What does a corporate development director do?
Corporate Development Directors are executives with high business acumen. They oversee the business development initiatives of the company, often spearheading these activities. Corporate Development Directors closely follow the industry's current trends and economy, which would affect the market and its consumers. They analyze these trends to create initiatives that would bring further success to the business. Corporate development directors should uphold the company's image and ensure that business development initiatives align with the company's branding.
Corporate development director responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real corporate development director resumes:
- Create a competitive advantage by streamlining the RFP, sales and contract processes.
- Lead restructuring/divestiture analysis of underperforming and strategically challenge traditional and digital business units helping to dramatically decrease EBITDA and market declines.
- Overhaul and optimize sales strategy, targeting, tactics, CRM, value proposition, training.
- Work with sales teams to translate customer needs to winning solutions, RFP responses and deal structuring.
- Support linguists and staff, providing sales and administrative tools (CRM) require to meet business objectives.
- Liaise with healthcare providers to create provider-sponsore insurance product for small businesses.
- Conduct accurate market analyses to determine demand for services and identify program opportunities for new/expand hospital programs and healthcare services.
- Provide mergers and acquisitions due diligence/modeling analysis/management/valuation support.
- Provide mergers and acquisitions due diligence/modeling analysis/management/valuation support.
Corporate development director skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Corporate Development Directors are proficient in Corporate Development, Project Management, and Financial Models. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Creativity, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Corporate Development Directors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Corporate Development, 18%
Provide marketing consultation, corporate development strategies and franchise growth initiatives to service industry clientele with an emphasis on franchising.
- Project Management, 10%
Led monthly management meetings to develop and implement company policies and procedures through effective project management and strategic planning.
- Financial Models, 8%
Designed valuation analysis utilizing comparable company financial models, discounted cash flow analysis, due diligence, and negotiation participation.
- Business Development, 7%
Develop and implement business development and operational strategies geared towards creating a Domestic and International market in the affordable housing area.
- HR, 6%
Designed and implemented a Newly Appointed VP Orientation/Assimilation process; collaborated with HR Business Partners across business areas on content delivery.
- Mergers, 5%
Provided mergers and acquisitions due diligence/modeling analysis/management/valuation support.
Most corporate development directors use their skills in "corporate development," "project management," and "financial models" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential corporate development director responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a corporate development director 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." Corporate development directors often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "headed team comprised of operations, finance, and corporate development in strategic analysis of potential competitive acquisitions in florida. "
Creativity. Many corporate development director duties rely on creativity. "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas.," so a corporate development director will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways corporate development director responsibilities rely on creativity: "streamlined creative & collateral request system through the introduction of an organization-wide automated creative project management process. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for corporate development directors to perform their duties. For an example of how corporate development director responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "managers must deal with a range of people in different roles, both inside and outside the organization." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a corporate development director: "utilize excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to establish strategic business relationships that increase/streamline processes needed to initiate/close sales. ".
Organizational skills. A big part of what corporate development directors do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to corporate development director responsibilities because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical corporate development director tasks: "designed, developed, and delivered a wide variety of training programs based on leadership priorities and organizational needs. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a corporate development director to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what corporate development directors relies on this skill, since "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." How this skill relates to corporate development director duties can be seen in an example from a corporate development director resume snippet: "direct communications and corporate development for growth-stage manufacturing and marketing services firm in the construction materials industry. "
The three companies that hire the most corporate development directors are:
- STARRY6 corporate development directors jobs
- Bristol-Myers Squibb4 corporate development directors jobs
- Franklin4 corporate development directors jobs
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Compare different corporate development directors
Corporate development director vs. Director of sales & business development
A director of sales & business development is responsible for monitoring the business and project plans, ensuring that the sales targets are met, according to project requirements and specifications. Directors of sales & business development perform data analysis to track business performance and identify opportunities to grow revenues and profits. They also coordinate with the clients and maintain healthy business relationships by enhancing their brand image on various platforms and reach the target audience. A director of sales & business development works closely with the marketing and sales team for public relations and marketing campaigns placement.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, corporate development director responsibilities require skills like "corporate development," "project management," "financial models," and "mergers." Meanwhile a typical director of sales & business development has skills in areas such as "value proposition," "sales cycle," "crm," and "revenue growth." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Directors of sales & business development really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $127,443. Comparatively, corporate development directors tend to make the most money in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $162,690.On average, directors of sales & business development reach lower levels of education than corporate development directors. Directors of sales & business development are 11.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Corporate development director vs. Managing director
A Managing Director oversees workflow and progress, making sure that all operations align within the company or organization's mission or set of goals. They are responsible for crafting strategies, devising effective business plans, and executing guidelines that would nurture a company's growth, and as well as to be the driving force that would direct employees to the company's objectives. Furthermore, a Managing Director must coordinate with those in a higher position, such as the members of the board.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that corporate development director responsibilities requires skills like "corporate development," "financial models," "hr," and "mergers." But a managing director might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "healthcare," "portfolio," "oversight," and "customer service."
Managing directors earn a lower average salary than corporate development directors. But managing directors earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $177,065. Additionally, corporate development directors earn the highest salaries in the telecommunication with average pay of $162,690 annually.In general, managing directors achieve similar levels of education than corporate development directors. They're 3.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Corporate development director vs. Director new business development
A director of new business development is in charge of spearheading new programs and procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. It is their duty to set goals and objectives in adherence to the company's vision and mission, establishing guidelines, allocating budgets, and overseeing the progress of all efforts. Furthermore, as a director of new business development, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, corporate development directors are more likely to have skills like "corporate development," "financial models," "mergers," and "business cases." But a director new business development is more likely to have skills like "business strategies," "treasury," "corporate clients," and "crm."
Directors new business development earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $126,576. Comparatively, corporate development directors have the highest earning potential in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $162,690.directors new business development typically earn lower educational levels compared to corporate development directors. Specifically, they're 9.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Corporate development director vs. Product director
The duties of a product director depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the product development operations to ensure smooth flow and efficiency, devise strategies to improve processes, gather relevant data such as sales and customer feedback, and coordinate with different departments in developing new products and services. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage departments to meet goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its mission and vision.
Types of corporate development director
Updated January 8, 2025
