The Role

You’re a commercially minded, creatively fluent Growth Director who knows how to turn relationships into long-term opportunities. You bring experience from design or creative agencies and are comfortable operating in a growing studio environment, where building momentum matters just as much as capturing it.

In Los Angeles, this role is about shaping growth with intention. You’ll work closely with studio leadership to build a strong, sustainable pipeline — balancing selective inbound with proactive, relationship-led outbound. You understand how to position Koto’s brand, digital, and marketing capabilities in a way that resonates with clients, and you know that growth here is as much about credibility and connection as it is about conversion.

You’re as comfortable leading early conversations as you are developing proposals, navigating RFPs, and partnering with Client Services to grow existing accounts. You build trust quickly, communicate clearly, and know how to translate opportunity into meaningful, lasting partnerships.

Your Responsibilities

Build the Pipeline
Own inbound and outbound opportunities from the first conversation through to conversion. Develop a thoughtful, targeted outbound approach in partnership with Marketing and studio leadership, and build a healthy, well-balanced pipeline. Contribute to studio and regional revenue targets, using HubSpot and forecasting to guide decisions and priorities. Lead RFP and RFI responses with clarity, strategic thinking, and creative-commercial rigor.

Grow Accounts Thoughtfully
Partner with Client Services leadership to identify meaningful growth opportunities among existing clients. Support cross-sell and upsell strategies that deepen relationships and expand our impact. Shape scopes and proposals that reflect both client needs and Koto’s capabilities.

Lead with Relationships
Build strong, trust-based relationships with new and existing clients. Lead early-stage conversations with confidence, clarity, and warmth, representing Koto at its best. Ensure a seamless transition into project teams — clients should never feel a handoff.

Activate the Market
Collaborate with Marketing on targeted campaigns, outreach, and event presence. Drive smart, human outbound — personalized, relevant, and consistent. Represent Koto in the LA market through industry events, introductions, and community-building, ensuring we show up in the right places, with the right people.

Connect Across Koto
Work closely with Growth and studio peers globally to support shared opportunities and ensure alignment with Koto’s broader growth strategy. Bring visibility to regional insights, opportunities, and client needs, contributing to a connected, global view of growth across brand, digital, and marketing.

What We’re Looking For

• 7–10 years of experience in business development, growth, or client leadership within a creative, brand, or digital agency

• A strong understanding of brand, digital, and marketing, and confidence in selling across all three

• Proven ability to build and convert a pipeline, balancing inbound opportunities with proactive outbound

• Experience growing existing accounts through thoughtful cross-sell and upsell strategies

• Commercially sharp, with confidence in scoping, pricing, and negotiating

• Clear, compelling communicator — equally comfortable in a pitch, a proposal, or a first conversation

• Organized and data-minded, with experience using tools like HubSpot to manage pipeline and forecasting

• Naturally collaborative, with the ability to partner closely with Client Services, Marketing, and studio leadership

• A relationship-first mindset — you build trust quickly and know how to turn it into long-term partnerships

Our Responsibilities

1. Provide regular access to your manager to support your growth and career trajectory.

2. Reward performance with promotions, pay increases, and a discretionary annual bonus of up to 10%.

3. Ensure an equal and inclusive workplace for all employees.

4. Support family leave with generous paid maternity and paternity.

5. Offer 25 vacation days annually, plus US bank holidays and a December studio closure.

6. Contribute up to 4% to participants in our 401 (k) plan.

7. Provide a monthly $100 wellness benefit via Juno.

8. Offer access to YCN and fund relevant training opportunities.

9. Celebrate milestones: $5,000 and five extra vacation days after five years; $10,000 and four weeks after ten years.

10. Give you the opportunity to work temporarily from any Koto studio worldwide with appropriate planning.

Our Culture

At Koto, we are rationally optimistic about the potential of our work, our clients, and the power of brand.

• We pursue the best briefs, aiming to inspire meaningful work — and for those interested, the chance to make the work of their lives.

• We cultivate leadership, culture, and the space to encourage this ambition.

• We work in person, with an optional WFH day on Fridays and two additional remote weeks each year — striking a balance that fuels creativity, collaboration, and culture.

• We encourage autonomy among our team members, allowing them to manage their time, hours, and personal commitments appropriately to complete their work.