Business Development & Growth Associate

Job Title: Business Development & Growth Associate
Company: Rare Ideas
Location: Pune or Mumbai (Remote considered for the right candidate)
Experience: 3-5 years
Industry: Branding, Strategy, F&B, Hospitality, Retail

About Rare Ideas:

Rare Ideas is a women-run branding and strategy studio working with founder-led businesses in F&B, Hospitality, and Retail. We help entrepreneurs build brands that are rooted in research, strategy, and strong visual identity, not just aesthetics.

Our work includes brand positioning, naming, narrative development, visual identity systems, and go-to-market campaigns. We partner with clients who view branding as a long-term investment in their business, not a one-time deliverable.

More here:

About the Role:

We are looking for a Business Development & Growth Associate to drive client acquisition and revenue growth for Rare Ideas.

This role is for someone who understands what good strategy and design can do for a business. Someone who can look at our portfolio, understand the depth of our work, and confidently communicate its value to potential clients.

We work with a specific kind of client - founders who are building meaningful businesses and are willing to invest in doing it right. This role requires finding those people, building relationships with them, and converting conversations into long-term partnerships.

This is not a volume-driven, cold-outreach role. It is a relationship-first role that requires strategic thinking, strong networks, and a genuine understanding of the branding and hospitality space.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategies for lead generation and client acquisition within F&B, Hospitality, and Retail sectors.
  

• Identify and engage with founders and decision-makers who align with our positioning and service offerings.
  

• Build and nurture a pipeline of high-quality leads through networking, referrals, industry events, and strategic outreach.
  

• Manage the full sales cycle - from initial conversation to proposal development to deal closure.
  

• Close high-value projects with ticket sizes of ₹10 lakhs and above.
  

• Create compelling proposals and presentations that reflect the quality and depth of our work.
  

• Maintain strong relationships with existing clients to identify opportunities for repeat work and referrals.
  

• Represent Rare Ideas at industry events, conferences, and networking forums.
  

• Collaborate with the strategy and design teams to ensure smooth client onboarding and project handoffs.
  

• Track industry trends, competitor activity, and new business opportunities to keep Rare Ideas well-positioned in the market.
  

Who We're Looking For:

• 3-5 years of experience in business development or sales, preferably within branding, design, or marketing agencies.
  

• Proven experience in closing high-ticket clients (₹10 lakhs and above).
  

• A strong existing network within the F&B, Hospitality, or Retail industries is a significant advantage.
  

• Deep understanding of the value of branding and strategy - you know the difference between building a brand and designing a logo.
  

• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
  

• Ability to build trust and long-term relationships with founders and business owners.
  

• Self-driven, organized, and comfortable working independently.
  

• Strategic mindset with the ability to identify the right opportunities and prioritize effectively.
  

• Familiarity with CRM tools, proposal software, and standard business tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office).
  

Benefits

• A boutique studio environment with real ownership and autonomy.
  

• Direct collaboration with the founder and leadership team.
  

• Exposure to diverse, high-quality projects across growing consumer brands.
  

• A work culture that values depth, quality, and meaningful work over volume.
  

• Competitive compensation: Fixed + Incentive structure.