Business Development Manager - Retained Executive Search

Acara Solutions India, An Aleron Company; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Acara Solutions India, An Aleron Company is seeking a Business Development professional to 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 consultative sales role demands credibility, business understanding and the ability to represent senior leadership roles confidently in the

Qualifications

• Experience in selling retained executive search or leadership hiring services.
• Ability to engage with CXOs, founders and senior decision-makers.
• Proven track record in building long-term client relationships and delivering strategic advisory solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities for retained executive search engagements.
• Engage with CXOs, founders, CHROs, HR leaders and board members to identify leadership needs.
• Position search engagements as strategic advisory services and scope mandates with recruiters.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Executive search

Consultative selling

Relationship building

Job description

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
• 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
• Experience selling high-value, consultative services is critical
• Exposure to CXO / senior stakeholder conversations preferred
• 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:

• Resume-pushing or transaction-driven recruitment
• KPI-only, cold-calling focused telesales

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 high-volume selling
• Aspire to grow into a Client Partner / Practice Lead role over time