Job Title: Associate Director, Partnering
Posting Start Date: 8/7/26
Job Location (Long):
Santa Monica, California United States
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 your needs
Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
The expected salary range for this position is $122,547.00 - $158,590.00.
The selected candidate's education, skills, experience, and location will be used to determine the final salary offer. All pay ranges are based on a full-time work schedule. This statement is in accordance with state and local pay disclosure requirements.
