Associate Director, Partnering

Associate Director, Partnering

8/7/26

Santa Monica, California United States

Designworks is the design innovation studio of BMW Group. For 25 years, we have been stimulating our parent company, as well as a select group of companies with ambitious visions for the future. We inspire and challenge the companies we work with to be at the forefront of their industries - in design, technology and innovation. We are the architects of future – designing systems that impact and improve the world we live. If you share our vision and view yourself as an independent, creative thinker, we invite you to join our team in this exceptional role located in Santa Monica, CA.    We are hiring an Associate Director, Partnering to grow the external business. This is a sales role. You will own a book of new and expanding client relationships, carry a sales target, and be measured against it. You will sell design and innovation consulting at an executive level — chief executives, chief product officers, and heads of innovation — with the credibility of the BMW Group behind you.   WHAT AWAITS YOU.

Developing and managing a portfolio of external client accounts and opportunities, carrying an individual annual booked sales target. Researching and prioritizing target markets and clients, creating tailored capture strategies, and outreach planning for the sectors in which the studio seeks to grow. Managing end-to-end client acquisition process for their own opportunities: prospecting, pitching up to and at CEO level, scoping, commercial negotiation, contracting, and securing purchase orders. Contributing to and developing sales assets (case studies, value modules, proposals) and preparing project plans, budgets, and internal approval documentation. Interfacing with legal and internal stakeholders for contracts, conducts go/no-go decisions, and coordinating handover to Strategy, Interaction and Industrial Design with kickoff planning and risk assessment. This is a leadership role, leading pitch and proposal teams throughout the sales process, and maintaining client relationships beyond project completion, aligning account strategy across the Los Angeles, Munich and Shanghai studios.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING.

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or design. 7+ years of business development or sales experience in professional services, consulting or creative services, including demonstrable performance against an individual annual booked sales target. 1 – 2 years of team leadership. A record of closing six- and seven-figure engagements with senior client-side stakeholders, including procurement, legal and multi-stakeholder approval processes. Commercial fluency in the pricing and economics of consulting engagements, including rate construction, utilization, scoping and margin management. Substantive industry knowledge in at least one sector outside automotive. Well-developed verbal and written communication skills, including proposal writing, executive-level presentation, and the composure to represent commercial requirements within a creative studio environment. Deep understanding of business context (structures, market, structures and technology implications). Preferences:

Direct experience in the aviation or aerospace sector, including airlines, airframers, cabin interiors or business aviation, or a similar mobility industry. Master’s degree (MBA or hybrid business degree).

WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO.

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance 401(k) with Company match and Retirement Income Account Employee vehicle program Bonus eligibility Paid Parental Leave Generous PTO and Company paid holidays Voluntary Benefits to fit