Summer 2026 Growth (Business Development) Internship

New York, Durham

At McKinney, we believe in getting unfair attention for brands. But before the work launches, before the campaign goes live — there’s Growth.

Growth is where opportunity meets ambition. It’s about identifying the right prospects, shaping compelling pitches, and building relationships that fuel the agency’s future.

We’re looking for curious, strategic, business-minded storytellers to join us for Summer 2026.

If you’re energized by new opportunities, love connecting dots across industries, and get excited about turning insight into persuasion — we want to meet you.

This isn’t a coffee-run internship. You’ll support real pitches, real prospecting efforts, and real agency growth initiatives.

What You’ll Do

Partner with Growth, strategy, creative, and account teams to support new business efforts

Research prospective clients, industries, and competitive landscapes

Track and identify new business opportunities across brand, social, comms, and influencer spaces

Assist in developing pitch materials, credentials decks, and case studies

Help coordinate internal pitch timelines and cross-functional collaboration

Contribute to thought starters and POV documents that showcase agency expertise

Support outreach efforts and relationship-building initiatives

Participate in brainstorms that shape how we position ourselves to win

Bring cultural insights and business observations that strengthen our storytelling

Who You Are

A rising junior, senior, recent grad, or graduate student pursuing marketing, business, communications, advertising, or a related field

Curious about how agencies grow and win new clients

Strong researcher who enjoys digging into brands, industries, and trends

A clear, persuasive communicator — both written and verbal

Detail-oriented and organized, especially when managing multiple moving pieces

Comfortable working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments

Interested in brand positioning, competitive analysis, and storytelling

Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented

What You’ll Gain

Hands-on experience supporting real agency pitches and business development initiatives

Exposure to brand strategy, creative positioning, and client acquisition

Mentorship from Growth leaders and senior agency team members

A deeper understanding of how agencies build pipelines and win business

Experience crafting compelling narratives that differentiate an agency

A strong foundation in the intersection of creativity, strategy, and commerce

A network of teammates who will champion your growth

Our Point of View

We’re committed to building a culture that reflects the world we’re speaking to. We strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to apply. Different perspectives lead to stronger ideas — and stronger partnerships.

Salary

We offer a competitive salary of $18/hour for up to 40 hours/week.

Right to Work in the US

You must be authorized to work in the US for any employer. At this time, we are not providing or sponsoring assistance with obtaining work authorization.

We are in the office Tuesday – Thursday. We look forward to meeting you!

Ready to help build what’s next?

Submit your video, resume, and a brief note telling us:

• What brand do you think needs a new agency right now — and why?
  
  
• And what makes an agency stand out in a competitive pitch?
  
  

Dates:

The Summer 2026 program runs from June 3 – August 12.
We start all employees on Wednesdays