Business development manager CV example

An employer reads a business development manager’s CV for the new business you brought in and how you did it.

Give your target and what you won against it, the size of the clients and contracts, how you find leads and negotiate, and the forecasts and reports you own. This example is a business development manager applying for a senior post.

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Simon Achterberg
Business Development Manager
Reading · 07700 900283 · [email protected]

Profile

Business development manager with nine years selling IT managed services to schools, councils and mid-sized companies, the last four winning new contracts. Finds and qualifies leads, negotiates multi-year contracts and keeps the new-business forecast for the board. Beat the new-business target in each of the last three years. Looking for a senior role leading a small business development team.

Experience

Business Development Manager, Kennet Managed IT, Reading 2022–present

Won £1.9 million of new contract value in 2025 against a £1.5 million target, from 14 new clients.

Negotiated a five-year support and devices contract with a multi-academy trust of 11 schools, worth £620,000.

Research local councils, trusts and companies to find opportunities, and book about 25 first meetings a quarter.

Represent the company at four education and public sector shows a year, and run the follow-up campaign with marketing.

Keep the monthly new-business forecast and present it to the directors.

Run quarterly bid-writing workshops for the account managers.

Account Manager, Kennet Managed IT, Reading 2019–2022

Looked after 60 business clients and kept 93% of contracts on renewal.

Sales Executive, Loddon Office Systems, Wokingham 2017–2019

Sold printers and support contracts by phone and in person, and passed target in seven of eight quarters.

Qualifications

BA (Hons) Business Management, 2:1, Avonmere University 2014–2017

Skills

Lead research and qualifying

Negotiating multi-year contracts

Public sector bids and frameworks

Pipeline forecasting in Salesforce

Presenting to directors and buyers

Training sales teams

Additional information

Full UK driving licence.

Fictional example for a business development manager. Every person and employer in it is invented. Replace every detail with your own.

What companies selling to other businesses look for, and where this CV shows it

The job asks you toWhere this CV shows it
Analyse companies and market trends to spot new investment opportunitiesResearches councils, trusts and companies; about 25 first meetings a quarter
Attend events and conferences to network and create contactsFour education and public sector shows a year
Negotiate services and prices with new and existing clientsA £620,000 five-year contract with an 11-school trust
Develop strong relationships with customers60 clients as account manager; 93% renewed
Forecast sales targets and help plan how to meet themMonthly new-business forecast for the directors
Run training workshops for business development teamsQuarterly bid-writing workshops

The left column follows the National Careers Service job profile for a business development manager. If the advert you are answering describes a duty in other words, use its words for work you have actually done.

Average pay: £28,000 a year for a starter and £80,000 for an experienced business development manager, working 37 to 40 hours a week (National Careers Service, checked 17 October 2026).

Facts checked against National Careers Service: Business development manager on .

Skills to list for this job

The skills the National Careers Service lists for a business development manager, in CV wording. Put down only the ones you can show, each with where you used it.

  • Selling products and services
  • Business management
  • Clear spoken communication
  • Leadership
  • Using initiative
  • Customer service
  • Persuading
  • Ambition and drive
  • Confident with computers and everyday software
Choose them in the editor

From the National Careers Service profile, checked 17 October 2026.

A profile if you are starting out

This CV's profile is written for someone with experience. Here is the same job at the other level: copy it, or open it in the editor with this CV and write over it.

Sales executive looking for a first business development role. Two years selling software subscriptions by phone and video to small businesses, passing target in seven of eight quarters, and booking 30 demos a month from my own research. Confident with Salesforce and LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and holds a full driving licence.
Use in the editor
Inside this example
  • Profile: 59 words here
  • Experience: 141 words here
  • Qualifications: 8 words here
  • Skills: 24 words here
  • Additional information: 4 words here

How to write yours

01

Put the target beside the result

New business won against the target, with the year, is the first thing a sales director looks for.

02

Name the kind of client

Schools, councils or mid-sized companies tell an employer whether your contacts and sector fit theirs.

03

Show how you found the work

Research, events and first meetings show you can fill your own pipeline.

04

Give one contract in full

Who it was with, how long it runs and what it is worth make a negotiation real.

Questions about a business development manager CV

Which degree suits business development?

You can study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in business management, business development, accountancy, economics, marketing or international business, and employers may want some experience in sales, marketing or business management (National Careers Service). Give the degree, then let your results do the work.

Can I get into business development through an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships include the Sales Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, the Marketing Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship and the Business to Business Sales Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship (National Careers Service). Give the apprenticeship, its level and the year.

Can I move into business development from sales or marketing?

You could start in a sales, finance or marketing role with a company and move into business development through training, certification and promotion (National Careers Service). Keep that first job on your CV with its best figure, as this one does.

What does OTE mean in a business development advert?

The advertised salary may include on-target earnings (OTE), which depend on meeting individual or company targets, so check what proportion of the salary is OTE (National Careers Service). Your CV does not need your pay; it needs your targets and what you achieved against them.

Do I need a driving licence?

You’ll usually need a driving licence (National Careers Service). Put it under Additional information.

Compact and one page: three jobs and their figures fit without a second page, so your targets, contracts and renewals are all in view. For an online form, switch to Plain.