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.
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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 Premio: 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 ******** and UK Data Protection Act ****.
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