We started Public Digital five years ago to help global institutions that matter to thrive in the internet era. We are digital practitioners with a global reputation. Since then we’ve worked with more than 30 governments on six continents, and some of the world’s biggest companies. So far, Public Digital has grown on the strength of our collective reputation, having brought together a group of people who are experienced, respected leaders in the field. 

We are now at a crucial point. We have a global reputation, and contacts all over the world at the most senior levels of government, business and multilateral institutions. We’ve recently joined the kyu Collective, opening up a whole set of exciting new connections. And in an era of endless noise, we know our values and we are not afraid to take clear positions. 

We compete with the world’s largest management and tech consultancies but we do not want to become a slightly better version of the same old business model. Instead, we want to offer our clients an alternative to the tired ‘land and expand’ orthodoxy. We need a creative thinker who is able to help us challenge the traditional consulting approach, while still meeting the expectations of potential future clients in how we present ourselves.

We’re looking for somebody who can take us to the next stage of growth, while retaining our culture of being agile, entrepreneurial, and with a strong bias for simplicity. We are highly ambitious about what Public Digital can achieve at scale. However, we’re not interested in pure sales. We want to grow a sustainable business that delivers work with public purpose. Our work is our legacy, and we need to scale it up.

To do that, we need help to structure our offer and find the right place for our skills to have the greatest effect. We need to get better at seeking out the opportunities where we believe we can have the most impact, rather than wait for them to come to us.

In the spirit of that we’re open to different approaches to structuring this role. You should demonstrate the qualities above in your response to us.

I look forward to hearing from you

Ben Terrett, CEO

Role overview 

A critical new role, simply dedicated to presenting us to the world creatively, challenging the norms of traditional consulting. 

You will expand our sustainable business, engaging and realising opportunities for us to deliver work with public purpose globally, staying true to delivering business where we believe we have the greatest impact. You will create, build, enhance and drive our ambitious commercial offering, developing connections and seeking new and exciting collaborations. 

Your stretch will be across a wide variety of continents, countries, regions, cultures and sectors. Take us there. 

What you’ll do for us:

• Work with the leadership team to create, deliver and continually enhance a best fit, future-proof global business development strategy; think it and do it. 

• Develop our go-to-market propositions and our voice in different markets.

• Through understanding and clarity of our services and strategy, design and deliver rapid improvements to our business development purpose, materials and processes.

• Continually strengthen our position in a highly competitive global marketplace. 

• Commercially enhance our current portfolio of services and work with the client and sector leads to develop this further. 

• Scan the market for new client and partnership opportunities, working closely with regional and sector leads to source and create opportunities that are an excellent fit for the way we deliver our services. 

• Lead role in business development activities for major clients, from pre-RFP to contracting stages. 

• Be a trusted advisor to our clients, articulating their future needs and advising on how best to fulfil them.

• Be an expert negotiator, savvy with the numbers including pricing and forecasting.

• Act as an external ambassador, contributing and shaping our culture and growth of Public Digital as a values-led business.

• Leading, developing and progressing the BD Manager in achieving cross functional, common goals. 

What we’re looking for:

• Ability to think, act and do, globally. 

• A transformational leader, strategic and agile in thought yet simplistic in problem solving, able to enhance the business development experience for the whole team.

• Commercially astute with presence and influence, sound and informed decision making.

• Entrepreneurial, with the ability to work with ambiguity, self reliant.

• Anticipate, plan, prepare and deliver; operationally focused to get things done.

• Ability to present world class service experiences, setting standards of excellence and holding others to account. 

• Persuasive and impactful communicator, confident with presentations, with the ability to articulate technical concepts.

• Pragmatic and collaborative relationship builder across different cultures.

• Creativity and innovation, ability to challenge the norms.

• Demonstrable success in leading pitches and proposals in excess of £1m.

• Private sector experience in a business development, partnerships or similar commercial role (some public sector procurement experience an advantage).

• Demonstrable interest and understanding in digital transformation, digital government, public service delivery or organisational change. 

• Experience working with Google Workspace (formerly Google Suite).

• We are of the Internet, as you will be. 

Desirable

• Experience of working with both decision makers and digital delivery teams within a large, complex organisation. This might have been in the public sector, in a large international organisation, or a multinational corporation.

• Knowledge and understanding of government procurement frameworks and processes outside the UK, especially in North America.

• Experience setting up, scaling, or transforming a commercial or business development function.

• Knowledge and understanding of government procurement frameworks.

What’s in it for you:

• Opportunity to collaborate within a great team, engaged and focused on helping each other;

• Build and develop a function, put your name to our continued success;

• Be empowered to do your job well; 

• Home and remote working, flexibility in delivering work;

• Focus on learning, development and progression; 

• Ability to build and develop your expertise and profile through publishing blog; posts, presenting at events and sharing knowledge and experience;

• Buddy system and prioritised mental health;

• Generous holiday allowance: 30 days, plus public holidays;

• Annual office volunteering day;

• Health insurance cover.

How we get to know you

We would like to understand your background, attitudes, experiences and your motivation in wanting to work with us through typically a :

• phone interview which can be up to 30 minutes;

• panel interview, which includes a case study sent to you in advance; and 

• meet with peers online. 

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible. You must have permission to work in the UK at the start of your employment.