About the Business Development Manager role
A Business Development Manager finds and creates new growth opportunities for the company: new customers, new markets, new partnerships, and new revenue streams. The role sits upstream of the sales pipeline, combining research, relationship building, and commercial negotiation to turn opportunities into signed deals.
The shape of the role varies widely. In some companies, business development is essentially senior sales with a hunting focus. In others, it centers on strategic partnerships, channel development, or expansion into new territories. Your job description should say clearly which version you are hiring for and how success will be measured, whether that is closed revenue, qualified pipeline, or signed partnerships.
Strong candidates will want to know your growth stage and targets. Mention your market, the size of deals the role will handle, and who the role reports to. This context helps experienced business developers judge whether the opportunity matches their ambitions.
Business Development Manager job description template
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Job brief
Our next phase of growth will not come from the pipeline we already have. It will come from markets we have not entered, partners we have not signed, and accounts nobody has opened yet. That is the mandate for this Business Development Manager role. You will study where demand is heading, get us in the room with the right prospects and partners, and negotiate agreements that hold up commercially. You will often be the first impression a new market gets of us, so preparation and credibility matter as much as energy.
Bring a documented record of deals you sourced and closed yourself, plus the patience for long cycles, and we will give you real ownership of the growth agenda.
Responsibilities
- Shape and execute a growth plan that balances revenue targets with the kind of customers we can genuinely make successful
- Study emerging markets, buyer pain points, and industry shifts to decide where the next opportunities are worth pursuing
- Source new leads and build qualified pipeline through targeted outreach, networking, and industry events
- Secure meetings with decision makers at prospective clients and partner organizations, and run them with a clear agenda
- Position our products and services against each prospect's goals, anticipating objections before they surface
- Draft proposals and negotiate contract terms in line with company guidelines
- Track deals, revenue, and invoicing accurately, keeping the CRM the single source of truth
- Stay close to newly signed clients through onboarding, gathering honest feedback and making sure early promises are kept
- Deepen relationships across the existing customer and partner base so today's accounts become tomorrow's expansion
- Collaborate with marketing, product, and leadership on go-to-market plans
- Coach junior business development or sales colleagues where applicable
Requirements and skills
- A background in business development or senior sales, with deals you sourced and closed yourself
- Verifiable commercial results: quota attainment, revenue sourced, or partnerships signed
- Experience in customer support or account management is a plus
- Fluent with CRM platforms and productivity suites such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
- Market knowledge relevant to our industry
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
- Ability to build rapport with stakeholders from junior buyers to C-level executives
- Disciplined about managing your own calendar, pipeline, and long-cycle follow-ups without supervision
- Bachelor's degree in business, sales, or a related discipline, or equivalent commercial experience
Nice to have
- Experience opening new markets or launching products in new territories
- An existing network of contacts in our industry
- Experience structuring partnership or channel agreements
- MBA or commercial training in negotiation or strategic selling
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