Occupation
Business development manager
Business development managers find and win new commercial opportunities — new clients, new markets, or new lines of work. The role mixes research and outreach with proposal writing, negotiation, and long relationship-building. Results are measured against targets, and much of the pipeline will not convert.
Also known as: BDM · New business manager · Commercial development manager
Occupation content
Part of Business, consulting and entrepreneurship
What the work involves
- Research target markets and organisations to identify realistic opportunities
- Approach prospects, qualify their needs, and decide which are worth pursuing
- Prepare proposals, tenders, and pricing with input from delivery and finance teams
- Negotiate terms and hand won work over to the team that will deliver it
- Maintain accurate pipeline records and forecast honestly to management
- Attend industry events and maintain relationships that mature over long periods
How people commonly enter
- Progression from a sales, account management, or delivery role in the same sector
- A bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a sector-relevant technical discipline
- A college diploma in business combined with a strong commercial track record
- On-the-job development within a structured sales or commercial training programme
Typical training: Bachelor's degree
Licensing: Not typically licensed
Typical work context
Public facing · Involves travel · Client sites · Fast paced · Remote capable
Related interests
Enterprising (leading) · Social (helping) · Conventional (organizing)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Business, consulting and entrepreneurship.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Sales managers · United States
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- Canada Job Bank — Search job profiles (business development manager) · Canada
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- EU ESCO — Occupations classification browser · European Union
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Business, consulting and entrepreneurship in Canada, not a figure for Business development manager. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Business, consulting and entrepreneurship family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Business, consulting and entrepreneurship: education pathways
Some roles in Business, consulting and entrepreneurship may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Business, consulting and entrepreneurship: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)