At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead market strategies and drive commercial success in emerging markets.
- Company: Join Cambridge Design Partnership, an innovative end-to-end innovation partner.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, a discretionary bonus, and excellent learning opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture, 100% owned by employees.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of global brands and start-ups.
- Qualifications: Degree educated with significant experience in market development and strategy.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
You will be a senior leader within CDP accountable for identifying, shaping, and driving commercial success in high-potential emerging markets. Using your strategic insight and cross-functional influence, you will define and execute market-entry and market-growth strategies aligned to CDP’s long-term strategy. It’s also a ‘hands on’ role where you will be actively engaged in the sales journey including lead generation and nurture. As a leader, you will collaborate across sectors, service offers, and business development teams to build and convert a pipeline of new opportunities, establishing CDP’s presence, credibility, and commercial traction in markets poised for growth. This is a highly commercial role requiring a balance of strategic foresight, opportunity creation, and operational rigour. You will champion emerging markets across CDP and act as a senior representative externally — building partnerships, identifying anchor clients, and securing meaningful new business.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Market Strategy & Growth: Define and execute CDP’s strategy for emerging markets, aligned with corporate strategy and long-term growth priorities. Maintain up-to-date market intelligence to identify high-potential regions, sub-sectors, and client ecosystems. Build commercially robust business cases for expansion or investment. Own emerging-market sales forecasts, budgets, and KPIs, reporting to the CISO.
- Commercial Leadership: Be accountable for profitable revenue growth across selected emerging markets. Develop and deliver strategic market-entry plans and longer-term commercial strategies. Build the pipeline through your own lead generation and nurture activities. Manage a pipeline of new opportunities, using CRM to provide accurate forecasting and performance reporting. Strategically select and win new business, collaborating closely with BDLs, client managers, and Sector Leaders.
- External Engagement & Partnership Development: Represent CDP externally as a senior leader, attending and speaking at conferences, industry events, and partner forums in key territories. Develop relationships with potential anchor clients, funding bodies, and influential stakeholders. Identify and establish strategic partnerships that unlock market access or accelerate capability building.
- Cross-Organisational Collaboration: Work closely with Sector Leaders to align emerging-market opportunities with sector propositions and delivery strengths. Collaborate with Service Offer Leaders to ensure CDP’s technical capabilities, processes, and resources align with market needs. Support talent development to build relevant market expertise.
- Project Oversight & Delivery Insight: Monitor the performance of projects originating from emerging-market opportunities, ensuring quality, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Provide escalation, remediation, and guidance for systematic issues arising in new-to-firm client engagements or geographically new deliveries.
- Continuous Improvement & Leadership: Identify areas for improvement in CDP’s approach to emerging markets and collaborate with business support teams to implement change. Promote teamwork, collaboration, and transparency within the emerging markets remit and across the business. Mentor and support CDP colleagues to build organisational Service offers in new markets.
About You
Experience and Education:
- Degree educated or equivalent.
- Significant experience developing strategy or commercial propositions in new markets.
- Strong relationships with senior stakeholders in relevant sectors or geographies.
- Demonstrable track record of successfully developing growth opportunities > £1M pa.
- Experience working in matrix teams within a consulting or innovation environment.
Skills and Attributes:
Essential:
- Extensive experience in market development, international expansion, or commercial strategy.
- Strong track record in identifying, developing, and winning new business in complex or emerging markets.
- Excellent sales, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Strong analytical ability aligned with strategic narrative-building.
- Expertise in CRM tools and forecasting methodologies.
- Collaborative, adaptable, and confident in rapidly changing environments.
- Demonstrable experience leading or influencing cross-functional teams.
Desirable:
- Experience working in consultancy or innovation-led organisations.
- Multilingual or multinational experience relevant to target markets.
- Established network within innovation, design, or technology ecosystems.
About Us
Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end-to-end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start-ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life. Our teams are multi-disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer and healthcare clients. People-centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry. Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success.
As part of our benefits package, we offer:
- flexible working
- a discretionary bonus
- excellent learning and development opportunities
- a 12% non-contributory pension
- private healthcare
- electric vehicle lease
- salary sacrifice scheme
- share incentive plan
- 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays
Head of Emerging Markets in Cambridge employer: Cambridge Design
Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that empowers employees to drive innovation in emerging markets. With a strong commitment to professional growth, CDP provides excellent learning opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a unique employee ownership model that fosters a sense of belonging and shared success. Located in a vibrant area, the company not only prioritises employee well-being through comprehensive benefits like private healthcare and a generous pension scheme but also encourages meaningful contributions to impactful projects.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Emerging Markets in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, conferences, and meet-ups to connect with key players in emerging markets. Don’t just be a wallflower; engage in conversations and showcase your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Leverage social media to build your personal brand. Share insights, articles, and your thoughts on market trends. This will not only position you as a thought leader but also attract potential employers who are looking for someone with your skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in your job search! Instead of waiting for job postings, reach out directly to companies you admire, like CDP. Express your interest in emerging markets and how you can contribute to their growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent projects and market strategies. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in driving commercial success in emerging markets.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Emerging Markets in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in emerging markets. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your strategic insight and commercial success!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to influence and collaborate across teams. Share examples of how you've successfully led cross-functional projects or built partnerships in your previous roles.
Be Specific About Your Achievements:Quantify your successes! Use numbers to illustrate your track record in developing growth opportunities and driving revenue. This helps us see the impact you’ve made in your past roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at CDP!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge Design
✨Know Your Market Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the emerging markets relevant to CDP. Understand the trends, challenges, and opportunities in these regions. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can drive commercial success.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Insight
Prepare to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in previous roles that led to market growth. Be ready to share examples of how you've identified high-potential areas and successfully executed market-entry plans. This will demonstrate your ability to think strategically and act decisively.
✨Highlight Your Collaborative Spirit
CDP values cross-organisational collaboration, so be prepared to talk about how you've worked with different teams to achieve common goals. Share stories that illustrate your ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders across various sectors.
✨Be Ready for Hands-On Scenarios
Since this role involves active engagement in the sales journey, think of examples where you've been directly involved in lead generation and nurturing. Discuss your approach to managing a pipeline and using CRM tools effectively, as this will show you're ready for the hands-on nature of the position.
