How do I become a successful business development director?

You can become a successful business development director by understanding your employer's goals, utilizing proven business strategies, and developing intricate interpersonal skills, such as negotiations and communications. They also have a thirst for curiosity and heavily utilize research methodologies.

How do you become a head of business development?

You can become a head of business development by securing a bachelor's degree in business administration or a similar field, gaining practical experience, and creating a proven portfolio or record of accomplishments and successful projects.

How much do directors of business development make?

Directors of business development make around $194,300 per year on average, with the possibility for bonuses ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 depending on employer and industry. Some directors of business development may find they make more than others in their professional sphere. These differences tend to appear based on client demographics, industry saturation and demand, and the specific employer.

How much does a business development director earn?

A business development director earns between $156,000 to $194,300 per year, on average. Some have reported salaries as low as $55,000 a year, but they tend to work for smaller companies, start-ups, or non-profit organizations. Most business development directors also earn bonuses based on performance.

What is a business development director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Kaustav Misra Ph.D.

A business development director identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive growth and increase revenues. They work with other departments to develop strategic plans, analyze market trends, conduct customer research, and create business partnerships. They also lead negotiations and oversee the implementation of new initiatives. A business development director has excellent communication skills, analytical abilities, and the ability to build relationships. They shape the future of a company and contribute to its long-term success.

What general advice would you give to a business development director?

Kaustav Misra Ph.D.

Associate Dean, Central Connecticut State University

I have spent almost two decades in the higher education industry and about a decade in administration. I often advised students, and it is astonishing to see how many of these students do not plan for their future. A good plan is a starting point to lead a good and successful career and life. Hence, by all means, it is worth noting that developing a future-oriented focus is important, so taking time to streamline the plan should be an important exercise for every graduate before they begin to do anything.

ScoreBusiness Development DirectorUS Average

Salary

8.1

Avg. Salary $117,784

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 3.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 74.58%

Gender

female 27.68%

male 72.32%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a business development director?

Pros

High earning potential
Opportunities for career growth and advancement
Chance to travel and attend industry events
Good networking opportunities
Potential for job flexibility and remote work options

Cons

Long hours and demanding workload
Risk of burnout due to the fast-paced nature of the job
Potential for conflict with colleagues or clients
Difficulty in maintaining work-life balance
Risk of failure or rejection when pitching new business ideas

Key steps to become a business development director

Explore business development director education requirements

Most common business development director degrees

Bachelor's

74.0 %

Master's

16.5 %

Associate

5.7 %

Start to develop specific business development director skills

Skills	Percentages
Healthcare	8.82%
CRM	5.29%
Patients	4.38%
Customer Relationships	3.97%
Account Management	3.94%

Complete relevant business development director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business development directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business development director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business development director resumes.

Research business development director duties and responsibilities

Create and manage business development, government affairs and public relations initiatives to achieve growth objectives for this correctional healthcare company.
Achieve access to SVP level resulting in significant new business.
Manage network services, e-ticketing and packaging solutions, CRM solutions, message management, and e-provisioning/identity management/security solutions.
Lead centralized, electronic referral center coordinating post-acute service needs of patients discharging from multiple acute facilities in Arizona region.

Get business development director experience

Generally, it takes 8-10 years to become a business development director. The most common roles before becoming a business development director include account executive, business development manager team lead and director of sales.

Prepare your business development director resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business development director resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business development director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable business development director resume templates

Build a professional business development director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your business development director resume.

Apply for business development director jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a business development director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average business development director salary

The average business development director salary in the United States is $117,784 per year or $57 per hour. Business development director salaries range between $72,000 and $192,000 per year.

Average business development director salary

$117,784 Yearly

$56.63 hourly

How do business development directors rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Business development director reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2023

Pros

Rule of thumb with international travel is be ready for serious jet-lag!

Cons

rule of thumb with international travel is to have jet-lag non-stop!

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Innovating a business model is key for a profitable business and growth. Without a proper and sustainable business model, even the best product or technology innovations will not flourish. Learn the skills and knowledge needed to start improving your business as you learn through real-life examples from fellow entrepreneurs, innovators and leading experts on business model innovation. Benefit business owners, entrepreneurs, business consultants or business developers who seek better understanding of business models and the tools to develop them.

Cons

There's nothing much not to like about this role.

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019

Pros

Attending and meeting people at events

Cons

- The pressure of securing funds. - comparing the role with sales and/or fundraising - lack of response from donors you are reaching out to. It made me feel as if I wasn't doing my job of connecting with them.

What is a business development director and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a business development director?

What are the pros and cons of being a business development director?

Business development director career paths

Key steps to become a business development director

Explore business development director education requirements

Most common business development director degrees

Start to develop specific business development director skills

Complete relevant business development director training and internships

Research business development director duties and responsibilities

Get business development director experience

Prepare your business development director resume

Choose from 10+ customizable business development director resume templates

Apply for business development director jobs

How did you land your first business development director job

Average business development director salary

How do business development directors rate their job?

Business development director reviews

Business development director FAQs

How do I become a successful business development director?

How do you become a head of business development?

How much do directors of business development make?

How much does a business development director earn?

Search for business development director jobs

Business development director jobs by state