Business Development Manager (Commercial Interiors)

Open the Swiss market

You'll win new business for a global firm that designs and builds office interiors - the spaces companies move into when they relocate or refit. You start with your own network, build the trust, and close the deals. From there, a dedicated team takes over: they run the project and look after the client, so you're free to focus on landing the next one.

Tasks

What you walk into

• A clean slate: an open market to go after.
• Your connections as the day-one head start; the first meetings come from people you already know or will to know, not from marketing.
• Freedom to build your part of the market your own way with backing from leadership rather than a fixed script.

What you'll do day to day

• Find and approach new clients yourself: through your contacts, direct outreach and follow-ups. You run the process.
• Take a deal from the first conversation through to a signed contract, then hand the new client over to the Client Relations team.
• Get to know your part of the market: who makes the decisions, what makes them buy and why this firm is a better choice than whoever they use now.
• Keep your list of live deals clear and up to date, so leadership can plan around it.

Requirements

What we need to see

We're looking for proof, not adjectives. The strongest applications show the following:

• A track record in the Swiss market. You're based in Switzerland and have already sold and won business here. You know how Swiss companies buy and how long it takes. Broader DACH experience can count too, as long as the relationships you bring are Swiss.
• New B2B clients you won yourself. Companies or projects you personally brought in and closed — not a set of accounts you were handed and grew. Name them.
• A network you can name. Current, contactable decision-makers (e.g. Head of Real Estate/Workplace/Facilities/Office Management; in at least one target segment). These relationships are the role's starting capital, so they need to be active, not historical.
• Deals worth 250,000 CHF or more.
• Fluent German and English (both required). French is a big plus, but not a must.
• You can work on your own steam. You've sold without a manager feeding you leads and you're happy to travel around Switzerland to meet clients.

Backgrounds that tend to fit

People who do well here often come from: commercial property or helping companies find office space, office furniture sales, running office building or renovation projects, or managing client accounts. None of these is required and you don't need a construction background. They're just a sign you might fit, if you've won corporate clients by building relationships, we'd like to talk.

The honest part

In Switzerland this kind of business is built on relationships and takes time - the first signed deal won't come overnight. If that sounds like a challenge you'd enjoy and have handled before, the pay and bonus are built to reward it. If you'd rather look after a list of clients someone hands you, this isn't the right seat.

Who you'll be working with

• International companies with offices in Switzerland
• Banks, insurers, law firms, and other professional services firms
• Mid-sized Swiss companies

Compensation

• Base salary: 150,000–180,000 CHF, set on demonstrated track record.
• Performance bonus: based on the new business you close.

How the process works

This search is run by placementist together with an executive search partner, for the company that's hiring. At every step you'll know who you're talking to and why - each stage is there to give you more information, not less:

• Short call (about 20 minutes). A quick check that the role and your experience line up.
• Personality questionnaire, plus a one-hour conversation with the search partner. The partner knows the role inside out and will be straight with you about it.
• A talk with the company's HR team. Terms, how things are set up, and the team.
• One/two final rounds with the team and company's leadership. The people you'd report to and work with.

Confidential search. We'll tell you the company's name once there's interest on both sides. We're reviewing applications as they come in and moving fast: strong candidates hear back within 48 hours.