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Business Development Manager Cover Letter Template

Professional template and example for Australian job applications

Business Development Manager Cover Letter Example

Dear Hiring Manager, I recently led a market expansion project that opened up two new regional channels in six months, growing pipeline by 38% and aligning product offerings with frontline needs. In that time I relied on clear planning, solid stakeholder management, and practical negotiation to convert early conversations into signed deals. I can bring that same level of focus to [Company Name], with an eye on steady growth and practical, repeatable processes. I’m comfortable with strategy development, market research, and building relationships that fuel long-term revenue. My approach balances prospecting with thoughtful account management, and I’m used to drafting proposals, negotiating contracts, and forecasting revenue with reliable weekly updates. I’m interested in how [Company Name] positions its products and how we can extend that value through targeted partnerships and disciplined execution. In practice, I’ve steered cross-functional teams to map customer needs, identify gaps, and prioritise opportunities. A recent project involved coordinating sales forecasting, client onboarding, and partner engagement across three regions, which significantly improved win rates and reduced cycle time. I kept conversations grounded in customer outcomes, tracked progress with clear milestones, and avoided over-promising. I’m available to discuss how I can contribute to [Company Name] and its growth plans. If convenient, I’d welcome a conversation to hear your priorities and share concrete ideas for the next quarter. Kind regards, [Your Name]

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What happens next: Our AI will match your skills to the job requirements, highlight relevant achievements, and create a compelling narrative that positions you as the ideal candidate.

Why This Business Development Manager Cover Letter Works

Opening Paragraph

Hook with specific achievement + role alignment

Skills Match

Maps experience to job needs + company research

STAR Example

Situation-Task-Action-Result with numbers

Professional Close

Forward momentum + availability

Key Requirements for Business Development Manager Roles

Essential Skills to Highlight

Make sure your cover letter demonstrates these key skills:

business developmentstrategic partnership managementmarket researchsales forecastingrelationship managementcontract negotiationproposal writingnetworking

Tip: Include specific examples of how you've used these skills in your STAR example paragraph.

Core Responsibilities to Address

Align your experience with these typical responsibilities:

  • Plans
  • organises
  • directs
  • controls and coordinates business development and strategic partnership activities within an organisation and externally. Identifies and generates new business opportunities to further improve market share and awareness by gaining an understanding of customers needs
  • and promoting goods and services to these customers. May manage some key customer accounts.
  • ...and more

Tip: Reference 2-3 of these responsibilities when describing your relevant experience.

Business Development Manager Cover Letter Best Practices

Structure (4 Paragraphs)

Opening (40-60 words): State the role and company, plus one compelling hook
Match (100-130 words): Map 2-3 achievements to their top requirements
Proof (80-100 words): One detailed STAR example with quantified results
Close (30-40 words): Confirm fit and invite discussion

Essential Requirements

  • • Length: 250-350 words (one A4 page)
  • • Australian English spelling and dates (DD/MM/YYYY)
  • • Address to specific person when possible
  • • No photos or personal details (DOB, etc.)

What Makes It Strong

  • • Specific achievements with numbers
  • • Company research in second paragraph
  • • Keywords from the job description
  • • Professional but personable tone

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • • Generic opening lines
  • • Repeating your CV chronologically
  • • Including salary unless asked
  • • Exceeding one page