What is the role of a Sales and Business Development Director?
- The Sales and Business Development Director is the key point of contact for clients, particularly project owners and their advisors.
- He maintains, nurtures, improves, and grows his client portfolio.
- He also promotes the company within his region.
- He is the primary entry point to the group for clients (users, investors, developers) and their advisors. He must be a clearly identified and trusted contact.
- He identifies new business opportunities as early as possible and must have a strong understanding of the related challenges.
- He also works transversally with all departments across the group.
What are the responsibilities of a Sales and Business Development Director?
The responsibilities of a Sales and Business Development Director are varied.
- During the sourcing phase, he gathers as much information as possible about the future client. He builds a comprehensive business file, helps create a favorable sales environment, and defines the client’s expectations in order to shape an appropriate commercial strategy. Working alongside the Program Manager or Business Engineer, the Sales and Business Development Director leads both internal and external discussions, from the launch of feasibility studies through to contract signing.
- At the same time, he maintains strong relationships with a network of project owners (users, investors, developers), advisors, and project managers to identify new opportunities early on. He conducts regular market monitoring and helps share relevant information across the commercial teams within the group.
- The Sales and Business Development Director regularly takes part in events that raise the company’s profile in the region, such as trade shows, roundtables, and economic forums.
- He must follow the company’s defined sales process to ensure smooth and efficient deal flow.
What are the skills and qualities of a Sales and Business Development Director?
- Understanding the company’s history, operations, technical solutions, and their specificities, the Sales and Business Development Director has an excellent grasp of the business as a whole. He is familiar with various real estate project structures and the contracts associated with them. He is people-oriented, diplomatic, and has strong analytical and synthesis skills.
- He also has a sharp sense of opportunity and stands out for his positivity and leadership, inspiring and energizing teams.
- He is a strong team player with a collaborative mindset, allowing him to work effectively across the company’s different departments.
- Deeply aligned with the company’s values, he focuses on pursuing opportunities that are consistent with those values.
How to become a Sales and Business Development Director at GA Smart Building, and what are the career prospects?
There are several training paths that can lead to a career in sales and business development, offering a variety of growth opportunities.
Most often, candidates hold a master’s degree from an engineering school, business school, or university, or a 2- to 3-year technical degree combined with professional experience. The most common next step in the career path is promotion to regional-level Sales and Business Development Director.
Florine, Sales and Business Development Director at GA Smart Building
I earned a general engineering degree with a specialization in biomedical engineering from UTC Compiègne. While looking for an internship, I happened to discover the construction engineering sector, which I found fascinating. I spent 15 years working in the industry before joining GA Smart Building. GA is not just a construction company—it’s also an industrial player that designs and develops its own products and concepts. My engineering background helps me approach the technical aspects of our projects with a broader perspective
A Day in the Life of Florine, Sales and Business Development Director at GA Smart Building
Start of the day
Check the day’s schedule, emails, and incoming requests from clients, partners, or colleagues. Follow up on the weekly action plan.
10:00 AM
Client meeting to prospect, review ongoing deals, and discuss upcoming investments, or internal meeting to review current proposals or competitive tenders.
12:30 PM
Lunch with clients or partners (investors, developers, architects, advisors, users) to build my network, strengthen relationships, gather insights, and identify new business opportunities.
2:00 PM
Visit to our headquarters or a project site with prospects or partners—a chance to showcase the company and our expertise.
3:30 PM
Schedule new meetings with clients, project consultants, or partners. Touch base with teams to review ongoing projects.
4:00 PM
Share internally any decisions made during meetings to ensure everyone is informed.
6:00 PM
Attend local business and economic events.
End of the day
Daily reporting: log all relevant information into our CRM and share it with the appropriate teams to keep communication clear and efficient.