An international organisation focused on supporting cross-border investment & economic growth is looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to develop its presence across the Italian market. This is a highly relationship-driven role, focused on identifying Italian businesses with international expansion ambitions & positioning an established Asian business hub as an attractive location for regional headquarters, manufacturing, technology, research & other strategic operations. Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will engage directly with business owners, C-suite executives & senior decision-makers, developing relationships from initial contact through to qualified investment opportunities. The role offers significant autonomy & the opportunity to build a strong network across some of Italy's most influential businesses.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop & execute a business development strategy for the Italian market, identifying companies with potential international expansion opportunities.
- Generate new business opportunities through targeted outreach, networking, events, referrals & market intelligence.
- Identify & engage senior executives across sectors including healthcare, technology, engineering, chemicals & other internationally focused industries.
- Conduct introductory meetings, including proactive outbound outreach, to understand companies' strategic objectives, expansion plans & investment requirements.
- Develop long-term relationships with prospects, stakeholders & influential market contacts.
- Qualify, develop & manage opportunities from initial identification through to project development.
- Provide companies with relevant market information, introductions & connections to support their international expansion plans.
- Research emerging sectors, industries & companies to identify new opportunities & key decision-makers.
- Build a strong network of professional, corporate & institutional contacts across Italy.
- Work collaboratively with international colleagues & subject-matter teams to develop opportunities and provide appropriate support to prospective investors.
- Support senior leadership with business trips, executive meetings, events & strategic engagements across Italy.
- Represent the organisation at relevant industry, business & networking events.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a commercially minded Business Development professional who combines strong networking skills with the ability to engage credibly with senior executives. You should have:
- 5+ years' experience in business development, B2B sales, investment promotion, international expansion, consulting or a related commercial environment.
- A proven ability to identify, develop & convert new business opportunities.
- Experience engaging with senior stakeholders, ideally at C-suite or business-owner level.
- Strong understanding of how businesses evaluate international expansion, market entry or investment opportunities.
- Experience working with companies operating across multiple jurisdictions would be highly advantageous.
- Excellent written & verbal communication skills in Italian & English.
- Strong research, commercial analysis & presentation skills.
- Exceptional relationship-building, networking & influencing abilities.
- A Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification.
Personal Profile
The successful candidate will be: Commercially driven with a genuine appetite for new business development. A confident communicator who can establish credibility quickly with senior stakeholders. Proactive & entrepreneurial, comfortable creating opportunities rather than waiting for them. Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail & the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Comfortable working independently while collaborating with an international team. Adaptable & able to operate effectively in an environment where priorities can change quickly. Curious, commercially aware & interested in international business, investment & market expansion. Resilient, persistent & comfortable with proactive outreach, including cold calling. A natural networker who enjoys building long-term professional relationships.
Location & Travel
The position is Milan-based, with regular travel throughout Italy for client meetings, conferences, networking events & other business engagements.
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