What does a business development specialist do?
A business development specialist is an expert who determines opportunities for marketing strategy optimization and business growth. The specialists perform business process and financial analysis, effective network creation, and business plan implementation. Being a good business development specialist requires knowledge and experience in managing a business. The skillset for the position includes a strong command in English, information technology, attention to detail, and written and verbal communication.
Business development specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real business development specialist resumes:
- Utilize a number of sales tools such as SalesForce to manage pipeline.
- Develop and manage all SEO, SEM, and all social media platforms and authore all content.
- Manage and coordinate a successful implementation of a cloud-base ERP system.
- Manage logistics, control engineering and design, order placement, vendor relationships, customer utilization and technology.
- Take inbound and make some outbound calls as necessary to assist customers with billing, account information and troubleshoot technical issues.
- Experience connecting databases in SQL with the software application.
- Used SQL against the database to check data retrieve.
- Launch a medical device subsidiary company (THCer LLC).
- Create long-term value for Fairweather, LLC and its subsidiaries from customers, markets, and relationships
- Resolve complex benefits issues for employees and assist in payroll, wire transfers and other accounting tasks.
- Serve as primary back up to the hospital liaison in assessing patients and reviewing medical records to verify admission eligibility.
- Develop new business using cold calling, client visits, past relationships and social networking via LinkedIn and group meetings.
- Prospect for new customers by attending network events, social media, LinkedIn, tracking referrals, and cold calling.
- Perform root cause analysis and troubleshoot regional issues impacting cost and service that arise at any regional or local DC.
- Coordinate performance management systems, payroll and billing.
Business development specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Business Development Specialists are proficient in Work Ethic, CRM, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Business Development Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Work Ethic, 10%
Maintain a positive work ethic and professional dress code.
- CRM, 9%
Founded company providing automated CRM solution to help franchise owners overcome barriers to marketing communications.
- Customer Service, 7%
Provided excellent customer service by building customer rapport through excellent communication with the customers and by asking customer needs questions.
- Healthcare, 6%
Created strong working relationships within the Kansas City Hospital Community focusing on upper level medical professionals and HealthCare providers.
- Sales Process, 4%
Implemented daily meetings utilizing WebEx to align sales efforts; maximize effectiveness of sales process by creating standard operating procedures.
- Salesforce, 4%
Improved SalesForce database input procedure for business & eliminated dual data entry.
Most business development specialists use their skills in "work ethic," "crm," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential business development specialist responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a business development specialist to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." Business development specialists often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "cultivated internal and external customer relationships, tracked and analyzed profit performance, and executed business reviews/customer needs analysis. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform business development specialist duties is communication skills. Business development specialists responsibilities require that "managers must be able to communicate effectively with a broad-based team made up of other managers or staff members during the advertising, promotions, and marketing process." Business development specialists also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "build new business relationships and maintain existing customer relationships using effective communication skills. "
Creativity. This is an important skill for business development specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how business development specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a business development specialist: "created inventory systems and ordering protocol for professional product lines. ".
Interpersonal skills. For certain business development specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a business development specialist rely on this skill, as "managers must deal with a range of people in different roles, both inside and outside the organization." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what business development specialists do: "possessed strong customer goal orientation, and excellent interpersonal, communication and pc skills. "
Organizational skills. Another common skill required for business development specialist responsibilities is "organizational skills." This skill comes up in the duties of business development specialists all the time, as "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." An excerpt from a real business development specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a business development specialist does: "utilized excellent organizational and planning skills to prioritize many tasks for multiple projects and events. "
The three companies that hire the most business development specialists are:
- Oracle187 business development specialists jobs
- Randstad North America, Inc.128 business development specialists jobs
- Deloitte34 business development specialists jobs
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Compare different business development specialists
Business development specialist vs. Specialist-small business
A small business specialist develops new business programs to meet changing customer demands. They are responsible for ensuring integrity and consistency in the domain of business. They analyze causes of a business issue, obtain business data, and make enquiries. They are responsible for making purchase agreements, confidentiality arrangements, and joint venture arrangement.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, business development specialist responsibilities require skills like "work ethic," "crm," "strong work ethic," and "healthcare." Meanwhile a typical specialist-small business has skills in areas such as "business portfolio," "business accounts," "financial statements," and "cash flow." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that specialist-small businesses earn slightly differ from business development specialists. In particular, specialist-small businesses are 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a business development specialist. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Business development specialist vs. Business advisor
Business Advisors are consultants responsible for implementing business strategies to improve financial and operational efficiency. They are involved in preparing financial budgets, recommending a change in the operational process, identifying new business opportunities, evaluating a marketing strategy, and reviewing supplier and labor contracts. Business advisors also help to manage risk by performing risk analysis and consumer behavioral analysis. They are involved in report preparation and work to maintain open communication with different departments to implement change.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that business development specialist responsibilities requires skills like "work ethic," "crm," "strong work ethic," and "salesforce." But a business advisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "business operations," "strong analytical," "human resources," and "real estate."
Business advisors may earn a higher salary than business development specialists, but business advisors earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $92,206. On the other hand, business development specialists receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $63,094.In general, business advisors achieve higher levels of education than business development specialists. They're 5.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for business development specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D.
Director, College of Business Internship Program, Arkansas State University
Business development specialist vs. Product specialist
A product specialist is required to have excellent knowledge about a product and work with a business unit to ensure excellent product delivery. Product specialists perform product demonstrations to customers and other stakeholders and assist in their promotions and product releases. To gain increased revenue, product specialists must be able to identify new market opportunities. They are required to conduct product and sales training for the marketing team. They must also provide reports about their product-related activities to the management.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, business development specialists are more likely to have skills like "strong work ethic," "healthcare," "salesforce," and "lead generation." But a product specialist is more likely to have skills like "sales floor," "windows," "product management," and "technical support."
Product specialists earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $92,638. Comparatively, business development specialists have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $63,094.product specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to business development specialists. Specifically, they're 3.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Business development specialist vs. Brand specialist
A brand specialist is responsible for promoting the goods and services of an organization to various market platforms, identifying effective business strategies to increase brand awareness to the public. Brand specialists work closely with the marketing and sales team to develop sales pitches and techniques to grow revenues and profits for the brand. They also review digital content and visual promotions, ensuring that everything adheres to internal guidelines and state regulations. A brand specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in coordinating with the clients for progress updates and brand sales reports.
Types of business development specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
