Post job

What is a business development/product manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Ahmad Asady,
Sachin Tuli

Business development/product managers track down sales leads and convince potential customers of the superior quality of the products and services they are selling. They are responsible for nurturing fruitful relationships with sales contacts, visiting clients on location, and attending networking events.

Working in this position, it will be your job to follow up on business leads and arrange meetings with potential clients or partners. You will be responsible for communicating the developments of products and services, so giving presentations will be a regular part of your days. Making sure marketing materials are efficient and align with company goals will also be your duty.

A degree in a finance or marketing-related field might be important to some employers out there but you can always take courses and get yourself certified if you don't feel like investing in a college education. Communication skills and a talent for sales will be more important above anything else, though. You will need to show for experience in the field, and leadership skills will also be non-negotiable.

What general advice would you give to a business development/product manager?

Ahmad Asady

Assistant Professor of Management Faculty Scholar, Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, North Dakota State University

The role of a Marketing professional is as rewarding as it is demanding. On one hand, it offers the chance to unleash creativity, see the direct impact of your work, and enjoy a variety of experiences across different projects and industries. On the other hand, it comes with its fair share of challenges, such as the pressure to perform under tight deadlines and budgets, the constant need to stay ahead in a fast-evolving field, and the stress of quantifying the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Despite these challenges, the role remains appealing for those drawn to a career that demands both strategic thinking and creative innovation, underscored by the powerful tool of persuasion to shape consumer behavior and drive business success.
ScoreBusiness Development/Product ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $101,877

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 21.21%

male 78.79%

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

Business development/product manager career paths

Key steps to become a business development/product manager

  1. Explore business development/product manager education requirements

    Most common business development/product manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.4 %

    Master's

    17.7 %

    Associate

    6.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific business development/product manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Product Development8.83%
    Product Management7.78%
    Account Management5.78%
    Business Growth4.72%
    R4.71%
  3. Complete relevant business development/product manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business development/product managers 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/product manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business development/product manager resumes.
  4. Research business development/product manager duties and responsibilities

    • Lead centralized, electronic referral center coordinating post-acute service needs of patients discharging from multiple acute facilities in Arizona region.
    • Negotiate with OEM s to integrate products and establish royalty base contracts.
    • Resolve OEM and wireless-carrier implementation issues.
    • Lead centralized, electronic referral center coordinating post-acute service needs of patients discharging from multiple acute facilities in Arizona region.
  5. Apply for business development/product manager jobs

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

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

How did you land your first business development/product manager job

Zippi

Are you a business development/product manager?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average business development/product manager salary

The average business development/product manager salary in the United States is $101,877 per year or $49 per hour. Business development/product manager salaries range between $68,000 and $151,000 per year.

Average business development/product manager salary
$101,877 Yearly
$48.98 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do business development/product managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Business development/product manager reviews

profile
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!


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023
Pros

Solve tough problems, work on agile teams, outlet for creativity,

Cons

high expectations, constantly evolving technology, broad range of topics to learn (product management specifics, industry, technology, software development methods


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Its not a specific job, As a product manager your job responsibilities cover many different areas and that's what i love about it.

Cons

all other teams think that they are doing a task for you instead of thinking that they are part of a team on a project


Working as a business development/product manager? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse executive management jobs