Description
At Keywords Studios, we're looking for a motivated Business Development Researcher & Lead Qualifier to join our Strategic Intelligence unit. This critical role bridges the gap between market and client intelligence and lead generation and qualification for new revenue opportunities. As a Business Development Researcher & Lead Qualifier, you'll own the front-end of the sales funnel, responsible for all upfront work, including deep-dive research, market monitoring, cold outreach, and initial assessment. Your goal is not just to book meetings, but to progress prospects from initial interest into a 'hot lead', strictly defined as an actual request for a quote (RFQ). Once a tangible quote request is secured, you'll seamlessly hand it over to a Business Development Manager (BDM) to close, which serves as the primary performance measure.
Key Responsibilities:
- Intelligence & Opportunity Discovery: Systematically leverage market data platforms (e.g., SteamDB), internal proprietary Keywords and external public data, to identify upcoming commercial opportunities and market shifts.
- Emerging Sectors Tracking: Monitor new spaces, including our Globalize division, with clients seeking assistance with QA testing and Localization services, to see where our technical services can support rapid opportunities.
- Outbound Execution: Take full ownership of the initial outbound loop, executing first-touch outreach, cold contacting/calling, and persistent follow-ups.
- End-to-End Qualification: Own the prospect relationship through initial assessment, moving beyond general client 'pain points' to uncover tangible commercial intent.
- Seamless BDM Handoff: Responsible for delivering high-quality, quote-ready opportunities to the BDM community the moment a client issues a formal request for a quote or proposal.
- Sales Pipeline Transparency: Use CRM tooling (Salesforce) to ensure all outreach activity and qualification milestones are logged transparently and mapped to clear signal triggers.
Requirements:
- No experience selling or researching in the entertainment and/or video games industry necessary, but preferred.
- Research, analysis and idea presentation skills.
- A motivated self-starter, able to run with initiatives and projects, and able to operate in a remote environment.
- Strong understanding of market trends, industry dynamics and current industry landscape and for game development and publishing.
- High attention to detail and ability to deliver under pressure and to deadlines.
- Superb written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be comfortable working and communicating with exec/senior contact levels.
- Additional coding or language skills valued.
This role will likely require periodic travel to industry events. There may also be the requirement to spend time with the team at regular gatherings in our UK London offices.