Business Development Manager
ProtonJobsCloseBy Editorial Insights
Proton is hiring a Business Development Manager to build strategic B2B partnerships and a Swiss pipeline with a hunter mindset for long term opportunities. You’ll develop relationships with senior IT and security stakeholders, identify partnerships with corporates and key ecosystem players, and navigate complex organisations to unlock entry points. Ideal candidates have 3–7 years in BD or partnerships in B2B SaaS, a strong Swiss network, fluent English, and business-level French and German, plus a proactive, ambiguity-tolerant attitude. The role offers an office-first culture with remote flexibility, stock options, and learning opportunities. To apply, tailor your CV to Swiss pipeline and partnerships, show how you created opportunities without a fixed playbook, and highlight cross-functional collaboration.
Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default
At Proton, we believe that privacy is a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of democracy. Since our inception in 2014, founded by a team of scientists from CERN, we have dedicated ourselves to providing free and open-source technology to millions worldwide, ensuring access to privacy, security, and freedom online.
Our journey began with Proton Mail, the largest secure email service globally, and has since expanded to include Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. These tools empower individuals and organizations to take control of their personal data, break away from Big Tech’s invasive practices, and defeat censorship. Our work impacts hundreds of millions of lives, from activists on the front lines defending freedom to leaders in governments protecting sensitive information. In some cases, Proton’s services have even been instrumental in saving lives by enabling secure and private communications in high-risk situations.
Proton today supports over 100 million user accounts with a growing team of over 500 people from over 50 different countries, from the world's top companies and universities. We value intelligence, learning potential, and ambition in our hiring process. Adaptability is key as we navigate uncharted territories and redefine how business is conducted online. We believe smaller teams of exceptional talent will always prevail over larger teams with lower talent density. Proton has become profitable and reached scale without relying upon VC funding, largely due to superior talent that allows us to do things faster, more creatively, and more efficiently.
We have a global mindset and big ambitions but remain a start-up at heart. We value empowerment and flexibility and keep our structure flat to keep moving fast and avoid unnecessary politics. Tired of blending into the crowd? Join us and do work you can truly be proud of. Check our social media pages to learn more about us: Twitter, Reddit, Instagram.
Role Overview
We are looking for a Business Development Manager focused on building strategic partnerships and generating high-quality pipeline for Proton’s B2B business. This is a key role focused on identifying and unlocking new business opportunities — not closing deals.
You will work on developing relationships with key organisations, partners, and networks — particularly within Switzerland — to position Proton within strategic ecosystems and create long-term pipeline opportunities.
This role requires a strong talent to network, a “hunter” mindset for opportunity creation, and the ability to navigate complex organisations to open doors for commercial engagement.
What You’ll Do
Pipeline Creation & Strategic Opportunity Development
- Identify and develop new strategic opportunities across target segments
- Build a pipeline of high-quality opportunities for the sales team
- Focus on long-term opportunity creation rather than short-term deal closing
Strategic Partnerships
- Identify, engage, and develop partnerships with corporates, industry bodies, service providers, ecosystem partners (including co-selling opportunities)
Market Development (Switzerland Focus)
- Leverage your existing network within Swiss corporates and organisations
- Expand Proton’s presence within local business ecosystems
- Identify high-value entry points into target companies
Relationship Building
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders (IT, security, leadership)
- Act as a trusted advisor and entry point into organisations
- Navigate complex organisational structures to identify opportunities
Sales Opportunity Discovery and Closing
- Identify and qualify opportunities
- Provide clear context on use case, stakeholders, potential deal scope
-Negotiate and close deals
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Sales leadership to align on target segments
- Provide feedback on market opportunities and ICP evolution
- Share insights from partnerships and market interactions
What We’re Looking For
Experience
- 3–7 years in Business Development, Partnerships, or Strategic Sales roles
- Experience in B2B SaaS or technology environments
- Proven track record in building partnerships and generating pipeline
Network
- Strong existing network within Swiss companies and/or business ecosystem (highly preferred)
- Appetite to develop and grow a network of Swiss and DACH companies
Skills
- Strong relationship-building and networking capabilities
- Ability to identify and develop strategic opportunities
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Comfortable operating without a structured playbook
Languages
- Fluent in English (required)
- Business-level proficiency in BOTH French and German (required)
Mindset
- Hunter mindset focused on opportunity creation
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial instincts
- Proactive, self-driven, and comfortable operating in ambiguity
- Long-term relationship builder
What we offer
- Office First: Collaboration is easier and more effective in person, which is why we have offices in Geneva, Zurich, Prague, Barcelona, Paris, London, Vilnius, Skopje, and Taipei. You can also enjoy working from home up to 30% of the time, while enjoying great company during our three core days in the office.
- Technology: We provide all the devices and software you need to excel in your role, ensuring you have the best tools at your disposal to achieve your goals.
- Food: Lunch and snacks are provided by Proton every day at our offices.
- Transport: We will always support our employees with transport costs through subsidizing public transport, bike allowances, or parking spaces based on your office location.
- Stock Options: At Proton, we are all owners of the company and you get stock options when you join us.
- Flexible Working: You can define your own working hours as long as it works with team meetings.
- Learning and Development: We are committed to your professional growth. Proton offers various learning opportunities, including training programs, conferences and events, and continual learning.
- Employee Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance plans, competitive retirement savings options, generous vacation and leave policies, and wellness programs.
- Work that Matters: Proton is a community-first organization, started with the support of a crowdfunding campaign and built with community input. To this day, Proton’s only source of revenue is user subscriptions. Over 100 million people trust and support Proton, and we put our users and community first in everything we do. Read more about our impact here.
Check our social media to learn more about Proton:
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, or socio-economic background, feel valued and empowered. We strive to create equal opportunities, promote open dialogue, and support continuous learning to ensure every voice is heard and respected.
If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know.
Candidate Privacy Notice
When you apply for a position, refer a candidate, or are considered for a role at Proton Technologies AG (Proton, we, us, or our), your information is stored in Greenhouse, in accordance with their Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position. We also retain this information for consideration for future roles that you may apply for or that we believe may align with your background and skills.
If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymize it. Should you have any inquiries about how we use or manage your information, or if you wish to access, correct, or delete your data, please contact our privacy team at [email protected].
Proton does not accept unsolicited resumes from any sources other than directly from candidates. We will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from an unsolicited offer, even if the candidate is subsequently hired by Proton.
To learn more about our privacy policy, please visit our privacy policy page.
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