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What is a business development lead and how to become one
A business development lead identifies and pursues new business opportunities. They build relationships with potential clients, negotiate deals, and create strategies for company growth using their expert understanding of market trends and industries. These leads often research competition to inform their decisions and develop marketing plans designed to maximize profitability. They may also collaborate with other departments, including sales, marketing, and product development, to ensure team goals are aligned.
What general advice would you give to a business development lead?
Kaustav Misra Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Central Connecticut State University
Avg. Salary $118,868
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 10%
Growth rate 0.3%
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%
Genderfemale 30.26%
male 69.74%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a business development lead?
Pros
Opportunity to network and build relationships
Potential for high earning potential through commission and bonuses
Opportunities for career advancement
Flexibility to work remotely or travel for work
Potential for international travel and business opportunities
Cons
High-pressure environment with demanding targets and deadlines
Heavy workload with long hours and irregular schedules
Dependence on the overall health of the economy and specific industries
High level of competition within the industry
Risk of losing clients or missing out on deals due to external factors
Business development lead career paths
Key steps to become a business development lead
Explore business development lead education requirements
Start to develop specific business development lead skills
Skills Percentages Project Management 10.25% Cloud 8.77% Emerging Technologies 5.42% Technical Support 5.40% Client Relationships 4.64% Complete relevant business development lead training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business development leads 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 lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business development lead resumes.Research business development lead duties and responsibilities
- Research, correct, and contact leads in SalesForce when information is out of date.
- Perform the tasks of managing and leading the technical proposal process from RFP release through client presentation.
- Lead centralized, electronic referral center coordinating post-acute service needs of patients discharging from multiple acute facilities in Arizona region.
- Train AIC salespeople and recruiters on new LinkedIn search capabilities.
Get business development lead experience
Generally, it takes 8-10 years to become a business development lead. The most common roles before becoming a business development lead include account executive, account manager team lead and sales representative.Prepare your business development lead resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business development lead 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 lead 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 lead resume templates
Build a professional business development lead 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 lead resume.
Apply for business development lead jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a business development lead 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
How did you land your first business development lead job
Are you a business development lead?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average business development lead salary
The average business development lead salary in the United States is $118,868 per year or $57 per hour. Business development lead salaries range between $84,000 and $167,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do business development leads rate their job?
Business development lead reviews
Rule of thumb with international travel is be ready for serious jet-lag!
rule of thumb with international travel is to have jet-lag non-stop!
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.
There's nothing much not to like about this role.
B2B Communication and Building Relationships, Product\Strategy Development and Implementation, Solving Problems
Deal Negotiations
Updated January 8, 2025
