Business development executive
Most businesses have a group of account executives whose job it is to look after clients, although they might also be involved with the sales process too, as they have excellent knowledge of the way the company operates. That secondary role can be a full time position, however – the business development executive. This role is more strategic, as it’s taking the company’s overall business aims in the medium and long-term, and working to realise them, with a particular interest in winning new clients.
Typically, the business development executive will brief the accounts team on the clients they win, and then have little more to do with looking after them, unless they have a hybrid role (which is quite common in smaller companies). Most of the time, they will be looking out for new opportunities, contacting leads and following them up, which makes them have more in common with sales staff, except on a more strategic footing.
The skills required
Business development executive jobs go to people who can demonstrate a talent for identifying leads that will benefit the company long into the future, or which take the company in new directions. They will often be employed when a company has changed its core business model or has embarked on a new range of products and services.
With a strong emphasis on identifying leads and persuasion, business development executives are often drawn from the ranks of sales, and often no experience as a BDE is required as long as they have a proven long-term, strategic mindset.
Business development executive Jobs in Dorset
An English county in the south-west, Dorset shares borders with Devon, Wiltshire and Somerset - it also has an extensive coastline along the English Channel.
Dorset includes a number of towns - like Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Dorchester, Portland and Weymouth - and while the majority of the region is rural, it offers a number of options for those seeking Business development executive vacancies.
For much of Dorset's past, the economy was based on agriculture, while mining and fishing were also important industries.
These days, however, things are a bit different in Dorset and the region now relies mainly on the service sector, hospitality and retail. Construction and manufacturing are also important industries, while a number of armed forces facilities are also located here - such as the Royal Armoured Corps in Bovington and the Royal Marines in Poole.
Several large companies can be found in Dorset, including J.P. Morgan and Sunseeker International, which manufactures yachts. Aerospace companies like BAE Systems and Cobham plc have facilities in the region, while Bournemouth University is also a big employer.
Other companies include Dorset Cereals, Fitness First, Merlin Entertainments, Lloyds TSB Insurance and Imagine Publishing.
Popular locations
Business development executives use Cast UK
At Cast UK, we have a steady stream of business development executive jobs coming up, so if you’re a BDE or want to take the leap from sales to this more strategic role, we’d urge you to follow the link below and register with us.
If your company needs to find some talent to put its business development plans into action, you’ve found your perfect recruitment partner. At Cast UK we know exactly what companies are looking for in operational-level positions such as this, and we can create a shortlist of interview-ready candidates in double-quick time. Call us on 0333 121 3345 to speak to a consultant.