Business Development Manager Vacancies
The primary objective of a business is not just to make profit but also to grow the profit. Increasing product sales and thus growing revenue is thus a critical process in a business. It follows that business development manager vacancies represent one of the most important positions in a company. Business development management is the use of the different but related techniques of selling, marketing, and customer service in order to increase a company’s revenue.
Jobs as a business development manager require the manager to engage in all the means at their disposal to grow customer awareness of the business products and brand. The manager must work hand in hand with a number of key functions in the company such as public relations, marketing, finance, logistics and operations. Strategies must be developed with input from the managers of these departments as well as direction from the business senior most management team.
Depending on the size of the organization, the manager may be answerable to a senior marketing manager, a C-level sales and marketing executive or the chief executive officer. As a leader of a team, the business development manager provides leadership and coordinates the efforts of each team member toward realizing the company’s overall revenue goals.
When it comes to educational requirements, business development manager vacancies will normally be filled with persons with a Bachelors’ degree in business administration, marketing, commerce or economics. A Masters’ degree in any of these fields is an added advantage and will often attract higher pay. Since jobs as a business development manager are effectively a management position, a minimum of two or three year experience in a sales or marketing role is preferred.
In fact, like any sales and marketing related role, a proven ability to sell the product often overrides academic credentials. It is not uncommon to find a business development manager whose educational background is not in any of the fields mentioned above but is hired solely because of their selling prowess.
Many business development managers begin their careers covering as a junior sales and marketing executive before moving up the ranks to assume responsibility for a city, region or state depending on the target market of the company. Over time, a business development manager may be promoted to a business development director or the vice president of business development.
To be considered for business development manager vacancies, one must possess excellent communication skills. This is a fundamental requirement given that the manager’s job will be to clearly articulate products to customers and discuss internal strategies and results with company management. A knack for negotiation is another important personality trait of the business development manager in order to win clients over from the competition.
The manager must be intimately aware of current market trends and competing products in order to make an informed case to clients. The manager must have an eye for spotting new business opportunities and acting on them promptly.
