tools.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in B2B business development or sales.
• Proven experience selling marketing services, media advertising, digital advertising, or IT services through outbound (cold) sales.
• Experience working with international clients.
• Professional proficiency in English, both written and spoken.
• Excellent presentation, negotiation, and business communication skills.
• Experience managing commercial projects and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
• Experience negotiating and managing commercial contracts.
• Strong relationship-building skills with a customer-focused mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to develop long-term client relationships that lead to repeat business.
• Highly organized, proactive, and results-oriented.
• Ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule when needed to accommodate clients in North American time zones.

Nice to Have

• Existing network of international marketing agencies or brand contacts.
• Experience selling to clients in the US, UK, or Europe.
• Experience with HubSpot, Notion, Pipedrive, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, or similar sales tools.
• Interest in journalism, media, and current affairs.

We Offer

• An opportunity to work for one of the world's leading independent media organizations covering Ukraine.
• The chance to build partnerships with global brands and organizations.
• Competitive compensation with performance-based incentives.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Professional growth in a fast-growing, mission-driven organization.
• A collaborative, ambitious team committed to supporting independent journalism.

About the Company

The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine's leading English-language publication, dedicated to providing independent, in-depth coverage of news, politics, culture, and more. We are committed to supporting independent journalism and fostering global connections.