Business Development Manager

Job Summary 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. The role requires deep understanding how startups operate and scale. Therefore, the person may be flexible to act proactively and take ownership in various tasks, including delivery. Position Details Job Title: Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Manager Location: 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 Your Profile/Background (more than one highly valuable) Management consulting (Manager/Senior Manager level) Investment banking (VP/Director level) Corporate development in real estate or infrastructure International development organizations (commercial roles) Successful scale-up (Series B) as senior BD Key Responsibilities Strategic Business Development (50%) Identify and qualify new business opportunities across Europe and Asia Navigate institutional networks for off-market opportunities Lead negotiations and structure €100k-2M advisory mandates Achieve €1.5-2M annual revenue target Create partnership framework generating 30% of leads Structure partnerships with organizations serving similar clients (no competition, high complementarity) Develop and maintain relationships with C-suite executives, institutional investors, government officials, multilateral organizations Identify and build consortium opportunities and partnership angles Build relationships with decision-makers in public sector organizations, complementary partners, procurement teams at target organizations Build referral network among private equity, real estate developers, and institutional investors Scout relevant tenders across World Bank, Horizon Europe, EBRD, ADB, and national frameworks Represent PlusValue at international conferences and industry events, converting marketing efforts into qualified leads Strategic Delivery (30%) Act as key account manager balancing profitability and client expectations Support project inception and critical delivery phases Coordinate 3-4 major proposals monthly Facilitate knowledge transfer between business development and delivery teams Support delivery teams during project inception phases and ongoing phases when required Contribute to thought leadership and market positioning Assist in developing new service offerings based on market feedback Act as key account for balancing delivery, meeting customer expectations and preserving profitability Identify upsell opportunities within existing accounts Operational Excellence (20%) Develop and maintain PlusValue business development strategy Design and implement sales methodology suitable for long-cycle advisory sales Establish lead lifecycle management process Implement business management platform Create pricing strategies and commercial frameworks Develop pricing strategies that capture value while enabling client budget approval Build Zoho sales configuration, pipeline stages, and forecasting models Preserve up to date CRM Create sales collateral that elevates conversations beyond procurement Cross-functional support PlusValue team Required Qualifications Education Master's degree required. 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,. Experience Proven track record closing €1M annually in complex B2B/B2G deals Experience with 3–9-month sales cycles, multiple stakeholders 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 Excellence in stakeholder management across cultures Comfort selling intangible services and custom solutions Technical Skills Project management methodologies Budget management for multi-partner proposals Proficiency with cloud-based and digital tools CRM and Business management systems Language Requirements English: Native or Business-level fluency (C1) Russian OR/and Arabic – are a plus Personal Attributes · Hunter mentality - Self-motivated to find and close deals · Intellectual agility - Learn complex topics quickly to sell credibly · Resilient persistence - Navigate long sales cycles and complex stakeholders · Cultural awareness - Operate across European and Asian business context · Professional presence - Credibility with senior government officials · Adaptability outlook - Thrive in boutique environment vs large organization · Entrepreneurial mindset - proactive with ability to work autonomously · Interests about sustainability and social impact · Cultural intelligence and diplomatic communication style · Team player comfortable in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment · Thrives in demanding environments with tight deadlines Preferred Qualifications · Additional languages: Italian, Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish · Existing relationships with European/Asian funding bodies, development banks · Knowledge of impact measurement, ESG frameworks · Startup or high-growth experience · Understanding of Social Impact Bonds, blended finance What We're NOT Looking For Volume-focused hunters prioritizing activity over strategy Corporate BD expecting full infrastructure Pure relationship managers without process-building Technology/SaaS velocity sales backgrounds “Crushing quotas" or "sales warrior" mentalities What We Offer PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Build and scale strategic business unit with P&L responsibility Cross-functional exposure with leadership team High-impact cross-border projects Industry network expansion WORK-LIFE BALANCE Flexible Schedule and hybrid work setup (3 days per week in office in either Milan or London) Location Flexibility: Option to work from Milan or London offices as needed Startup Culture: Collaborative, fast-paced environment with direct impact visibility COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Competitive Salary: Market-rate compensation commensurate with experience and profile. Performance Bonus: Annual bonus based on company and individual performance based on agreed sales targets. Equity Participation as per company incentive scheme Application Process Initial screening call (30 minutes) Technical interview call: case study and presentation (90 minutes) Final interview with leadership team (2 x 30 minutes) Equal Opportunity Statement 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.