The Client Director plays a pivotal role in driving the company's growth strategy, commercial effectiveness, and client engagement across Switzerland. This role is responsible for leading business development activities while maintaining a strong external client focus, particularly within the Property & Buildings (P&B) sector, where market growth and client relationships are key priorities.
The Client Director will combine strong commercial acumen with an extensive senior-level client network, using market insight and executive relationships to identify, develop, and convert strategic opportunities. This role requires an individual who can engage confidently with C-suite stakeholders, translate strategic conversations into tangible opportunity pipelines, and drive measurable business growth.
As a key member of the leadership team, the Client Director will contribute to the overall strategic direction of the organisation, supporting the development of the operation and ensuring the company achieves its financial and strategic objectives across the geography.
Position Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Client Director to join our team in Switzerland. Reporting to the Country Managing Director, the Client Director will be a key member of the Leadership Team, responsible for driving commercial strategy, business development, client relationships, and pipeline growth across designated business lines.
The successful candidate will play a critical role in strengthening WSP Switzerland’s market position by building trusted relationships with senior decision-makers, particularly within the Property & Buildings sector, and converting market opportunities into sustainable growth.
Position Location: Switzerland
YOUR NEW ROLE, WHAT’S INVOLVED?
Strategy & Growth
- Analyse market conditions, competition, and emerging opportunities to create actionable growth strategies.
- Develop and execute targeted business development strategies, with a particular focus on the Property & Buildings sector in Switzerland.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior executive stakeholders, leveraging an established network to identify and secure strategic opportunities.
- Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration to drive growth initiatives forward, including new business opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams to increase company profitability.
- Work closely with country market leaders and Business Line Heads to create effective go-to-market strategies.
- Translate C-suite discussions and client insights into tangible opportunity pipelines, ensuring strategic conversations result in measurable business development outcomes.
- Continuously monitor the competitive landscape, customer behaviours, and industry trends, while using data analytics to inform decisions and adjust strategies based on performance metrics.
- Provide thought leadership input into WSP Switzerland’s broader commercial initiatives to support CE WSP’s strategic plan and direction.
- Be an active part of the CE regional Client team representing Switzerland.
Commercial
- Lead and drive business development activities, combining commercial expertise with strong client engagement and market presence.
- Partner with both the legal and financial teams to safeguard all commercial agreements and activities, ensuring robust legal and financial protection.
- Innovate and maintain standard Terms and Conditions for commercial agreements and other legal documents, ensuring the company retains a competitive edge.
- Oversee and enhance WSP Switzerland’s commercial policies and procedures, developing new policies to support business growth.
- Regularly collaborate with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to fine-tune the commercial sensitivity of each proposal in response to the current operational status.
- Implement and monitor internal procedures to ensure operations are fully compliant with the WSP Delegation of Authority (DoA) in commercial and BD activities.
- Collaborate with the Managing Director and Business Line Heads to set and achieve strategic goals for commercial operations, managing key metrics including Sales, Hard Backlog, Soft Backlog, Net Revenue, and Operating Margins.
- Enhance commercial rigour in pricing and budgeting for major projects by collaborating with Business Line Heads and project teams, while leading the preparation and review of commercial submissions for proposals.
- Analyse the performance of the project portfolio, develop strategies for support and intervention, report findings to leadership, and assist the business in positioning for and securing major strategic bids.
- Lead risk management strategies, engaging directly with clients and ensuring comprehensive handover briefings to inform project teams.
Business Intelligence and Reporting
- Own and manage data performance related to commercial activities, utilising key metrics such as Sales, Hard Backlog, Soft Backlog, Net Revenue, and Operating Margins to inform strategic decisions.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyse current data for the Managing Director and synthesise insights for comprehensive regional and global reporting.
- Experienced in CRM management and client database handling, with familiarity in relevant tools and systems.
- Lead the national opportunity pipeline, ensuring visibility, accuracy, and conversion of strategic opportunities.
- Report operational KPIs and pipeline performance to the Regional Client team.
WHAT IF IT WAS YOU?
Requirements
- Degree in business administration, operations management, engineering, or a related field preferred. An MBA or other advanced business degree would be highly valued.
- Strong commercial leadership experience with a proven track record of driving business development, revenue growth, and strategic client engagement.
- Extensive senior-level network within the Property & Buildings sector in Switzerland, with the ability to engage and influence C-suite and executive stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to convert executive-level client conversations into tangible business opportunities and sustainable pipelines.
- Proven experience in senior leadership positions, with a track record of managing complex initiatives, developing commercially robust major project proposals, and securing strategic opportunities.
- Experience across a broad range of engineering, procurement, and delivery models.
- Ideally trilingual in German, French, and English, with strong communication skills across all three languages.
- Flexibility to travel within Switzerland, as required.
Key Competencies
- Strategic Client Leadership
- Business Development & Commercial Growth
- C-suite Relationship Management
- Market Intelligence and Opportunity Development
- Leadership and Team Management
- Communication and Influence
- Strategic Planning and Execution
- Resource Management
- Mentoring and Development
- Commercial Negotiation and Risk Management
WHAT YOU’LL LIKE ABOUT US:
A working environment inspired by diversity, driven by inclusion.
Our flexible working policy - We recognise the importance of work-life balance and encourage you to find yours.
WSP is about making the world around us a better place, including the environment, transport infrastructure, buildings and land use.
Excellent career prospects. We're growing fast, and every day we strive to outdo ourselves. We are open to your ideas and want to try new things. We have a supportive environment that invests in your development and training.
WSP is about embracing a culture of collaboration with colleagues who stand out for their skills. Come and discover our fantastic team!
ABOUT US:
We are one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Our trusted employees share a common goal of making a positive and lasting impact on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity and inclusion.
Are you hesitating to apply? Go for it! We are proud to promote diversity, equal opportunities and professional integration within our teams, and we are convinced that our differences and an inclusive working environment contribute to our development. All applications will be carefully considered.
#WeAreWSP
#WeAreVisoneers
#LI-DA1
