Principal Client Executive - Public Services & Defence - Critical, Sovereign & Strategic Infrastructure

Are you an experienced commercial leader who builds lasting relationships at executive level? As a Principal Client Executive at Cegeka, you take strategic ownership of a portfolio of complex and strategically important clients within Public Services & Defence - Critical, Sovereign & Strategic Infrastructure. You define multi-year account strategies, bring the right Cegeka capabilities together and turn client transformation priorities into sustainable growth.

With broad autonomy and a strong internal network, you create value for our clients while strengthening our commercial organisation. This opportunity is open to both permanent employees and freelancers. You shape and lead multi-year strategies for complex and strategically important client accounts. You build trusted relationships with senior executives and engage them on their business, technology and transformation priorities. You translate insights into differentiated growth propositions by combining client needs, market developments, competitive intelligence, strategic data and financial information.

You bring together Cegeka's business lines, service lines, delivery teams and expert communities to create integrated solutions and measurable client value. You lead strategic opportunities, executive presentations and high-value commercial negotiations. You monitor and manage account performance, pipeline, profitability, retention, investments and strategic risks. You anticipate changes in the client environment and turn them into proactive strategic choices and recommendations.

You coach and guide Client Officers and Client Executives, share effective account practices and, where applicable, support the development of direct reports. You report to the Client Director. What you need to succeed: you bring at least 10 years of relevant commercial experience in strategic account management, business development, complex solution sales or client leadership; you have proven experience within Critical, Sovereign & Strategic Infrastructure and a strong understanding of this ecosystem; you have built a strong professional network in the market and are comfortable engaging senior stakeholders and decision-makers; you have a proven track record of developing and growing complex, strategically important client accounts with significant commercial value; you know how to translate client priorities and market insights into long-term account strategies and sustainable business growth; you build credibility at C-level and senior executive level and develop trusted, long-term client relationships; you are experienced in leading complex sales cycles, strategic opportunities and high-value commercial negotiations, bringing together multiple stakeholders and areas of expertise; you possess strong commercial and financial acumen and understand revenue, margin, pipeline, forecasting and profitability; experience within the broader defence, security or critical infrastructure ecosystem is considered an asset; you are comfortable operating in an international context and building relationships across markets; you are entrepreneurial, proactive and results-driven, with a strong sense of ownership and the drive to turn opportunities into tangible outcomes; you enjoy coaching and guiding (commercial) colleagues and sharing effective account practices; you communicate fluently in Dutch and English; you are based in Belgium and are comfortable working across client locations, Cegeka offices and from home.

What are we offering: you will be joining a true Top Employer. Year after year, Whitelane Research confirms Cegeka's position as a reliable and leading IT services partner. In 2026, we achieved first place in Security Services for the fourth consecutive year, and a shared second place in both Cloud & Infrastructure Services and Network & Connectivity. We ask a lot of (talents) from you. Fortunately, you also get a lot in return! Competence and character are essential to us, in addition to experience and ambitions.

Cegeka continuously invests in talent management so that every employee can realize their potential. We use a framework aimed at fair compensation, ensuring employees are paid based on their role, experience, and performance, regardless of gender or other non-job-related characteristics. An electric car with charge card or a mobility budget, meal vouchers, eco vouchers, an interesting group and hospitalization insurance, a mobile phone subscription, a fixed expense allowance, a powerful laptop and the option to give your salary package your own accent thanks to our Flex Reward Plan.

Flexible working hours and a nice work/life balance.

A top team: in which new fresh ideas and initiatives are always welcome! Team events, happy hours and an increasingly legendary company party are also part of this.

Continuous learning: knowledge sharing meetings, participation in conferences and external training. Knowledge sharing and learning are key! Depending on your own interests and initiatives, Cegeka offers various horizontal and vertical career paths. We value sustainability by pursuing carbon neutrality with the electrification of our fleet and an environmentally friendly data center. We develop innovative solutions with a positive impact on the environment, people and society, and strive for an inclusive and diverse work environment where everyone is valued and heard.

Would you like to join us as a freelancer? Then we offer you a market-conform daily rate and a range of benefits.

Benefits: market-compliant salary with attractive extra benefits; continuous learning via hackathons, innovation centers, events; flexible working hours supporting your work/life balance; career growth with horizontal and vertical development paths; hybrid work model blending office and remote work efficiently; personal guidance from managers, coaches, and sparring partners; ESG: lower emissions, foster inclusion and drive sustainability in IT; Cegeka proudly holds the Top Employer certificate; team events, happy hours, sports events, and epic company festival.

Application flow: apply, assessment, meet us, time to start. If the role is interesting apply, or get in touch with the dedicated recruiter for more details. Our Recruitment team will take a look at your application and let you know the next steps. Within two steps we will meet and we can discover together if we are a match on both sides. Accepted our proposal? Great! We look forward to working with you.