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 Oxfordshire
Sharing borders with Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire is a county in the south-east.
Home to major settlements like Oxford, Witney, Didcot, Chipping Norton and Bicester, the county is a fabulous choice for those seeking Business development executive opportunities.
The region has long been an important centre for education, and it is the location of the oldest university in the English-speaking world - and one of the best renowned - the University of Oxford. Established in 1167, these days the institution is responsible for much of the economic growth in the county.
Besides the students and tourism that the university brings to the region, it has also attracted a number of biotechnology businesses. Other large companies in Oxford include publishing houses Oxford University Press and Wiley-Blackwell, while the automotive industry is also thriving, with the headquarters of Morris Motors based in the city, along with a production site for Mini.
Beyond the dreaming spires of Oxford, the rest of the county is also thriving.
Didcot Power Station, for example, supplies energy to the National Grid, while other well-known companies include Kraft Foods, Wychwood Brewery and the Chipping Norton Recording Studios It's also the location of the Diamond Light Source synchrotron - a particle accelerator.
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.