Snook is a design agency with real, human experiences at its heart. We’re passionate and talented people who share our expertise in: service design, interaction design, content design, user research, development, strategy and more.

We’ve designed user-centred services for government agencies including: Home Office, Department for Education (DfE), NHS Digital and NHSX. 

We’ve also designed digital products and solutions for organisations including Lloyds, Cancer Research UK and Comic Relief.

• Location: UK, home and office working - London and Glasgow based staff are expected to regularly use our studios. For remote staff we have optional access to business lounges across the UK.
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Up to £80,000 - OTE £120,000

We’re looking for someone with a strong understanding of user-centred design and research to lead on business development at Snook. 

You'll have extensive experience in building strong, strategic relationships that will enable you to support our growth in key market areas. You’ll have a keen understanding of the commercial aspects of running a business to help us grow, meet our revenue goals and increase our profitability.

As well as leading on sales and client relationships, you’ll track new markets and trends, products and services. You’ll work with the Managing Director, Chief Design Officers and Sector Leads to set realistic commercial targets for Snook.

You’ll write proposals and pitches, and guide Snook’s ambitious long-term goals. You’ll also help us increase our visibility in key sectors by growing new strategic partnerships and overseeing our marketing and communications. 

You’ll also direct key projects within your portfolio, working with our exceptional researchers and designers. That means this role is a perfect fit for practitioners (or ex-practitioners) who have significant experience in, and are passionate about new business development. 

This role is part of Snook’s executive team and reports to the Managing Director.

Responsibilities 

You’ll be responsible for our new business development objectives and key results, contributing to Snook’s strategy and direction. You’ll head up a team of Sector Leads, each focused on one of Snook’s key markets, such as central government, healthcare and the charity sector. You’ll support and empower your team to make strategic commercial decisions, manage risks and identify opportunities to grow our visibility and revenue. As well as having overall responsibility for developing our portfolio, you’ll directly lead Snook’s activity in one of our target sectors. 

Commercial responsibilities:

• Build strong relationships across Snook’s key market areas and the design industry in order to develop business opportunities  
• Track new markets and research emerging trends, and recommend new products and services that will help us deliver on our Snook strategy
• Write proposals and plans, and guide long-term goals so that we meet business needs
• Collaborate with Sector Leads to understand trends across sectors and maximise our opportunities to develop key products and services
• Find partnership opportunities for Snook, expanding our reach 
• Support the Managing Director and finance team to drive Snook’s commercial development
• Develop a strong opportunities pipeline to enable Snook to hit our revenue goals (currently around £10m)

Operational and governance responsibilities:

• Oversee all pitches, proposals and project contracts ensuring they have clear and achievable deliverables and budgets
• Make sure legal and finance are engaged in all client opportunities, sign off and approval
• Manage new business development data and lead on reporting this to the Managing Director and leadership team building a pipeline of opportunities in CRM
• Manage the performance and development of the Sector Leads within the new business team

• Contribute to recruitment planning based on the new business pipeline and resource needs

Marketing responsibilities:

• Work with our Chief Design Officers to develop Snook’s voice and brand

• Present marketing opportunities to the business and help develop marketing strategies to grow awareness of Snook

• Participate in marketing activity like contributing to sector publications, networking and speaking at events

• Identify key individuals and organisations to develop new relationships and opportunities

• Represent Snook on social media and at conferences to build our brand

Project Director responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction on key projects, working closely with Project Leads to ensure work is on track and of a high quality

• Work with operational teams to make sure projects are resourced with the right skills and experience

• Get to know key clients and build strong relationships 

• Understand and scope potential future projects 

Benefits:

• 25.5 days holiday per year, 4 public holidays, plus up to 6 days of Christmas closure.
• A supportive maternity package
• Flexible working hours through discussion to support family friendly working and other commitments you may have
• A bike to work scheme
• Membership to Headspace, the meditation app
• Snook group pension plan
• We support you with a Snook buddy when you join to get you started
• Our ‘all company’ Monday Morning Meeting – where we get updates from the leadership, collaborate on various topics and have 3 min intros from new and existing staff
• We have department check-ins to make sure we are staying in touch with our teams even when we are working on projects
• Weekly learning sessions delivered by Snooks and external speakers covering a wide variety of topics
• Two studios, one in London and one in Glasgow so we can come together and collaborate in person
• Free Tea, coffee and Snacks in the studios
• An annual Away Day for the whole company to share, collaborate and socialise together
• Two Show & Tells Days per year to share and learn about a range of projects delivered by Snook
• Team Away Days where Discipline Teams come together to collaborate and socialise.
• Book clubs – Discipline Teams have regular book clubs where they read and discuss books related to their professional development
• Sessions and Slack groups where fellow Snooks can share their passions and skills – Yoga classes, knitting groups, gardening, obscure cartoons…many more and more always welcome

How to apply

1. Go to our listing and select ‘I’m interested’
2. Upload your CV
3. Add your cover letter - tell us why you think you’d be a good fit for the role and why you want to work for Snook

Any questions?

If you have any questions please get in touch with us at [email protected]

Remote interviews
All stages of the interview process will be held remotely. We can offer interview times that suit you including outside of work hours. If you have children, caring during or any other circumstances we’re happy to find an interview time that works for you.

Clearance

All offers are subject to satisfactory security vetting and reference checks. As standard, all roles undertake a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. As a provider of services to the UK Government, where necessary we adhere to HMG’s personnel security and vetting policy requiring that minimum personnel security controls are checked as specified in the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Some roles may require national security vetting clearance at the Security Check (SC) level and Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) Level 3. Where applicable local (non-UK) security checks and vetting schemes will be used to provide sufficient personnel security controls.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

We strive for diversity in our team. If we’re going to design services for the public we need to ensure our team is inclusive. Snook encourages applications from all backgrounds, abilities or impairments, communities and industries. We’re committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities.