Business development directors can have a varied range of tasks pertaining to a company's overall business development. The responsibilities held are often higher up the corporate ladder than those of sales or operations managers, and therefore more intensive. Business development directors often answer directly to the owner of a company, board of directors, and/or to shareholders. Many of the tasks involved are mental in nature. Some include developing the necessary strategies for successful operations throughout the business. These can include fine tuning departmental tasks, aligning the IT department, figuring out how to market a company's goods or services to a wider market, negotiating with suppliers, understanding any legal matters that may arise in the course of business, managing sales, understanding the financial needs of the business, and coordinating all of these areas into cohesive action plans for the business as a whole. The job is usually done during the day and in an office environment. Some responsibilities can go into off hours and may be completed from home, but a majority will take place Monday through Friday. Typical work weeks for this position are at the forty hour mark and above. Many business development directors hold degrees in business administration. Many who have a business management degree in this kind of position it have concentrated their degrees in areas like accounting, macroeconomics, management theory, business law and/or information systems. A degree may not always be required, but it can be very helpful. Employers often chose applicants with master's degrees in business over applicants with bachelor's degrees.
Business Development Director Tasks
- Manage the sales process and establish relationships with clients.
- Research new clients and negotiate contracts.
- Develop, coordinate, and implement sales and marketing plans to meet company growth objectives.