Business Development Manager

Roles and responsibilities

A Business Development Manager (BDM) is responsible for driving the growth of a company by identifying new business opportunities, building relationships with potential clients, and ensuring that the company’s products or services meet market demands. This role typically involves a mix of sales, strategy, and marketing, with a focus on developing and expanding the company’s market position.

Here are the key skills and areas of expertise for a Business Development Manager:

1. Sales & Negotiation Skills

• Lead Generation: Identifying and targeting potential clients or customers in new markets or verticals.
• Sales Strategy: Developing and executing effective sales strategies to convert leads into long-term clients. This includes identifying key sales channels, crafting value propositions, and defining sales goals.
• Negotiation: Skilled at negotiating deals, closing contracts, and ensuring that terms are favorable for the company while also providing value to clients.
• Pipeline Management: Tracking sales leads and opportunities through the sales funnel, ensuring a steady flow of business.
• Consultative Selling: Understanding clients’ business challenges and needs, and offering tailored solutions that align with their goals.

2. Market Research & Competitive Analysis

• Market Research: Conducting thorough research to identify emerging market trends, customer needs, and potential gaps in the market that the company can address.
• Competitive Analysis: Analyzing the competition to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to differentiate your company’s offerings.
• Trend Identification: Keeping up with industry trends, technology advancements, and market demands to adjust business strategies.

3. Relationship Building & Networking

• Client Relationship Management: Building and nurturing strong, long-term relationships with key clients and partners. Maintaining an ongoing dialogue to ensure customer satisfaction and explore future opportunities.
• Networking: Actively networking in industry events, conferences, and business forums to create new opportunities and partnerships.
• Partnership Development: Identifying and forming strategic partnerships or alliances with complementary companies or organizations to drive mutual growth.

4. Strategic Planning & Execution

• Business Strategy: Developing long-term business strategies in alignment with the company's goals, working with leadership teams to execute these plans.
• Goal Setting: Setting measurable and achievable business growth targets and KPIs (key performance indicators) to track success.
• Resource Allocation: Identifying the necessary resources (financial, human, and technological) needed to support business development activities.

5. Marketing & Branding Knowledge

• Brand Positioning: Working with marketing teams to ensure the company’s brand is positioned correctly in the market to attract and retain clients.
• Marketing Collateral: Collaborating with marketing to create persuasive presentations, proposals, and other materials that resonate with potential clients.
• Digital Marketing: Familiarity with online marketing tactics (e.g., content marketing, social media, SEO, and paid campaigns) that can be leveraged to reach new customers.

Desired candidate profile

The purpose of the role is to identify business opportunities within the market, developing their portfolio and creating long term business relationships.

The role requires the Business Development Manager to keep up to date with the PR market, competitor analysis and keeping in the loop of new opportunities.

The successful candidate will have a degree in Marketing, Communications or similar industry. A minimum of 4 years’ experience in a business development role, with a proven track record of sourcing and converting leads. Our client also prides themselves on their work culture so this candidate will demonstrate an energetic and team player attitude. This candidate will also be able to travel to priority target markets when needed.