Responsibilities
As a business development manager, you'll need to:
* Research and identify new business opportunities - including new markets, growth areas, trends, customers, partnerships, products and services - or new ways of reaching existing markets.
*Seek out the appropriate contact in an organisation.
* Generate leads and cold call prospective customers.
* Meet with customers/clients face to face or over the phone.
* Foster and develop relationships with customers/clients.
* Understand the needs of your customers and be able to respond effectively with a plan of how to meet these.
* Think strategically - seeing the bigger picture and setting aims and objectives in order to develop and improve the business.
* Work strategically - carrying out necessary planning in order to implement operational changes.
* Draw up client contracts - depending on the size of company, this task may be completed by someone else or agreements may not be as formal.
* Have a good understanding of the businesses' products or services and be able to advise others about them.
* Ensure staff are on board throughout the organisation, and understand the need for change and what is required of them.
* Train members of your team, arranging external training where appropriate.
* Discuss promotional strategy and activities with the marketing department.
* Liaise with the finance team, warehousing and logistics departments as appropriate.
* Seek ways of improving the way the business operates.
* Attend seminars, conferences and events where appropriate.
* Keep abreast of trends and changes in the business world.