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Business Development Manager Jobs & Recruitment

If you're an experienced sales professional looking for your next business development manager or business development director role, use our job search function to see the roles we're currently recruiting for.

Alternatively, submit your CV for one of our consultants to review, and we'll get back to you.

Business Development Manager Job Description

Often the driving force of generating new sales leads for a company, business development managers are involved in prospecting potential new clients whilst maintaining current relationships and identifying possible up-sells.

Business development managers often work in teams, potentially managing business development executives and working under a business development director

Visiting potential clients on a regular basis, business development managers will usually be expected to be flexible and travel to network and build relationships.

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Salary Survey for Business Development Manager Jobs 2024

  • Average Salary: The average base salary for BDM positions in the UK sits around £50,000, with significant variations depending on industry, experience, company size, and location.
  • Salary Range: Base salaries typically range from £38,000 for entry-level BDMs to £80,000+ for seasoned professionals with strong track records in securing valuable partnerships.
  • Commissions and Bonuses: While less common than pure sales roles, some BDM positions offer performance-based bonuses linked to achieving strategic business development goals, potentially boosting earnings by 10-20%.
  • Location: London attracts the highest average salaries, followed by major cities like Edinburgh, Manchester, and Bristol. Salaries tend to be lower in smaller towns and rural areas.
  • Industry: Industries like Technology, Finance, and Professional Services typically offer higher salaries due to complex business environments, larger deal sizes, and competitive landscapes.
  • Experience: Extensive experience leading business development initiatives and securing high-value partnerships is crucial. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and industry knowledge are highly valued.
  • Qualifications: Possessing relevant certifications (e.g., Chartered Institute of Marketing) or an MBA can enhance earning potential, along with proven success in specific industry segments.

Salary Ranges for Business Development Manager Roles in 2024

Detailed breakdown of salary data from various sources:

Glassdoor reports that the average base salary for Business Development Managers in the UK is £48,000, while for National Business Development Managers, it is £55,000.

According to Hays, the salary range for BDM positions is £42,000-£70,000, and experienced professionals can earn up to £80,000+.

Totaljobs reports that the average salary for Business Development Manager jobs is £52,000, with a range of £45,000-£75,000.

Additional Factors:

  • Company Size: Larger companies generally offer higher salaries and more extensive benefits packages compared to smaller enterprises.
  • Benefits: Benefits packages vary greatly and may include health insurance, pension plans, company cars, stock options, travel opportunities, and professional development programs.
  • Company Performance: BDMs in high-growth companies with strong financial performance often command higher salaries and bonuses.
  • Team Size and Performance: Leading larger teams and consistently exceeding business development targets significantly impacts earning potential.

Industry-Specific Considerations:

  • Technology: High demand for skilled professionals in areas like cloud computing and cybersecurity can lead to increased earning potential.
  • Finance: Complex financial products and competitive landscapes create a lucrative environment for experienced BDMs.
  • Life Sciences: Specialised knowledge and regulatory requirements can command higher salaries in this niche market.

The UK market for Business Development Managers offers great earning potential for experienced professionals with proven leadership, strategic thinking, and deal-making skills. While base salaries differ depending on various factors, the potential for bonuses, career advancement, and equity participation make it a lucrative and dynamic field.

What Makes a Good Business Development Manager?

The top-performing business development managers will usually be the ones with the best contacts and relationships in order to secure a deal. For this reason, strong communication skills are a must. 

The job role is diverse, where talented candidates will be multi-skilled and have strong time management abilities. From delivering pitches to organising a company's sales pipelines, the best business development managers will need to be confident and have excellent business acumen.

Looking to Recruit a Business Development Manager?

As an established sales-specific recruitment agency with over 10 years experience in recruiting high-calibre staff, Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment can manage your recruitment process for you to ensure you find a business development manager that really suits your business.

The Benefits of Recruiting with Aaron Wallis

  • 12 Months Rebate
  • Assigned Dedicated, Experienced Account Manager
  • Psychometric Profiling
  • Bespoke Interview Questions
  • Fixed Price Recruitment Service
  • Candidate Ability & Skills Testing

 To place your sales vacancy with Aaron Wallis, click to call: 01908 061400 or submit a vacancy now.

Rob Scott, Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment, Author Photo

About the author

Rob Scott

Rob is the Managing Director of Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment, a national recruitment agency specialising in sourcing sales and marketing staff for businesses across a broad range of commercial sectors. Before setting up Aaron Wallis, Rob spent ten years at a specialist Sales and Marketing recruitment division of a £0.5BN recruitment group, leaving in 2007 as Marketing & Sales Director to establish Aaron Wallis.
 
With over 24 years of experience in sales recruitment, Rob is a History graduate with an MBA (Merit) and a PgCert in Management Practice.  In 2007, 2009 and 2013 Rob conducted the most extensive surveys of sales professionals in the UK and is a trusted authority in the sales industry. From guiding employers through the recruitment process to helping candidates find their dream job, Rob's advice has been quoted in leading publications such as Business Insider and The Independent, as well as OnRec, which host The Online Recruitment Awards every year.

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I have used Aaron Wallis to fill a number of our Sales Development Manager roles and I have found them to provide a very professional service. I will use their services again in future recruitment campaigns.

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Wanted to say a huge thank you to Simon Bonner who has just helped me secure my new role. He was one of the most professional recruiters I have ever worked with he was supportive really quick at replying and really put me at ease.

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Wanted to say a huge thank you to Simon Bonner who has just helped me secure my new role. He was one of the most professional recruiters I have ever worked with.

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