Business Development Associate

Business Development Associate

In a nutshell:

IDEO San Francisco is in search of a Business Development Associate for our location. This person is a Producer—someone who works closely with IDEO leaders to respond to client demand and who makes our business development systems run. 

The ideal person demonstrates a combination of business savvy, creativity, and relationship-building skills with both internal stakeholders and clients.

Once here you will:

• Design and express compelling presentations and proposals, helping IDEO express our value to our client organizations and the world


• Coordinate our interactions with clients (scheduling meetings, steward the signing of legal documents, etc.)


• Helping senior BD leaders build systems that support lightweight, scalable BD within our SF studio


• Work with a leadership team to experiment with new ways of creating and building client relationships, and delivering value to clients. 


• Maintaining knowledge management systems (case studies, etc.) 


• Identify signals in the market, analyzing news and LinkedIn Sales Navigator data to spot opportunities for our BD activities. 

Relevant Experiences + Skills:

• Undergraduate degree preferred


• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in a dynamic environment, preferably in a client-facing consulting or marketing role


• Strong project management skills with proven ability to prioritize tasks, keep momentum and develop timelines, involve and engage stakeholders, and maintain empathy for both internal and client teams.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills both internally and externally including experience telling compelling stories. Strong presentation skills are a plus.


• The ability to create and deliver presentations, proposals, and other assets that clearly communicate an understanding of our clients, and IDEO’s values.


• Strong critical thinking skills, including the passion for asking good questions, gathering insights, and interpreting information into meaningful and relevant internal and client communications.


• The ability to multi-task and work efficiently and effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment


• Self-starter who is open, curious, and passionate about engaging with new challenges

Key Mindsets:

• Collaborative and adaptable: able to handle several simultaneous initiatives at a given time, and can navigate team dynamics, differing timelines, and a variety of client contexts while delivering consistent partnership to our team and clients. Most interested in landing at a great end result; less precious about how we get there.


• Curious and energized by variety: excited by the diversity of client challenges that come our way and eager to explore different ways of responding to them.


• Proactive and growth-oriented: able to generate ideas, take initiative, and contribute wherever needed


• Generous and helpful: consistently looking for opportunities to help, improve the ways we do things, and expand how our team contributes to IDEO more broadly

Nice to Haves:

• Experience developing AI-powered workflows


• Expertise in human-centered design methodologies 


• Empathy for design, and interest in finding creative ways for design thinking to solve complex business challenges.

Some Previous Projects to Check Out:

• Introducing LA’s mental health crisis first responders


• Disrupting the beauty goliaths


• Culture as catalyst


• Reintroducing The Lawrence Hall of Science


• Transforming sick days with play

What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients and their organizations, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and humility. We intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.

Payscale & Benefits

IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.

The salary range for this role is $80,000–$90,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full-time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.