Senior Business Development Officer

UNS, originally founded in Amsterdam in 1988 by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, is an international architectural design studio, specialising in architecture, interiors, product design, urban development and user experience design, in addition to offering strategic consulting services for the built environment. The name, UNS, stands for United Network Studio, referring to the collaborative nature of the practice. Centrally located offices in Amsterdam, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Dubai, Frankfurt, Austin, Riyad and Melbourne enable the firm to work efficiently anywhere in the world.

The Austin office, responsible for business in North America, is operational since February 2023 and currently focussing on public facing projects, like the Austin Light Rail implementation, The Jewish Museum in NY and Georgetown University downtown campus in DC.

The Position

The Senior Business Development Officer will play a pivotal role in expanding UNS’ presence in North America. You will support the local leadership in the approach on new and existing clients to win work. This position involves identifying new business opportunities, building and maintaining client relationships, and collaborating with internal teams to drive growth. The ideal candidate is dynamic, pro-active and has a deep understanding of the architecture and design industry, particularly in the U.S. market. Candidate is a natural networker with a proven ability to engage with high-level stakeholders and establish long-term relationships with large clients.

The Senior Business Development Officer is co-responsible for the expansion of UNS’ business network, in co-charge of researching business opportunities and responsible for coordination of planning and preparation of tender documents, RFP's, and business proposals.  Candidate will do so in close collaboration with Austin’s Managing Director, the local team and global Strategic Business Development.

Client Relationship Management:

• Establish and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including developers, government agencies, and industry partners.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for a part of the client portfolio, ensuring their needs are met and expectations exceeded.

Market Research & Analysis:

• Conduct comprehensive market research to identify emerging trends, potential clients, and new project opportunities in North America.
• Analyze competitive landscape and provide insights to inform strategic decision-making.

Business Development Strategy:

• Develop and implement strategic plans to achieve business growth objectives.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including tenders, competitions, and direct commissions.

Collaboration & Coordination:

• Work closely with the design and project management teams to align business development efforts with company capabilities and project

• Pipelines.

• Coordinate with marketing to develop promotional materials and strategies that enhance UNS’ brand presence in the region.

Reporting & Documentation:

• Prepare regular reports on business development activities, including pipeline status, client interactions, and market insights.
• Maintain accurate records of all business development initiatives and client communications.

Requirements

• Bachelor's/Master’s degree in Business, Marketing, Architecture, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in business development within the architecture, engineering, or construction industries, in North America.
• Proven track record of securing new business and managing client relationships.
• Strong understanding of the architectural landscape and market dynamics in North America.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe InDesign and CRM software.

• Fluency In English.

When you work at UNS

• You work on high profile, challenging global projects
• You are part of a creative, fresh, professional and academic working environment
• Research is an integrated and valued part of your daily work
• Your experience is highly valued, but your innovative and entrepreneurial attitude is ranked highest.
• You work in a young international team that is highly ambitious, collegial and social, made up of recently graduated architects, experienced senior architects and everything in-between
• You get as much creative freedom as you are willing to take.