Public Sector Recruitment Agency in Belgium

Archetype recruits sales and leadership roles for companies that sell to the Belgian public sector: public sector account managers, business developers, sales directors and country managers. We are not a temporary staffing agency and we do not run civil service selections, which follow their own procedures. Searches run in French, Dutch and English, on a retainer, take 12 weeks on average and carry a 6-month replacement guarantee. Archetype was founded in 1993.

Public sector account manager and colleague reviewing a tender file in Brussels — EU public authorities spend around 15% of EU GDP on purchases, according to the European Commission.

A client that buys through public tenders

According to the European Commission, over 250,000 public authorities in the EU spend around €2.6 trillion every year, or 15% of EU GDP, on services, works and supplies. It is a large market, and it does not buy like a private one. Needs are set out in tender specifications, competition is regulated, award criteria are published in advance and a contract can run for years before it is retendered.

What selling to a public buyer demands

Building relationships upstream and understanding a buyer’s projects before the tender, within the limits competition rules set.
Reading tender documents and deciding quickly whether the company has a real chance.
Coordinating a bid with technical, legal and finance teams against a fixed deadline.
Managing contract delivery, which is where the next tender is prepared.

Public sector sales cycle

Five stages of a public tender and the KOAN competency to check at each

Competencies taken from the ten dimensions of the KOAN Sales model, used in every candidate file.

Sales roles in demand

Account managers handling a portfolio of contracting authorities, business developers opening the public market for a company that only sold to private clients, sales managers and directors running a tender pipeline, and country managers for foreign firms bidding in Belgium. Covering Flemish, Walloon and Brussels buyers means working in Dutch and French; the EU institutions in Brussels add English.

We also run leadership, marketing and communication searches for public or semi-public bodies hiring on contract, outside civil service procedures: managing directors, communication officers, marketing managers. We claim no track record in this area; the method is the one we use for any leadership role. If you sell security solutions to police zones or municipalities, see our security sector recruitment page.

Archetype is a family business. Marc Diamant founded the firm in 1993. His sons Davy and Steve joined him in late 2023. That continuity isn’t an anecdote: it’s what lets us hold client relationships across 20 years without method discontinuity, without turnover wiping out file memory, without changing direction every three years to chase the latest HR trend. Stability, in a trust business, counts.
The Archetype method, since 1993

Method, timing and fees

The briefing settles the key question: do you need someone who already knows your public buyers, or a strong salesperson who will learn public procurement? Our proposal follows within 48 to 72 hours, then targeted sourcing, structured screening, a detailed presentation with scorecard, interview transcripts and KOAN test, and follow-up before, during and after the hire.

Fees are set before the assignment starts, in a written proposal, on a retainer basis: never a success fee. 6-month replacement guarantee.

About Archetype

Archetype is a Belgian family business founded in 1993 by Marc Diamant and now co-managed with Davy Diamant and Steve Diamant. A member of Federgon, it won Talent Business Innovation of the Year 2025 for its ethical and structured use of AI.

Public sector recruitment: frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to recruit a public sector salesperson?

Fees are set before the assignment starts, in a written proposal, on a retainer basis: never a success fee. 6-month replacement guarantee.

How long does a search take?

12 weeks on average from signing the assignment to the candidate signing.

Do you run civil service selections or provide temporary staff?

No. Statutory civil service hiring goes through the administrations’ official selection procedures, run at federal level by FPS BOSA, and we do not do temporary staffing. We work for companies selling to the public sector and, on contract, for some leadership, marketing or communication roles.

Which languages do you recruit in?

French, Dutch and English: our recruitment team is trilingual.

Can a salesperson from the private sector succeed in public tenders?

Yes, if they accept a long cycle and a formal framework. KOAN helps check this, looking mainly at Perseverance and Methods.

Selling to public authorities and missing the right person for tenders? Walk us through your sales cycle; our written proposal follows within 48 to 72 hours.

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