Business Development Manager - Retained Executive Search

Acara Solutions; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Acara Solutions in Bengaluru is seeking a senior Business Development professional to grow our retained executive search practice in India. The role focuses on building relationships with founders, CXOs, CHROs, and GCC heads, identifying leadership needs, and converting opportunities into exclusive mandates.

This is a consultative, long-cycle sales role, not volume staffing. Success depends on credibility, business understanding, and the ability to position retained search as a strategic

Qualifications

• 37 years of experience in business development / sales across retained executive search, executive recruitment, or professional services.
• Experience selling high-value, consultative services to CXOs and founders.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop opportunities for retained executive search engagements.
• Engage with CXOs, founders, CHROs, Heads of HR, GCC Leaders and Board members.
• Position search as a strategic advisory solution with governance, timelines and fees.
• Build long-term client relationships and drive repeat business.
• Represent the firm at industry events and leadership networking platforms.

Skills

Business development

Executive search

Leadership hiring

CXO engagement

Relationship building

Consultative selling

Strategic advisory

Job description

Location: Bangalore Experience: 37 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 understanding 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

• 37 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

• 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 firms 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