41402 Business development officers and market researchers and analysts

What this occupation covers

Business development officers and market researchers and analysts conduct research, provide statistical and analytical supports, identify market trends and potential opportunities, formulate policies and manage programs to stimulate industrial and commercial business investment or tourism in urban and rural areas, or to promote commercial or industrial products and services. They are employed by government departments, international organizations, marketing and analytics firms and business associations or may be self-employed.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 15 main duties for this code.

• Develop policies and administer programs to promote industrial and commercial business investment in urban and rural areas
• Design market research questionnaires
• Conduct social or economic surveys on local, regional or national areas to assess development potential and future trends
• Plan development projects and coordinate activities with representatives of a wide variety of industrial and commercial enterprises, community and business associations and government agencies
• Assess business opportunities and develop strategies to attract venture capital
• Respond to enquiries from members of the business community and general public concerning development opportunities
• Review and evaluate commercial or industrial development proposals and provide advice on procedures and requirements for government approval
• Conduct surveys and analyze data on the buying habits and preferences of wholesale or retail consumers
• Evaluate customer service and store environments
• Conduct research on consumers, competitors and the market place to identify trends to optimize marketing strategies for industrial and commercial products
• Analyze promotional and marketing campaigns to identify improvements
• Develop social and economic profiles of urban and rural areas to encourage industrial and commercial investment and development.
• Prepare reports, research papers, educational texts or articles
• Develop and apply E-commerce strategies
• Provide consultation on planning and starting of new businesses.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 3 of its 15 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 11202 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
• 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration
• 41401 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
• 11101 Financial and investment analysts
• 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
• 10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers
• 11109 Other financial officers
• 21202 Urban and land use planners

Excluded from this code

• Development officer - fundraising (See 11202 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations)
• Economic development director (See 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration)
• Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts (See 41401 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts)
• Financial and investment analysts (See 11101 Financial and investment analysts)
• International aid and development project officer (See 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers)
• Marketing manager (See 10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers)
• Other financial officers (See 11109 Other financial officers)
• Urban and land use planners (See 21202 Urban and land use planners)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

Aboriginal economic development officer · advertising analyst · agriculture and food sector development consultant · agriculture and food sector marketing consultant · agri-food sector marketing consultant · analyst - market research · area development officer - government · business development officer · business issues lobbyist · category sales analyst · commerce officer · commercial development officer - government · commercial research analyst · community development consultant · community economic development consultant · community economic development officer · economic development consultant · economic development officer · economic development officer - Aboriginal communities · economic forecaster · economic research officer · industrial commissioner · industrial development officer · industrial development representative

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in economics, commerce, business administration or public administration is required.
• Certification as a certified economic developer (Ec.D.) may be required.
• Certification as a Certified Marketing Research Professional (CMRP) may be required.