What does a development manager do?
A development manager is responsible for assisting existing clients or potential clients of the services they need. A development manager serves as the initial point of contact for the clients to answer their inquiries and concerns before proceeding with a contract. Development managers usually arrange meetings with clients, analyze business opportunities, improve marketing initiatives to attract clients, research the industry's latest trends, create proposals, and assist in training new staff members. A development manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle staff performance and build professional relationships with clients.
Development manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real development manager resumes:
- Thank and recognize donors in an appropriate and timely manner and manage and maintain donor database including updating and managing files.
- Utilize BizTalk to automate HIPAA standard transactions.
- Manage the integration of CTIOS to the CRM application.
- Lead design/development of prototyping of new software for relate revenue streams.
- Lead the global investment banking development team and corporate SOX application.
- Manage and chair product design and development using custom J2EE and MVC framework.
- Call on business managers and doctors to promote their business development by offering a wide variety of financing options to patients.
- Implement an enterprise wide data warehouse infrastructure that provide strategic analytic capability.
- Apply XSL templates for formatting nodes with in XML file.
- Handle cloud base (AWS) delivery management products & projects.
- Introduce AJAX to improve usability of screens requiring dynamic data loading.
- Develop high performance XML, JSON, and CSV feed processing system.
- Apply expert level debugging knowledge to find and solve issues in native code.
- Manage junior programmers working on web base data applications using JavaScript, CGI and HTML.
- Lead the development of a standardize API, improving code re-use, time-to-market, etc.
Development manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Development Managers are proficient in Project Management, Customer Service, and Patients. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Interpersonal skills, and Collaboration skills.
We break down the percentage of Development Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 7%
Supported the development and improvement of efficient and effective product development process, project management tools, techniques and related documents.
- Customer Service, 6%
Managed several business process improvements projects including data capture manipulation, claims processing, customer service policies and flow of data.
- Patients, 6%
Provide technical system development services for 130 independent San Francisco East Bay community physicians servicing over 120,000 unique patients.
- Java, 5%
Led development efforts with aggressive time-lines on many web-based java projects in a dynamic environment concluding in successful on-time deliveries.
- Database, 5%
Worked closely with the Development & Communications Coordinator to assure donor contact information is correct in the constituent database.
- Professional Development, 4%
Launched strategic training programs including a mentor program and four day orientation training thus improving company retention and professional development.
Most development managers use their skills in "project management," "customer service," and "patients" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential development manager responsibilities here:
Creativity. The most essential soft skill for a development manager to carry out their responsibilities is creativity. This skill is important for the role because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." Additionally, a development manager resume shows how their duties depend on creativity: "sample available ***live view programming java (vehicle inventory system design)"
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling development manager duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "managers must deal with a range of people in different roles, both inside and outside the organization." According to a development manager resume, here's how development managers can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "negotiate optimum sales and leasing deal structuring transactions based upon exceptional due diligence and effective interpersonal communication. "
Analytical skills. A commonly-found skill in development manager job descriptions, "analytical skills" is essential to what development managers do. Development manager responsibilities rely on this skill because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." You can also see how development manager duties rely on analytical skills in this resume example: "analyzed market and technology trends and products to further our ability to stay a leading force in the xml arena. "
Organizational skills. While "organizational skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to development manager responsibilities. Much of what a development manager does relies on this skill, seeing as "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of development managers: "selected and contributed as a core member of an organizational-wide team to redesign the hr strategy and structure. "
The three companies that hire the most development managers are:
- KPMG LLP252 development managers jobs
- Deloitte90 development managers jobs
- Amazon62 development managers jobs
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Compare different development managers
Development manager vs. Vice president product development
A vice president for product development is responsible for leading the product development team in the execution of development activities to enhance the product's brand image in the market and achieve the sales performance target. Vice presidents for product development monitor the product development techniques from the conceptualization to the final execution and market release. They also handle the budget and resource allocation to support product development operations, ensuring that the outputs meet the quality standards and timetables.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, development manager responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "patients," "java," and "database." Meanwhile a typical vice president product development has skills in areas such as "analytics," "product management," "product strategy," and "product design." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Vice presidents product development really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $164,622. Comparatively, development managers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $123,452.The education levels that vice presidents product development earn slightly differ from development managers. In particular, vice presidents product development are 3.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a development manager. Additionally, they're 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Development manager 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.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that development manager responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "patients," "java," and "database." But a director new business development might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "account management," "business strategies," "treasury," and "corporate clients."
Directors new business development earn a lower average salary than development managers. But directors new business development earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $126,576. Additionally, development managers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $123,452 annually.directors new business development earn similar levels of education than development managers in general. They're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Development manager vs. Manager applications development
An applications development manager is responsible for keeping businesses running smoothly and effectively through planning, coordinating, and overseeing all activities related to software applications. You will oversee the maintenance, upgrade, and support of existing applications and systems required for the smooth day-to-day operations of the business. Other tasks that you will likely perform include providing estimates for project timeline and cost, overseeing feasibility research on software applications, and diagnosing and troubleshooting program errors. As an applications development manager, you are also responsible for recommending software products and services that will benefit the company.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from development manager resumes include skills like "customer service," "patients," "database," and "professional development," whereas a manager applications development is more likely to list skills in "application development," "ongoing maintenance," "architecture," and "infrastructure. "
Managers applications development earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $130,492. Comparatively, development managers have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $123,452.managers applications development typically earn similar educational levels compared to development managers. Specifically, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Development manager vs. Director of software development
A director of software development is primarily in charge of overseeing the workflow and the workforce involved in the entire software development process. Their responsibilities also include creating strategies for optimal performance, coordinating with different teams and departments to identify strengths and weaknesses, implementing training and workshop programs, and liaising with external agencies, including key clients. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach new heights.
Types of development manager
Updated January 8, 2025
