How to hire a business development lead

How to hire a business development lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step business development lead hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a business development lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new business development lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a business development lead do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The business development lead hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A business development lead's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, business development leads from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of business development lead salaries for various roles:

   Type of Business Development Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Business Development Lead	Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.	$40-80
   Business Partner	A business partner is an individual who is involved in a legal business partnership with other individuals to manage a business as co-owners. Business partners invest their money into the business, and each partner benefits from any profits and sustains part of any losses... Show more	$31-67
   Market Development Manager	A market development manager is in charge of overseeing marketing operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing existing projects and programs, identifying areas needing improvement, devising strategies to find new opportunities, and coordinating with different departments to ensure profitable growth and a strong client base... Show more	$35-79

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Cloud
   • Emerging Technologies
   • Technical Support
   • Client Relationships
   • CRM
   • Product Development
   • Cloud Computing
   • Business Plan
   • Salesforce
   • Digital Transformation
   • Sales Process
   • Client Facing
   • Healthcare

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Schedule follow up calls and reminders in SalesForce to maintain contact with prospective clients.
   • Direct the development of global patient and caregiver identification standards, introducing the healthcare industry to the merits of global standards.

   More business development lead duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the business development lead job description is a good way to get more applicants. A business development lead salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a business development lead in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level business development lead. Additionally, a business development lead with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average business development lead salary

   $118,868yearly

   $57.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level business development lead salary

   $84,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average business development lead salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$150,452	$72
   2	Massachusetts	$138,566	$67
   3	Oregon	$136,465	$66
   4	Washington	$136,384	$66
   5	Arizona	$131,912	$63
   6	Virginia	$128,653	$62
   7	Missouri	$121,301	$58
   8	Michigan	$119,858	$58
   9	Pennsylvania	$118,918	$57
   10	Illinois	$117,206	$56
   11	Maine	$115,535	$56
   12	North Carolina	$115,529	$56
   13	Minnesota	$115,477	$56
   14	New York	$113,916	$55
   15	Maryland	$111,904	$54
   16	Texas	$111,295	$54
   17	Utah	$107,908	$52
   18	District of Columbia	$104,473	$50
   19	Indiana	$103,216	$50
   20	Ohio	$103,171	$50

   Average business development lead salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$162,127	$77.95	23
   2	Airbnb	$160,120	$76.98
   3	Meta	$159,420	$76.64	255
   4	Genentech	$158,201	$76.06	9
   5	Google	$157,133	$75.54	103
   6	Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide Inc	$146,692	$70.53
   7	Coursera	$146,544	$70.45
   8	Chegg	$146,129	$70.25
   9	Goldman Sachs	$145,655	$70.03	2
   10	Citi	$145,217	$69.82	32
   11	Cloudflare	$145,155	$69.79	33
   12	Ernst & Young	$143,350	$68.92	576
   13	Corning Incorporated	$142,613	$68.56	32
   14	Squarespace	$140,830	$67.71	2
   15	Duolingo	$139,806	$67.21	2
   16	Amazon	$138,979	$66.82	622
   17	RH	$138,218	$66.45	2
   18	Idaho Power	$138,029	$66.36
   19	AECOM	$137,513	$66.11	26
   20	ViacomCBS	$136,722	$65.73

4. Writing a business development lead job description

   A job description for a business development lead role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a business development lead job description:

   Business development lead job description example

   DLR Group is an integrated design firm that aspires to be the most creative enterprise on the planet. Our brand promise is to elevate the human experience through design. If that challenge is appealing, you're at the right place.
   
   DLR Group is seeking a talented Business Development Leader to help grow our K-12 Practice. We operate within a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between office time and work from home.
   
   Are you someone that has an eye for seeking out decision makers; who enjoys building and cultivating lasting mutually beneficial relationships? If so, our Business Development Leader position at DLR Group is for you! We have a phenomenal opportunity for a motivated individual to join our Chicago studio. In this role you will get the best of both worlds as you take lead of business development activities for an established K-12 portfolio as well as ignite new partnerships.
   
   We are seeking a socially fearless, entrepreneurial spirited business development individual to pave the way for our integrated design teams. Our ideal candidate will be trusted to dive right in, take the lead and use initiative to help discovery new and untapped opportunities while continuing to maintain relationships with current clients to support our design work focused within our K-12 sector. You will join an inspired team of like-minded go-getters and we would love to talk with you!
   
   We are an employee-owned firm where everyone is empowered to use their design voice; this inspires our culture and fuels the passion for the work we do around the world. Bring your creativity and passion and come join us in our mission to elevate the human experience through design!
   
   We recognize our firm growth is dependent upon hiring and keeping the best talent in our industry. If you feel like we are a good fit for you, tell us!
   Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Architecture, or Sales-related field preferred. 6+ years of relevant business development experience – experience marketing educational network or in the design/construction industry with architecture, engineering, construction, economic development fields would be a plus. Knowledgeable of K-12 client network within Illinois and surrounding states. Eagerness to expand the company with new clients and sales by winning design projects. Self-motivated and self-directed. Strong written and oral communication abilities. Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills. Collaborative and able to work with a wide spectrum of personalities. Comfortable in both leader and team-player roles. Ability to research, gather intel, analyze data, create, and execute strategic plans. Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively. Must have a sense of urgency. Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. Demonstrate proven track record of sales results. Ability to travel to a regional territory of states along with overnight stays. Must be eligible to work in the United States without need for work visa or residency sponsorship DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group is 100 percent employee-owned and fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment. Visit dlrgroup.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and at LinkedIn. We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find business development leads for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any business development leads they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level business development leads with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your business development lead job on Zippia to find and recruit business development lead candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit business development leads, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new business development lead

   Once you've selected the best business development lead candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new business development lead. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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