What Is a Business Development Associate, and How to Become One

Business development associates work across multiple industries to help organizations develop growth strategies and increase profits. They can also help improve efficiency and boost brand awareness.  Employment across all business and financial occupations will likely grow over the next few years, making this a potentially secure job choice.  Because it typically offers a competitive salary, it can also be a financially rewarding choice. 

Discover what a business development associate is, the duties and responsibilities of the role, the career outlook for a business development associate, and how to start in this career.

What does a business development associate do?

As a business development associate, your role is to help an organization grow and reach its business goals more efficiently. You might do this by conducting market research and working with staff members to identify promising opportunities for that organization, followed by building strategies to help it achieve those new goals. This typically requires earning a formal education, gaining industry knowledge, and honing certain workplace and technical skills.

Duties and responsibilities of a business development associate

The duties and responsibilities of a business development associate depend largely on the hiring company and the industry, but in general, business development associates are often responsible for the following:

• Analyzing current market and processes for growth opportunities

• Researching new markets and customers 

• Developing and implementing growth strategies

• Setting goals for the business to achieve and monitoring input and development

• Building and maintaining client relationships

• Assisting with marketing and brand awareness

• Attending networking events and industry events

Where do business development associates work?

Business development associates work in various sectors, including health care, construction, IT, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and engineering. Although you might work remotely in this role, it is generally an office-based job. Traveling between offices and for conferences and events is expected. 

Business development associates usually work across multi-functional teams, so you may find yourself collaborating with various departments throughout an organization or giving presentations to staff members. However, you'll also spend much of your time working independently.

Business development associate skills

Business development associates have a specific skill set, and to succeed in this role, you need to develop both technical and workplace. These include:

Technical skills

• Research 

• Microsoft Excel 

• Lead generation

• Data analysis 

• Business development 

• Project management

• Content management system 

• Sales prospecting

Workplace skills

• Communication

• Collaboration

• Strategic thinking

• Negotiation

• Leadership

• Critical thinking 

• Problem-solving

• Time management

Business development associate salary and career outlook

The career outlook for a business development associate is good, with faster-than-average projected job growth between 2022 and 2032 [1]. It is a popular career choice for those with business, marketing, or sales experience and offers career progression opportunities.

According to Glassdoor, the average annual business development associate salary is $62,982 [2]. With experience, pay can rise to an average of $88,362 [2].

Career advancement options

After working as a business development associate, many options are available for advancement. The most obvious is to step into more senior positions in business development, such as business development manager and then senior business development manager, which has about a ten-year trajectory [3]. 

Another option is to use your business development knowledge to take on other relevant roles, such as project coordinator, marketing manager, or account manager, later progressing to project manager, marketing and operations director, or account director. Another option is to work as a consultant, specializing in a certain sector. 

Some possible career advancement options and their associated salaries are as follows:

• Business development manager: $98,978 [4]

• Senior business development manager: $137,470 [5]

• Business development strategist: $92,585 [6]

• Business development consultant: $78,610 [7]

• Director of business development: $130,366  [8]

How to become a business development associate

If a business development associate role fits your career well, credentials and experience can help you find a job. Business development associates generally need a degree, previous experience, and sometimes additional certifications.

1. Earn a degree.

The minimum requirement for a business development associate role is typically a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or similar. According to Zippia, 78.3 percent of business development associate employees have at least a bachelor’s degree and 11.7 percent have a master’s level degree [9].

2. Get experience.

To become a business development associate, you may need to gain some relevant experience in marketing, sales, or customer relations. While previous experience isn't always necessary, many businesses prefer that you have between two and five years. 

Working as an intern as part of your college studies is an excellent way to gain experience. Similarly, gaining an entry-level role in business development, such as a market research analyst, business development representative, or sales development representative, is an excellent way to gain experience. Business development associates can also gain experience in customer service, sales, and marketing positions.

3. Develop skills.

Having the relevant skills to become a business development associate is important. These are generally developed through education and experience. For example, working as a sales development representative can help you develop your sales and communication skills.

4. Get a certification.

To put yourself ahead of the competition when applying for a business development associate job, you can study for a certification to add to your resume. Examples you might consider include:

• The Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)

• Certified Business Development Manager (CBDM)

• Certified Sales and Marketing Professional (CSMP)

Getting started with Coursera

As a business development associate, you'll help organizations grow, increase sales, and reach other business goals. The outlook for this job is positive; the salary is competitive, and you'll find plenty of opportunities for advancement to more senior positions. 

Are you ready to start developing the skills, experience, and education you need to work in business development? The Business Foundations Specialization delivered by the University of Pennsylvania on Coursera is a great starting point for building your basic business knowledge. You might then move on to the University of Virginia's Business Strategy Specialization or a Google Project Management Professional Certificate.