Head of Business Development job description.
The Head of Business Development leads an organization's growth strategy, identifying new markets, partnerships, and revenue opportunities. They build and manage a business development team, negotiate high-value deals, and work closely with sales, marketing, and product leadership to align growth initiatives with company objectives. This is a senior strategic role focused on long-term revenue expansion and market positioning.
The Head of Business Development job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Head of Business Development Reports to: Chief Executive Officer / Chief Revenue Officer
The Head of Business Development leads an organization's growth strategy, identifying new markets, partnerships, and revenue opportunities. They build and manage a business development team, negotiate high-value deals, and work closely with sales, marketing, and product leadership to align growth initiatives with company objectives. This is a senior strategic role focused on long-term revenue expansion and market positioning.
- Develop and execute the organization's business development strategy
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue new markets, partnerships, and revenue streams
- Build, lead, and mentor a business development team
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Chief Executive Officer / Chief Revenue Officer
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Develop and execute the organization's business development strategy
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue new markets, partnerships, and revenue streams
- Build, lead, and mentor a business development team
- Negotiate and close strategic partnerships and high-value deals
- Collaborate with sales, marketing, and product teams to align growth initiatives
- Analyze market trends, competitors, and customer needs to inform strategy
- Set and track business development targets and key performance indicators
- Represent the organization at industry events and with key stakeholders
- Report growth performance and strategic recommendations to executive leadership
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field (MBA a plus)
- 8+ years of experience in business development, sales, or strategic partnerships
- Proven track record of closing significant partnership or revenue deals
- Strong leadership and team management experience
- Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills
- Experience scaling business development functions in a growth-stage company
- Industry-specific network of partners, clients, or investors
- Experience presenting to boards or executive leadership
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Head of Business Development job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Head of Business Development job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The executive band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Chief Executive Officer / Chief Revenue Officer) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- How does a Head of Business Development differ from a VP of Sales?
- Business development focuses on identifying new markets, partnerships, and growth opportunities, while sales leadership focuses on converting existing pipeline into revenue; the two roles often work in close partnership.
- What experience level is typical for this role?
- Most employers look for candidates with at least eight years of relevant experience, including several years in a leadership capacity.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager identifies, qualifies, and develops new commercial opportunities — partnerships, channels, large accounts, market expansion.
Business Development Representative
A Business Development Representative (BDR) generates and qualifies new sales opportunities through outbound prospecting, inbound lead follow-up, and market research.
Chief Revenue Officer
A Chief Revenue Officer aligns sales, marketing, and customer success functions under a unified revenue strategy to drive sustainable growth.
This Head of Business Development job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.