Business Development Manager

Business development managers, also known as sales managers or account managers, are the key intermediaries between their clients (key accounts, SMEs and associations) and their company. They’re responsible for day-to-day business development, but also customer relations, taking the lead in all stages from detecting customer needs to rolling out tailored technical solutions.

The life of a business development manager...

Creating new business, the number one task of any business development manager

Above all else, their role is to find new clients, what’s known as prospecting. They’re responsible for detecting the needs of potential customers in order to be able to reach out to them and offer tailored technical solutions. To do so, business development managers spend lots of time on the phone or at meetings with prospects they’ve identified, trying to understand their needs in terms of technical support, IT, or whatever service their company offers. Once the client’s needs have been clearly identified, they’ll write up a proposal to support their ‘prospect’ and present all their suggestions directly to them. If the prospect shows interest, negotiations can begin! Contracts will then need to be drawn up. 

Managing a portfolio of clients

At the same time as identifying and winning new clients, business development managers need to work hard to maintain their current client portfolio through regular calls and meetings to suggest new products and services whilst ensuring a good level of profitability.

Required skills

Strong negotiating skills, as well as the ability to analyse and summarise information, plus excellent verbal and organisation skills.

Typical educational background

5 years of higher education, business studies