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What does an international business development manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

An International Business development manager helps businesses grow by generating revenue and establishing positive relationships with clients across international territories. They conduct market research and analysis to find new business and client opportunities, generate and pursue leads, develop sales pitches and techniques, reach out to clients to offer products and services, arrange appointments, and negotiate terms with potential clients. Besides managing client accounts, an international business development manager helps development teams reach goals, training new members to enhance their skills.

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International business development manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real international business development manager resumes:

  • Lead centralized, electronic referral center coordinating post-acute service needs of patients discharging from multiple acute facilities in Arizona region.
  • Create a network in UK, Germany, Sweden, France and Norway.
  • Lead centralized, electronic referral center coordinating post-acute service needs of patients discharging from multiple acute facilities in Arizona region.
  • Design marketing strategies to introduce patent security technology to emerging economies in the EMEA regions.

International business development manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of International Business Development Managers are proficient in Logistics, International Business Development, and Market Trends. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Interpersonal skills, and Organizational skills.

We break down the percentage of International Business Development Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Logistics, 15%

    Absorbed knowledge of logistics, export compliance/ documentation, warehouse functionality, and workforce coordination.

  • International Business Development, 12%

    Bay Area & Switzerland Responsible for business growth initiatives and team of international business development professionals.

  • Market Trends, 10%

    Identify market trends, gaps, niches and implementation marketing plans.

  • International Markets, 5%

    Recommended regional product positioning and pricing strategies to produce the highest possible long-term international market share.

  • Sales Strategy, 4%

    Delivered Cyber-Security Compliance application is critical to Cisco's Smart Grid sales strategy and competitive differentiation in the Smart Grid market.

  • Market Research, 4%

    Performed market research and business analysis for effective lead generation and market penetration.

"logistics," "international business development," and "market trends" are among the most common skills that international business development managers use at work. You can find even more international business development manager responsibilities below, including:

Creativity. One of the key soft skills for an international business development manager to have is creativity. You can see how this relates to what international business development managers do because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." Additionally, an international business development manager resume shows how international business development managers use creativity: "managed the inbound promotions department and trained account executives to promote our inventory within the local, national and international market. "

Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling international business 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 an international business development manager resume, here's how international business development managers can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "utilize excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to establish strategic business relationships that increase/streamline processes needed to initiate/close sales. "

Organizational skills. This is an important skill for international business development managers to perform their duties. For an example of how international business development manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an international business development manager: "provided organizational development interventions in organization change and structure, strategic planning, conflict resolution and group development. ".

Analytical skills. international business development manager responsibilities often require "analytical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." This resume example shows what international business development managers do with analytical skills on a typical day: "analyzed market competitiveness for new product development initiatives. "

Communication skills. Another common skill required for international business development manager responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of international business development managers all the time, as "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." An excerpt from a real international business development manager resume shows how this skill is central to what an international business development manager does: "expanded the sales of adtran's telecommunications products and technologies with customers in north america, emea, and apac regions. "

See the full list of international business development manager skills

Choose from 10+ customizable international business development manager resume templates

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International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
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International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume
International Business Development Manager Resume

Compare different international business development managers

International business development manager vs. 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. They must file with the state in which they do business and are governed mostly by state laws. Business partners can also be either liable or not for the actions taken by the company.

If we compare the average international business development manager annual salary with that of a business partner, we find that business partners typically earn a $1,072 lower salary than international business development managers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both international business development manager and business partner positions are skilled in logistics, market research, and business plan.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, international business development manager responsibilities require skills like "international business development," "market trends," "international markets," and "sales strategy." Meanwhile a typical business partner has skills in areas such as "analytics," "project management," "customer service," and "human resources." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Business partners tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $94,676. In contrast, international business development managers make the biggest average salary, $103,163, in the hospitality industry.On average, business partners reach lower levels of education than international business development managers. Business partners are 7.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

International business development manager vs. Business to business sales manager

A business to business sales manager is responsible for monitoring the company's business transactions and ensuring that the team meets sales goals and targets. Business to business sales managers review business accounts and perform adjustments to sales plans as needed to adhere to clients' requests and customer demands. They also conduct data and statistical analysis through the evaluation of market trends to identify opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the business and increase the brand's image in the market.

On average, business to business sales managers earn a $22,154 lower salary than international business development managers a year.A few skills overlap for international business development managers and business to business sales managers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "market trends," "business plan," and "business development. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that international business development manager responsibilities requires skills like "logistics," "international business development," "international markets," and "sales strategy." But a business to business sales manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "business sales," "sales professionals," and "trade shows."

Business to business sales managers earn a lower average salary than international business development managers. But business to business sales managers earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $83,440. Additionally, international business development managers earn the highest salaries in the hospitality with average pay of $103,163 annually.business to business sales managers earn lower levels of education than international business development managers in general. They're 15.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

International business development manager vs. Vice president, business development

A vice president of business development is an individual who leads in the execution of business plans and provides new business strategies for an organization. Vice presidents of business development closely work with a team of salespeople, management, and lower-level employees to secure contracts with new customers and manage ongoing agreements. They often travel to participate in business conferences and meetings with vendors and suppliers. Vice presidents of business development must also possess a bachelor's degree in business administration or marketing.

On average scale, vice presidents, business development bring in higher salaries than international business development managers. In fact, they earn a $67,763 higher salary per year.international business development managers and vice presidents, business development both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "sales strategy," "market research," and "business plan," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from international business development manager resumes include skills like "logistics," "international business development," "market trends," and "international markets," whereas a vice president, business development is more likely to list skills in "healthcare," "business strategy," "revenue growth," and "financial services. "

Vice presidents, business development earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $164,511. Comparatively, international business development managers have the highest earning potential in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $103,163.When it comes to education, vice presidents, business development tend to earn lower degree levels compared to international business development managers. In fact, they're 5.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

International business development manager vs. Business development executive

A business development executive serves as a senior manager who drives company sales. Business development executives convince existing clients to buy more offerings and also source new clients. The focus of their job is on lead generation, prospect management, and customer acquisition. They collaborate with management in terms of sales objectives, planning, and prediction. The skills necessary for this job include customer service and relations, time management, strong written communication, and sales process experience.

Business development executives average a higher salary than the annual salary of international business development managers. The difference is about $475 per year.According to resumes from international business development managers and business development executives, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "market trends," "market research," and "business plan. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between international business development managers and business development executives, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an international business development manager might have more use for skills like "logistics," "international business development," "international markets," and "sales strategy." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of business development executives require skills like "digital transformation," "customer service," "client relationships," and "cloud. "

Business development executives enjoy the best pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $112,177. For comparison, international business development managers earn the highest salary in the hospitality industry.In general, business development executives hold lower degree levels compared to international business development managers. Business development executives are 9.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of international business development manager

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.

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