Job description template
Business Development Representative Job Description
Hire top Business Development Representatives with this detailed job description template.
The role in brief
A Business Development Representative (BDR) drives early-stage pipeline by identifying, qualifying, and engaging prospective customers through outbound outreach and inbound lead follow-up. Sitting at the intersection of sales and marketing, BDRs are responsible for booking qualified meetings and discovery calls that feed the sales pipeline. The role demands persistence, strong communication skills, and the ability to quickly understand a prospect's pain points and map them to business solutions. BDRs are often the first human touchpoint a potential customer has with the company, making their professionalism and product knowledge critical to brand perception.
- Research and identify target accounts using intent data, firmographic criteria, and ideal customer profiles to build high-quality prospecting lists
- Execute multi-channel outbound sequences across cold calls, personalized emails, LinkedIn outreach, and video prospecting to generate net-new pipeline
- Qualify inbound marketing leads within SLA response times and route them to the appropriate Account Executive based on territory and segment
- Conduct discovery conversations to understand prospect challenges, budget authority, timeline, and decision-making processes
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Research and identify target accounts using intent data, firmographic criteria, and ideal customer profiles to build high-quality prospecting lists
- Execute multi-channel outbound sequences across cold calls, personalized emails, LinkedIn outreach, and video prospecting to generate net-new pipeline
- Qualify inbound marketing leads within SLA response times and route them to the appropriate Account Executive based on territory and segment
- Conduct discovery conversations to understand prospect challenges, budget authority, timeline, and decision-making processes
- Maintain meticulous CRM hygiene by logging all activities, updating lead statuses, and capturing detailed notes in Salesforce or HubSpot
- Collaborate with Account Executives to develop account strategies for high-value target accounts and participate in handoff meetings
- Track and report on key performance metrics including outreach volume, connect rates, meetings booked, and pipeline generated
- Stay current on industry trends, competitive landscape, and product updates to deliver relevant and compelling messaging to prospects
- Participate in weekly pipeline reviews and provide feedback to marketing on lead quality and messaging effectiveness
- Continuously refine outreach messaging through A/B testing of subject lines, call scripts, and value propositions
Required skills
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Test these skills before the Business Development Representative interviews
Cohesyve reads the description above and generates a role-specific assessment with a scoring rubric. Each candidate gets a different version, so questions cannot be shared.
Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 20-2 years of experience in sales, business development, or customer-facing roles
- 3Track record of meeting or exceeding activity and pipeline targets
- 4Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- 5Competitive mindset with a coachable and growth-oriented attitude
Compensation and environment
Salary range
Work environment
Career growth
BDRs commonly advance to Account Executive, Senior BDR, or BDR Team Lead within 12-18 months. Longer-term paths include Sales Manager, Revenue Operations, Customer Success, or Sales Enablement leadership roles.
Common questions
What is the difference between a BDR and an SDR?
The titles are often used interchangeably. In some organizations, BDRs focus on outbound prospecting to generate new business, while SDRs handle inbound leads generated by marketing. However, many companies use these titles synonymously, so it is important to review the specific responsibilities outlined in each job posting.
How is a BDR's performance typically measured?
BDRs are measured on activity metrics such as calls made, emails sent, and LinkedIn touches, as well as outcome metrics like meetings booked, qualified opportunities created, and pipeline value generated. Most organizations set monthly or quarterly quotas for meetings booked and pipeline contribution.
What does a typical day look like for a BDR?
A typical BDR day includes two to three hours of outbound calling, personalized email and LinkedIn outreach, researching target accounts, attending team standups, conducting discovery calls with interested prospects, and logging activities in the CRM. Many BDRs also participate in coaching sessions and role-play exercises to sharpen their skills.
Is previous sales experience required to become a BDR?
Most entry-level BDR positions do not require prior sales experience, though internships, customer service, or retail experience are advantageous. Hiring managers prioritize coachability, communication skills, resilience, and a genuine interest in learning the sales profession.
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