A chief business development officer (CBDO) is a function within a company established beside the other executive functions like CEO

Chief executive officer

A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...

 or COO

Chief operating officer

A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...

.
The title is used to define a high ranking position alongside the CEO. The CBDO is expected to have a broad and comprehensive knowledge of all matters related to the business of the organization with an eye towards identifying new sales perspectives and driving business growth and requirements for product development that will be coordinated with R&D function.

Responsibilities can include:

• Elaborate business development plans, design and implement processes to support business growth, through customer and market definition.
• Facilitate business growth by working together with clients as well as business partners (suppliers, subcontractors, JV partners, technology providers, etc.).
• Build and maintain high-level contacts with current and prospective customer and other business and project partners.
• Drive prospects through to contract award (including identifying new customers and markets, developing approaches to the market, identifying prospects, proposal preparation, etc.)
• Develop marketing strategy, manage proposal teams and client account managers.