Director of Design Strategy & Business Development
London based - Hybrid working
What You Will Be Doing
You will lead and direct pre-sales and sales efforts, focusing primarily on the automotive and banking industries. Your main goal is to drive sales order entry with both existing and new clients by identifying opportunities, developing strong customer relationships, addressing business challenges, creating compelling proposals and pitches, and supporting the closing process. This role combines the responsibility of acquiring new clients with the strategic work of defining value propositions and offerings, aligning with ambitious scaling objectives.
Key Responsibilities :
* Client Engagement : Scope and frame client challenges (including discussions with C-level stakeholders) for design projects encompassing strategy, research, concept development, prototyping, testing, and implementation.
* Pipeline Management : Own and oversee the management of the project pipeline to ensure sustained growth.
* Pre-Sales Activities : Design and conduct workshops and other engagement formats, guiding clients from strategic discussions to actionable problem-solving.
* Relationship Building : Establish and nurture partnerships with clients and grow an external and internal network.
* Offering Development : Collaborate with industry experts to enhance offerings for the automotive and banking sectors while contributing to the broader strategic alignment of the practice.
What You Will Need
* Proven Sales and Pre-Sales Experience : A strong track record in sales response, bidding, oral presentations, and contractual closures, with a history of shaping successful design proposals in a consultancy or agency environment .
* Client Relationship Development : Demonstrated ability to establish and grow relationships with new clients and to collaborate effectively with existing sales teams.
* Leadership in Design Programs : Experience leading large-scale design programs, covering strategy, concept development, design, and agile development of digital products and services.
* Strategic and Innovative Thinking : Proficiency in conceptualizing and communicating innovative ideas and strategies, translating them into tangible steps.
* Technical Awareness : A strong interest in emerging technologies (e.g., AI, AR/VR, voice assistants) and their application in solving business challenges.
You should also bring resilience and thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, along with:
* A commitment to quality, demonstrated through ensuring high standards in responses and deliverables.
* The ability to collaborate widely across teams and influence key stakeholders at various levels.
* Confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders, including those at the C-suite level.
* Industry Knowledge, with a strong grasp of trends in the automotive and banking industries and how design can address their unique challenges.
Benefits
* £110,000 - £120,000 base + package