New Business Manager

The Crowd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Bonus

Generous annual leave

Hybrid working (2 days from home)

Team socials

Dog-friendly studio

Creativity time

Job summary

The Crowd is seeking a New Business Manager to join its London team on a permanent basis. You’ll drive new business and account growth across the UK and Europe, building meaningful client relationships and collaborating with leadership to shape opportunities and proposals.

You’ll own the commercial journey from opportunity to handover, balancing relationship development with pipeline management, forecasting and strategic thinking in a creative, collaborative studio environment.

Qualifications

• Proven business development experience in creative/design sectors.
• Track record of winning high-value projects and building long-term client relationships.
• Strong commercial awareness with pipeline, targets, and forecasting.
• Experience preparing proposals and responding to RFPs.
• Experience reviewing contracts and leading negotiations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to represent a premium brand.
• Ability to collaborate across creative, commercial and project teams.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure new UK and Europe opportunities aligned with growth priorities.
• Build and nurture relationships with architects, designers, developers, consultants and clients.
• Own the sales pipeline with senior leadership oversight.
• Develop accurate forecasts, pipeline reports and commercial proposals.
• Lead tenders, proposals and commercial responses with cross-functional teams.
• Develop pitch decks and client presentations.
• Represent the business at networking events and industry conferences.
• Ensure smooth handover from sales to delivery.
• Continuously improve CRM and sales processes.

Skills

Business development

Sales experience

Commercial awareness

RFPs & tenders

Proposals & pitches

CRM proficiency

Relationship management

Negotiation

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Job description

An international, mid-sized creative studio is looking to appoint a New Business Manager to join its vibrant and collaborative London team on a permanent basis.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded business development professional who thrives within the creative industries and enjoys building meaningful client relationships. Working closely with the Commercial Director and senior leadership team, you will play a key role in driving new business and account growth across the UK and Europe, identifying new markets and opportunities, developing strategic partnerships and contributing to the continued growth of an ambitious, collaborative studio.

This isn’t a traditional sales role. Rather than selling a tangible product, you’ll be representing a creative business that delivers unique, design-led solutions for clients across the built environment and beyond. Success comes from understanding clients’ ambitions, identifying opportunities that align with the studio’s wider growth strategy, and working collaboratively with creative and project teams to develop compelling proposals, presentations and pitches that win work.

You’ll take ownership of the commercial journey from initial opportunity through to project handover, balancing relationship development and new business generation with commercial awareness, pipeline management and strategic thinking.

Our client is committed to fostering a creative and collaborative working environment where people can thrive. They offer an excellent benefits package, including private healthcare, bonus, generous annual leave, hybrid working (2 days from home), regular team socials, a dog-friendly studio, and dedicated time each month to pursue your own creative interests.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify, develop and secure new business opportunities across the UK and Europe, aligned with the studio’s strategic growth priorities
• Build and nurture strong relationships with architects, designers, developers, consultants, industry partners and end clients
• Identify opportunities for continued client and account growth, developing long-term relationships beyond individual projects
• Own and manage the sales pipeline, working closely with senior leadership to ensure opportunities are commercially viable, appropriately resourced and aligned with revenue targets
• Develop accurate sales forecasts, pipeline reporting and commercial proposals
• Lead the development of RFPs, tenders, fee proposals and commercial responses, working collaboratively with Creative, Projects, Marketing and Finance teams
• Lead the commercial development of pitch decks, proposals and client presentations
• Work closely with senior leadership to identify new sectors, markets and strategic growth opportunities
• Represent the business at networking events, client meetings, industry conferences and presentations
• Collaborate across Creative, Design, Projects, Marketing and Finance to ensure successful project handovers from sales into delivery
• Continuously develop and improve CRM systems, sales processes and commercial materials

Key Skills / Requirements:

• Proven business development, sales or commercial experience within the creative, design, architecture, experiential, interiors or built environment sectors
• A successful track record of winning and closing high-value projects and developing long-term client relationships
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing sales pipelines, revenue targets and forecasting
• Experience preparing commercial proposals, fee proposals and responding to RFPs and tenders
• Experience reviewing contracts and supporting or leading commercial negotiations
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to represent a premium creative brand with senior clients and stakeholders
• Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills, with a natural ability to build networks and identify new opportunities
• Highly organised and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities
• Collaborative and comfortable working across creative, commercial and project teams
• A genuine passion for art, design and the wider creative industries
• An energetic, entrepreneurial and self-motivated approach, with the confidence to take ownership and make an impact

The Crowd is an equal opportunities employer and agency.