About the Opportunity
Peddlethorp is a leading New Zealand design and architecture studio, known for creating beautiful, sustainable and enduring spaces. With a reputation built on landmark projects since 1968, their work blends technical excellence with a thoughtful, human approach to design. They are a well-respected practice with a strong track record now ready to lift its visibility and presence in market without losing what makes it culturally strong.
- This brand-new leadership role will sit alongside Peddlethorp’s directors and studio leaders, shaping how the business grows across Auckland and the wider NZ market ensuring their reputation for high-quality, large-scale work is shared earlier, more often, and keeps them front of mind with clients and partners.
- You’ll define and lead the business development strategy shaping priority sectors and target clients, and helping evolve Peddlethorp’s voice and market presence in a way that’s authentic and values-aligned.
- You’ll work across a broad sector portfolio (private and public), bringing focus and discipline to where the practice leans in next.
- You’ll strengthen market credibility by sharpening the tools that support growth; ensuring proposals and pitch material are compelling and consistent, keeping capability collateral and case studies current, and guiding a purposeful digital presence for the audiences that matter.
- A key part of the role is building trusted internal relationships with directors, studio leaders and architects - managing up effectively, earning credibility with technical experts, and becoming a valued partner who brings opportunities, ideas and client conversations to life.
- This is a client-facing position where you’ll be out in market building relationships with key decision-makers, representing Peddlethorp at events, panels and client meetings, and creating connections that translate into real opportunities.
What You’ll Bring
- 10+ years in business development, partnerships or growth, with a track record operating credibly at executive/C-suite level (ideally in architecture, engineering, property, development, design, or adjacent professional services) and established industry networks.
- Exceptional relationship-building capability, with an authentic approach and the ability to earn trust quickly, internally and externally.
- The confidence and credibility to engage as a peer with senior leaders and technical teams, bringing influence, diplomacy and a values-led approach to every conversation.
- Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to qualify opportunities, prioritise effectively, and make smart calls on what to pursue (and what to decline).
- Practical exposure to AI tools and an interest in how they can support smarter business development from market mapping and client insights through to proposal development, relationship planning and improving internal ways of working.
- Comfort with some healthy ambiguity at the start; this is a newly created role with room to shape, influence and define what great looks like, bringing structure, momentum and clarity as it evolves.
What’s on Offer
- A genuine chance to shape both the strategy and the function; this is not a plug-and-play role; it’s one you’ll build with the directors, with real backing.
- You’ll represent a practice with substance and credibility, and help translate that into a stronger market profile and more consistent opportunity flow.
- You’ll be one of the faces of Peddlethorp in key client and industry settings (events, panels, boardrooms and senior stakeholder conversations).
- The opportunity to build a repeatable growth engine (pipeline discipline, engagement plans, market intelligence, and capability collateral) that sets the practice up for long-term success.
- Clear runway for the role to grow over time (including leadership evolution as the function scales).
Next Steps?
To keep things simple, we ask that all applications are submitted through this advert. We’ll review applications as they come in and be in touch.
For any questions give Siobhan Chaney a call on +64 27 206 2735 and quote Job ID: 18151 for a confidential chat.
To apply for this vacancy, you MUST be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or have already secured the right to work in New Zealand and therefore hold a valid visa.
At the appropriate stage we will request your references, we ask that you do not include them on your CV when applying.
Tribe is a group of specialist teams, each of who truly understand their world, and together they partner to understand yours. Whether you’re looking for your next opportunity or recruiting, we’re all about bringing people together for a shared purpose. Find your people.