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Business Development Manager (m/f/d)

The Business Development Manager (BDM) has a versatile, challenging and at the same time very exciting position in companies. As (international) competition is intensifying in many companies, Business Development Managers are looking for new markets and opportunities. They are also involved in the further development of existing business areas in management. In order to find suitable solutions, the Business Development Manager makes use of comprehensive market analyses. 

What tasks await you in Business Development and what salary can you expect? We answer these questions and many more in this job profile. 

Are you looking for Business Development Manager Jobs (m/f/d)? 

Are you just as interested in new technologies as you are in entrepreneurial thinking? Do you enjoy networking internationally and tackling new ideas "outside the box"? If you are also a creative BDM with strategic thinking and negotiating skills, we should plan your next career move together. 

Are you looking for an experienced Business Development Manager (m/f/d)? 

Are you looking for an ambitious specialist who can discover new potential for your company and set the course for new markets on the international stage? The Business Development Manager opens up new markets and contributes specific expertise to your company's success. We have the right talent for you. 

Are you looking for an exciting project as a Business Development Manager? 

Have you already developed strategies for various companies and significantly increased operational performance through extensive market analysis? Are you well networked in your industry and do you impress with your analytical skills and strong self-motivation? We will support you in winning exciting projects. 

What is a Business Development Manager? Develop your business areas further 

Business development managers are individuals who develop and implement strategies to promote the growth and profitability of a company.  

They identify new business opportunities, make important contacts and improve existing services or products. In this way, they make their company future-proof in times of globalization. 

Business Development Managers - often also called Company Development Managers - are therefore sought-after specialists and occupy a key position in the company. They act as a highly communicative interface between customers and management and often climb steeply up the career ladder in the course of their work. In smaller companies and start-ups, managers and managing directors are usually responsible for business development. 

The balancing act between customer needs, competition, future trends and market development makes the job of Business Development Manager unique and varied. 

BD managers are not limited to a specific industry. Above all, this profession is in demand in companies that want to serve future technology trends and actively drive innovation. Your own specialist knowledge should therefore ideally match the company sector. 

Companies are often looking for people from the fields of natural sciences, IT, mechanical engineering, telecommunications, the pharmaceutical industry or biotechnology. An academic background is therefore a good basis for a career as a Business Development Manager - although career changers also have good prospects. 

Business Development Manager average salary: a comprehensive overview  

With a job as a BDM, your salary is usually above the German average.  

It is not possible to put an exact figure on the salary range of a Business Development Manager. Various aspects such as company size, industry, location and the professional experience you bring with you are decisive. 

Therefore, the more relevant your professional experience in a particular sector and the larger the company, the more you will earn.  

On average, Business Development Managers across Germany earn a gross annual salary of around €74,000. 

You earn best as a BDM in the financial sector. 

Junior Business Development Manager average salary: This is your starting salary as a Business Development Manager 

Junior Business Development Managers can expect a starting salary of around €45,000. However, this can increase very quickly through good performance and the assumption of responsibility. 

Senior Business Development Manager salary: your earnings as a BD Manager 

Depending on the size of the company, experienced Business Development Managers can earn around €80,000 per year. Depending on the industry, location and experience, this BDM salary can also be up to €120,000 and more.  

Business Development Manager tasks: What does a Business Development Manager do? 

Analyzing the current situation, identifying new potential, developing new corporate strategies: These three core elements make up the majority of the Business Development Manager's tasks. 

A flair for trends and far-reaching communication skills make this person a key figure in companies and organizations in all sectors. 

Your goal as a Business Development Manager is to boost business and to do this you need to increase sales. Therefore, your tasks also include sales talks with customers - especially in sales-oriented Business Development. 

Based on data and in-depth analyses, BDM recognizes the potential of other (internationally active) companies in the industry in the area of controlling and at the same time keeps an eye on the performance of external specialists and its own employees. 

In addition, he establishes initial contacts with potential client companies in order to stimulate joint innovations at an early stage. Empathy, networking and communication skills are therefore particularly in demand in the soft skills area. 

The main areas of responsibility in Business Development are 

  • New customer acquisition: BD managers identify potential new customers who could be of interest to the company. They build relationships with these customers in order to win them over and retain them in the long term. Together with them, they develop strategies to make the product or service even better. 
     

  • Product Development: Business Development Managers work closely with the product teams to improve existing products and develop new products tailored to customer needs. They use market analysis and customer feedback to ensure that the company's products remain competitive. 
     

  • Opening up new markets: BDMs analyze new market opportunities and develop strategies to tap into them. This may involve expanding into new geographical areas, entering new industries or adapting products or services to new customer segments. 

Which of these three areas of responsibility will be most important for you as a Company Development Manager depends largely on the strategic orientation of the company. Is the company predominantly sales-oriented or is the focus on marketing? As a BDM, you can also focus on the (further) development of products and have less contact with customers. 

Junior Business Development Manager Tasks: What you do as a career starter 

Junior Business Development Managers are usually entry-level professionals who focus on the development and implementation of business strategies. They are often responsible for conducting market and competitive analysis, identifying potential new customers and developing customer acquisition strategies. They work closely with the sales and marketing teams and help to improve the company's products and services and develop new ones.  

The job of BDM is generally not an absolute entry-level job. People who start the role of Junior Business Development Manager usually already have experience in marketing or account management. 

Senior Business Development Manager Tasks 

A Senior Business Development Manager has more experience and responsibility than a Junior BDM. They are often responsible for the strategic development of the company and work directly with top management. They conduct comprehensive market and competitive analysis, develop and implement new business strategies and look for opportunities to expand into new markets. In addition, they may also be responsible for monitoring and reporting on the company's performance. 

Business Development Further training and studies: How do you become a Business Developer? 

There is no fixed training and career path to becoming a business development manager. However, a degree in economics is definitely an advantage and serves as a good basis for a future in business development. Your professional skills and the experience you bring with you are particularly important. That is why the requirements for this profession depend heavily on the sector in which you work. 

As a rule, the position of Business Development Manager is not an entry-level position. It requires a certain level of experience - both in the relevant specialist area and in dealing with customers and management. 

Business development training 

Business development managers should be constantly up to date in order to be able to make data-based forecasts for the company and industry. It is therefore only beneficial to constantly expand your own know-how and keep it up to date. Organizations themselves offer many further and advanced training courses for BDMs in order to develop their own staff and transfer management tasks in the future. Possible content includes process and project management, employee leadership and team management. 

Business development studies: the academic path 

A specific Business Development Manager degree course is best suited for a direct start as a BDM. Although many different degree courses - especially business studies - are suitable for starting a career, there are now a number of specific BDM degree courses on offer: 

 

Other suitable subjects for a career as a BD manager are: 
 

  • Business administration 

  • Marketing & Sales 

  • Computer science  

  • Engineering 

Although there is no prescribed training path for BDM, an academic degree in economics or other disciplines serves as a good stepping stone to becoming a recognized specialist and manager in the field of business development. 

Business development training: Courses and seminars for business development 

There are now various BDM training courses on the market that are also suitable for career changers and people with a different professional background. 

The IU University of Applied Sciences, for example, offers a four-month (full-time) online course in business development. At the VDI Wissensforum, you will learn the most important skills and knowledge that you will need as a Company Development Manager in two days of face-to-face training. The HAUFE Academy also has a further training course to become a Certified Business Development Manager in its portfolio, which takes place over four days. 

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Business Development Manager Skills: These skills are in demand 

In addition to technical know-how, soft skills are particularly important in business development management. BD managers must be able to network well, make contact with potential customers, conduct negotiations and contribute creative ideas.  

Analytical skills are also required, as important decisions on product development are based on market analyses and empirical data.  

The most important hard skills in business development include: 
 

  • Professional experience in development, marketing or sales 

  • Industry-specific knowledge 

  • Analytical understanding 

  • IT skills  

  • Good knowledge of English 

Important soft skills of a Business Development Manager are: 
 

  • (Intercultural) communication skills and negotiation skills 

  • Strong self-motivation and proactivity 

  • Resilience and self-organization 

  • A feel for trends and current developments in the industry 

  • Willingness to travel 

  • Creativity and inventiveness 

Business Development Manager career: opportunities on the job market  

Jobs as a business development manager can be found in almost all industries - provided that innovations are in demand. Whether chemistry, IT, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals or biotechnology: in companies or organizations with a scientific or technical background, business development managers actively shape the future. 

For this reason, the BDM is a highly sought-after specialist who should continuously expand their skills through further training. As an interface between the company's management team and the client, she is gaining promising experience.  

In Business Development, you are already on a stepping stone towards management level: it is not uncommon for you to be able to progress to department management or beyond in this position. 

That's why you should definitely seize the opportunity to take on responsibility and prove yourself as a specialist - one who is ambitious and enjoys their job and strategically plans their own career. 

Top vacancies for Business Development Manager: Jobs throughout Germany 

Reference number: 794107/1

Sales Manager Wood Central Europe and Nordics (m/f/d)

Permanent employment with our customer
Hamburg
  • Responsible for the sales of wood products such as plywood and lumber, applying sound commercial strategies to achieve sales targets
  • Conduct market analyses to identify and secure new customer contacts in line with guidelines and strategic objectives
  • Create precise and reliable sales forecasts to optimize the balance between supply and demand, adhering to budget requirements regarding volume, price, and margin
  • Build and maintain strong, long-term customer relationships by understanding customer needs and acting as a trusted partner with extensive market knowledge
  • Prepare and maintain price lists and create sales and volume reports as needed
  • Collaborate with the Global Commercial Team, Operations, and Supply Chain
  • Direct reporting line to the Sales Director
Online since: Mon Apr 07 14:43:51 CEST 2025
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Reference number: 820165/1

Senior FP&A Manager (m/f/d)

Permanent employment with our customer
Berlin
  • Lead monthly P&L and Balance Sheet reporting in collaboration with the accounting team
  • Build and maintain robust Budgeting and Forecasting models
  • Establish controlling procedures with recent acquisitions and lead the financial integration to the Group
  • Support on the regular creation of forecast with giving guidance on steering, potentials and risks associated 
  • Provide financial projections and analysis to support long-term financial planning and business growth 
  • Analyse budget variances and provide recommendations for optimization
  • Drive the improvement of existing processes on monthly reports 
  • Guide our most recent acquisitions in the post-M&A integration and adaptation in reporting
Online since: Tue May 06 09:12:54 CEST 2025
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Reference number: 819529/1

Secondary Engineer (m/f/d)

Freelance/Contracting project
Baden-Wurttemberg
  • Prepare and review substation documentations, for example, single line diagram, protection diagrams, interlocking diagrams, AC and DC drawings, calculations, control and protection panel drawings, IED configurations, cabling and bills of materials
  • Provide technical evaluation of supplier proposals and accepts as fit for purpose supplied equipment or services
  • Provide technical support during pre-FAT and FAT stage, handling installation and commissioning activities. Prepare project documentation within one's scope of deliverables
  • Participate in testing and commissioning
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including project manager, design (Lead, Primary, Civil and commissioning), planner, quality assurance, and supply chain, to ensure seamless project integration and successful outcomes in international project environment
  • Drive a culture of continuous improvement, fostering innovation, and encouraging employee involvement in problem-solving and process enhancement
  • Living core values of safety and integrity, which means taking responsibility for your own actions while caring for your colleagues, and the business
Online since: Tue Apr 29 15:54:09 CEST 2025
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FAQ

What does a Business Development Manager do?

Business Development Managers (BDM) are responsible for the further development of a company and its products and services. They open up new markets, generate customers and increase sales.
Business Development Managers (BDM) are responsible for the further development of a company and its products and services. They open up new markets, generate customers and increase sales.

How much does a Business Development Manager earn?

As a Business Development Manager, you earn an average of € 74,000 gross per year in Germany. Experienced business developers who work in large companies can earn up to €120,000 a year.

As a Business Development Manager, you earn an average of € 74,000 gross per year in Germany. Experienced business developers who work in large companies can earn up to €120,000 a year.


What do you do as a Business Manager?

As a Business Development Manager (BDM), you are responsible for the further development of products and services in a company. Your aim is to generate new customers, open up markets and increase sales. 

As a Business Development Manager (BDM), you are responsible for the further development of products and services in a company. Your aim is to generate new customers, open up markets and increase sales. 


How do I become a Business Developer?

For a career as a business developer, a degree in economics paired with strong industry knowledge is suitable. Career changers can also embark on a career as a BDM with a high level of technical expertise and several years of professional experience. 

For a career as a business developer, a degree in economics paired with strong industry knowledge is suitable. Career changers can also embark on a career as a BDM with a high level of technical expertise and several years of professional experience. 


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