Founded in Switzerland in 1968, Zühlke is owned by its partners and located across Europe and Asia. We are a global transformation partner, with engineering and innovation in our DNA. We're trusted to help clients envision and build their businesses for the future – to run smarter today while adapting for tomorrow’s markets, customers, and communities. Our multidisciplinary teams specialise in tech strategy and business innovation, digital solutions and applications, and device and systems engineering. We excel in complex, regulated spaces including health and finance, connecting strategy, tech implementation, and operational services to help clients become more effective, resilient businesses.
If you share our values and want to do the best work, for the right reasons, we can offer you the chance to do it on a global scale and play a real role in shaping our exciting journey.
Position Overview
This role is geared towards growth through new client acquisition, with a strong focus on building new accounts. It is not a classic account management role or a sales position based on pre-qualified leads, but rather one centred on the active development of new business.
As a Strategic Business Developer, you will actively help drive the expansion of our business in the industry and consumer products sector in Germany. You identify market opportunities, proactively approach potential clients, and systematically develop them into sustainable partnerships. A strong sales mindset, a good sense for client needs, and confidence in engaging with decision-makers will support you in this role.
The focus is on complex, innovative technology and consulting services ranging from custom software and hardware development to data and AI solutions. In this environment, you position Zühlke as a trusted strategic partner for technological innovation and successfully bring together clients and our interdisciplinary teams.
How you will make an impact
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Clear focus on new business: your success is reflected in newly acquired clients and sustainably generated revenue
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Proactive sales mindset: you identify and develop opportunities independently and actively shape your sales success instead of waiting for pre-qualified leads
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Winning through relevance: you act with market understanding, your own perspective, and entrepreneurial thinking, creating real added value in client dialogue
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Interaction at eye level: you move confidently at C-level and communicate with ease with business and technology decision-makers
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Freedom to shape and personal responsibility: clear goals, significant room for initiative, and visible impact on business success
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Proactively identify and acquire new clients in the Industry & Consumer Products environment while building, maintaining, and systematically developing a sustainable new-business pipeline
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Manage the entire sales process: from first contact and discovery through proposal development and negotiation to contract closure
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Represent Zühlke in relevant Industry networks, associations, events, and expert communities while positioning the company as a strategic technology and development partner at decision-maker level
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Work closely with consulting, engineering, and delivery teams to shape compelling client solutions.
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Several years of experience in business development or new business sales with a proven track record of closing complex deals
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Experience selling innovative, consultative services and projects in technologically demanding environments.
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Strong negotiation and closing skills as well as a confident presence when interacting with senior stakeholders up to C-level
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A resilient network in the German industry and/or consumer products sector that you can actively leverage for business development is an advantage
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Very good German language skills, written and spoken, required for client conversations, negotiations, and building sustainable relationships; strong English is a plus for internal collaboration and international contexts
What working at Zühlke is all about
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Entrepreneurial freedom: You’ll help shape the Industry & Consumer Products market in Germany - with creative freedom and a direct impact on the growth strategy
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Attractive compensation package: Base salary plus a performance-based component that directly rewards your sales achievements
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Strong support: Access to 1,700 specialists in engineering, data & AI, design, and strategy - you don’t sell alone, you orchestrate
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Substance over buzzwords: Swiss engineering precision meets genuine implementation expertise in regulated, complex environments
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Collaborative culture: Open, respectful, interdisciplinary. No politics, no silos - results matter
If you feel you don't meet all the requirements, we are still happy to get to know you, learn more about your ambitions and ideas and look forward to receiving your application!
We welcome people from all backgrounds, regardless of their gender, personality, national origin, race, religion, colour, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, disability or veteran status.
