Job Description Business development combines marketing, sales, and product development skills into a unique and dynamic, hybrid career role. As the name implies, a business developer’s primary task is to evaluate their company’s products and capabilities, locate new business opportunities or markets, and pursue those opportunities to increase revenue. Professionals in biz dev often write marketing plans, recruit new sales prospects, negotiate sales and partnership deals, and even help develop their company’s products.

Median Salary $70,000

Education Entry-level positions in biz dev typically require at least a bachelor’s degree, and an MBA or other master’s degree is preferred for more senior roles. Language skills are also highly sought after, as more and more biz dev roles focus on capitalizing on business opportunities in international markets.

Job Outlook Business development positions are available in many different industries, and job growth is typically tied to the growth of the industry you choose. Expanding industries, such as the pharmaceutical, software, bio-tech, and web industries should spur growth in biz dev. Increasing internationalization will also create more biz dev jobs as companies compete for opportunities in emerging markets.