Business Development Manager

Following our previous BD Manager's return to diplomatic service, we seek an exceptional Business Development Manager to drive our international growth agenda across Europe and Asia. This role combines rebuilding our BD department from scratch, strategic deal-making, partnerships creation, and tender management across our six business units: impact measurement, financial advisory, R&D thought leadership, innovation ecosystems, grant writing, and deep tech solutions. Therefore, the person may be flexible to act proactively and take ownership in various tasks, including delivery.
Job Title: Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Manager
Milan or London (hybrid) with travels across European and Asian markets
Type: Full-time Contractor with the opportunity to join as employee (depending on applicant profile) and open to future partnership based on results
Successful scale-up (Series B+) as senior BD

Strategic Business Development (50%)

Identify and qualify new business opportunities across Europe and Asia
Navigate institutional networks for off-market opportunities
Build referral network among private equity, real estate developers, and institutional investors
Represent PlusValue at international conferences and industry events, converting marketing efforts into qualified leads
Act as key account manager balancing profitability and client expectations
Support project inception and critical delivery phases
Facilitate knowledge transfer between business development and delivery teams
Support delivery teams during project inception phases and ongoing phases when required
Act as key account for balancing delivery, meeting customer expectations and preserving profitability
Develop and maintain PlusValue business development strategy
Implement business management platform
Create pricing strategies and commercial frameworks
Build Zoho sales configuration, pipeline stages, and forecasting models
Preserve up to date CRM
While all relevant specializations will be considered based on experience and track record, particularly valuable backgrounds include Engineering, Innovation and business Management, Technology Transfer, Environmental Science, International Relations.
Proven track record closing €1M annually in complex B2B/B2G deals
Demonstrated capability generating high‑quality leads with low CAC
Strong financial acumen for structuring commercial proposals
Effectively Negotiate commercial terms and contracts
Excellence in cross‑cultural stakeholder management
Strategic commercial acumen to weekly update leads pipeline and opportunities
Project management methodologies
Proficiency with cloud‑based and digital tools
CRM and Business management systems
Language Requirements

English: Native or Business‑level fluency (C1)
Russian or Arabic – are a plus
Cultural awareness - Operate across European and Asian business context
Professional presence - Credibility with senior government officials
Interests about sustainability and social impact
Cultural intelligence and diplomatic communication style
Additional languages: Italian, Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish
Existing relationships with European/Asian funding bodies, development banks
Understanding of Social Impact Bonds, blended finance
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Build and scale strategic business unit with P&L responsibility
High‑impact cross‑border projects
Industry network expansion
Flexible Schedule and hybrid work setup (3 days per week in office in either Milan or London)
Performance Bonus: Annual bonus based on company and individual performance based on agreed sales targets.
Initial screening call (30 minutes)
Technical interview call: case study and presentation (90 minutes)
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability status.
All personal data will be processed in accordance with GDPR 2016/679 and UK Data Protection Act 2018.
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