Location: Bangalore

Experience: 3–7 years

Industry: Executive Search / Leadership Hiring / Professional Services

About the Role

We are looking for a Business Development professional to help grow our retained executive search practice in India. The role involves building relationships with senior stakeholders (Founders, CXOs, CHROs, GCC Heads), identifying leadership hiring needs and converting opportunities into exclusive retained search mandates. This is a consultative sales role, not transactional staffing sales. Success in this role depends on credibility, business understandin and the ability to represent senior leadership roles confidently in the market.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Client Acquisition

Identify and develop new business opportunities for retained executive search engagements
Engage with CXOs, Founders, CHROs, Heads of HR, GCC Leaders and Board members
Initiate conversations around leadership gaps, succession, confidential hiring and growth mandates
Convert warm leads, referrals and outbound conversations into retained or exclusive search assignments

Consultative Selling

Understand client organisations, business models, growth plans and leadership challenges
Position retained executive search as a strategic advisory solution, not a recruitment transaction
Present search methodology, timelines, governance and fee structures confidently
Work closely with recruiters to scope mandates and close engagements

Account Management & Relationship Building

Build long-term relationships with existing clients to generate repeat and referral business
Act as a trusted point of contact during early engagement and onboarding
Support cross-selling of leadership services where applicable

Market Intelligence & Networking

Track leadership movements, industry trends, funding activity and GCC expansion
Build a strong professional network across HR, founders, investors and business leaders in Bangalore and India
Represent the firm at industry events, HR forums and leadership networking platforms

Desired Candidate Profile

Experience & Background

3–7 years of experience in business development / sales in:
Retained executive search, or
Executive recruitment / leadership hiring, or
Professional services / consulting / HR advisory
Experience selling highvalue, consultative services is critical
Exposure to CXO / senior stakeholder conversations preferred

Skills & Competencies

Strong business acumen and ability to understand leadership requirements
Comfortable engaging with senior decision-makers
Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills
Ability to sell retained and exclusive search models (not contingent staffing)
High levels of maturity, discretion and professionalism
Entrepreneurial mindset with ownership orientation

What This Role Is NOT

To be clear, this role is not:

Volume staffing sales
Resumepushing or transactiondriven recruitment
KPIonly, coldcalling focused telesales

It is a relationshipdriven, trustbased, longcycle sales role.

Success Metrics

Number and value of retained search mandates closed
Quality and longevity of client relationships
Repeat business and referrals
Contribution to firm's leadership hiring pipeline

Ideal For Candidates Who:

Enjoy engaging with senior leadership and founders
Prefer quality conversations over highvolume selling
Aspire to grow into a Client Partner / Practice Lead role over time

Business Development Manager - Retained Executive Search