Business development directors plan, modify, implement and oversee marketing strategies geared toward reaching sales goals, accumulating clients and growing the business. Directors create marketing plans, pursue relations with clients and work to grow their accounts. Most companies seek directors for business development in an effort to stay on top of their competitors. Employers rely on directors to find, evaluate and take advantage of new business opportunities to help their companies thrive.

Educated and Experienced

Employers have widely varying requirements for business development directors, but most require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in business administration, human resources or a similar field. They require experience in relationship-focused sales, project management or a related area. Directors are analytical, decisive and client-focused. They excel in time, operations and financial management. Some candidates obtain certification from the International Society for Performance Improvement or the American Society for Training and Development, but it's not a requirement.

Analyzing and Selling

Business development directors maintain an updated log of potential clients in all fields, such as travel and tourism, consumer, retail, high tech, health care, financial and telecommunications. They introduce the company to promising markets through product or service management and advertising. Directors supervise the sales process and close important deals, such as those with clients from major corporations. They also work with the company's top executives to establish goals and implement procedures to help achieve them.

Monitoring and Informing

The Society for Marketing Professional Services notes that business development directors act as representatives from their firm when dealing with similar organizations, business associates and clients. According to the Society for Marketing Professional Services, directors also monitor the effectiveness of their development actions. Depending on the employer, directors have different additional duties. They may hold seminars, manage client satisfaction efforts, give sales presentations or meet with external vendors and clients.

Earning and Working

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics recognizes business development directors under the broader category of training and development managers, who earned a median annual income of $115,640, as of May 2020. The BLS expects employment opportunities to increase 11 percent between 2012 and 2022, which is about as fast as the average of all occupations. According to the BLS, candidates with related certification or a master's degree may have better job prospects than those with only a bachelor's degree.

Training and Development Managers salary

• Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $200,210 ($96.25/hour)
• Median Annual Salary: $115,640 ($55.60/hour)
• Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $66,270 ($31.86/hour)