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.