Overview
VP Business Development DACH/CEE – Berlin
Why Join London & Partners?
London & Partners is the business growth agency for London — a social enterprise that blends purpose with commercial rigour. Our mission is to create economic growth that is resilient, sustainable, and inclusive. We’re funded by grants, partners, and our portfolio of commercial ventures, and we operate globally to connect people, ideas, and capital with London.
We support high-growth businesses to scale — helping international companies expand into the UK and enabling London-based firms to grow internationally. Team Europe plays a pivotal role in this mission, working with hyper-growth European businesses (ideally Series A+) to accelerate their UK expansion and supporting Grow London Global businesses with their European growth.
If you’re passionate about innovation, international business, and making a tangible impact on London’s economy, this is your opportunity to lead from the front.
Purpose of the Role
Based in Berlin, we’re looking for a senior, influential leader to join our international team as VP, Business Development – DACH/CEE. You’ll be responsible for initiating and closing trade and investment opportunities for London, supporting startups and scaleups across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Central & Eastern Europe.
Your role is to de-risk and accelerate their landing in London — helping them navigate the UK market, build strategic partnerships, and unlock growth. You’ll lead market development, shape regional strategy, and represent London across key verticals including Fintech & Cyber, Enterprise Technology, Creative Tech, Sustainability, and Life Sciences.
Key Responsibilities
- Client Relations – Identify and build relationships with high-potential startups and scaleups across the region.
- Pipeline Management – Maintain a healthy pipeline of leads and opportunities; track progress and report outcomes.
- Brand Promotion – Represent London at key events and deliver compelling pitches to target audiences.
- Networking & Influence – Attend industry events and lead stakeholder engagement to stay ahead of market trends.
- Sales & Growth – Drive business development through outreach, campaigns, and collaboration with marketing.
- Partnerships & Alliances – Build strategic relationships with public and private stakeholders across the region.
- Market Expansion – Explore and penetrate new markets through campaigns, events, and strategic initiatives.
- Strategic Planning – Contribute to Team Europe’s growth strategy and service innovation.
- Leadership – Co-develop strategy, set objectives, and foster a resilient, inclusive team culture. Line management responsibilities included.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Extensive experience in business development across European markets, with a strong track record of delivering growth in DACH and Central & Eastern Europe.
- Demonstrated success in market expansion, having supported startups or scaleups through international entry or investment journeys — ideally Series A+ and beyond.
- Deep understanding of regional market dynamics, including regulatory environments, cultural nuances, and sector-specific trends across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and neighbouring regions.
- Proven ability to build and manage strategic partnerships, with public and private stakeholders across multiple countries.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, with experience presenting to senior decision-makers and influencing cross-border outcomes.
- Multilingual fluency, with professional-level English and highly desirable – German (additional European languages a plus).
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking, with the ability to translate market insights into actionable plans.
- Hands-on experience with CRM systems, highly desirable, Salesforce, and familiarity with digital marketing tools to support outreach and pipeline management.
- Resilience and adaptability, with a collaborative leadership style and experience managing or mentoring cross-functional teams.
Benefits
- 30 days annual leave plus public holidays in Germany
- Hybrid working (2 days in office per week)
- Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing support
- Volunteer leave (up to 2 paid days annually)
- Discounts via Endenred prepaid cards
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date. This is to ensure our teams can manage application levels while maintaining a positive candidate experience. Once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
London’s diversity is its biggest asset. At London & Partners, we aim to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity of the city that we promote. We encourage applications from people of any age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or assignment, faith or disability. We also appreciate that many people require flexibility in their working patterns and encourage you to talk to us at interview about any flexibility you may need, be it full-time, job-share, or part-time.
We encourage applications from all sections of the community.
