An international software technology company is hiring a Business Development and Solutions Executive

CareerWeb; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

CareerWeb seeks a commercially minded technology sales professional to drive business development, generate and qualify new opportunities, and manage the sales pipeline from initial engagement through to close.

You will translate client requirements into prototypes and tailored solutions, work with technical teams, and lead bid and proposal activities to demonstrate business value and accelerate deals across the South Africa market.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6–9 years’ experience in technology sales, pre‑sales, bid management or business development.
• Hands‑on experience with AI‑powered prototyping and development tools.
• Excellent written communication and ability to create compelling proposals and tender responses.
• Experience engaging with prospective clients at conferences and industry events.
• Strong CRM management and disciplined pipeline visibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead generation and pipeline development through targeted outbound campaigns and marketing collaboration.
• Attend conferences and events to generate new opportunities and arrange meetings with decision‑makers.
• Qualify leads, manage opportunities, and report pipeline status to drive commercial engagement.
• Coordinate bid, proposal and sales pursuit management from planning to submission, demos and client presentations.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, monitor pipeline performance and produce regular forecasts.

Skills

Outbound prospecting

CRM management

Pipeline management

Proposal development

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Business development

Tools

Claude

Cursor

v0

Job description

The technology consulting sales environment is rapidly evolving, with prospective clients conducting extensive research and evaluating potential service providers before engaging directly with sales teams. As artificial intelligence increasingly influences how requests for proposals (RFPs) are prepared and evaluated, businesses must combine proactive sales development with the ability to demonstrate value through rapid prototyping and practical solution design.

We are seeking a commercially minded technology sales professional who can drive business development, generate and qualify new opportunities, and manage the sales pipeline from initial engagement through to successful deal closure.

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying prospective clients, maintaining consistent outbound sales activity, developing qualified opportunities and coordinating the preparation of compelling proposals and RFP submissions. Working closely with technical and delivery teams, they will help translate client requirements into tangible prototypes and tailored solutions that demonstrate business value, strengthen client confidence and accelerate the sales process.

This role requires a proactive, results-driven individual who combines strong commercial acumen, disciplined pipeline management, excellent stakeholder engagement and the ability to create sales momentum throughout the entire business development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Lead Generation and Pipeline Development

• Research target markets and develop personalised outbound email campaigns to engage prospective clients and generate new business opportunities.
• Work closely with the marketing team to strengthen the organisation’s LinkedIn presence, share relevant insights, promote service offerings and initiate conversations with potential clients.
• Identify and engage key decision-makers within target organisations to build relationships and develop a sustainable sales pipeline.
• Maintain consistent prospecting activity and track lead generation efforts to support business growth.

Conference and Event-Based Business Development

• Use industry conferences, networking events and professional forums as key channels for generating new business opportunities.
• Develop targeted prospect lists and arrange meetings with relevant decision-makers before and during events.
• Follow up promptly after events to convert initial discussions into meaningful engagements and qualified sales opportunities.
• Monitor the effectiveness of event-led business development and refine follow-up strategies to improve conversion rates.

Client Discovery and Opportunity Qualification

• Conduct initial discussions with prospective clients to understand their business challenges, objectives and technology requirements.
• Evaluate opportunities based on commercial viability, budget, decision-making processes, project timelines and alignment with the organisation’s capabilities.
• Qualify leads effectively, prioritising high-potential opportunities and filtering out those that do not meet business criteria.
• Manage opportunities throughout the early sales cycle, ensuring accurate pipeline reporting and clear progression towards commercial engagement.

Rapid Prototyping and Solution Demonstration

• Leverage AI-assisted development tools to create interactive prototypes that demonstrate proposed solutions and business value within short timeframes.
• Translate client requirements into tangible concepts and working demonstrations that help prospects visualise potential outcomes.
• Collaborate with technical and delivery teams to develop more advanced proof-of-concept solutions where detailed technical assessment or validation is required.
• Use prototypes and demonstrations to strengthen client engagement, validate requirements and support the development of compelling proposals.
• Stay informed about emerging AI development tools and techniques to improve prototyping speed, enhance sales effectiveness and differentiate the organisation’s technology consulting services.

Bid, Proposal and Sales Pursuit Management

• Lead the complete bid management process, from planning and solution development through to proposal submission, demonstrations and client presentations.
• Collaborate with technical, delivery and commercial stakeholders to develop tailored solutions and compelling proposals that address client needs and demonstrate measurable business value.
• Coordinate internal workshops and working sessions to gather technical input, develop pricing models, refine solution approaches and ensure alignment across all contributors.
• Organise prototype demonstrations, solution walkthroughs and presentation rehearsals to ensure the team is well prepared for client engagements.
• Develop persuasive bid responses and presentations that clearly articulate the proposed solution, commercial value proposition and competitive differentiation.
• Manage bid schedules, internal deliverables and stakeholder responsibilities to ensure submissions are accurate, professionally presented and delivered within agreed deadlines.
• Maintain strong client engagement throughout the sales and procurement process, ensuring effective communication, timely responses and a positive experience from initial engagement through to contract award.

CRM Management and Pipeline Reporting

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive CRM records covering leads, opportunities, client interactions, follow-up activities and agreed actions.
• Monitor sales pipeline performance, opportunity progression and conversion rates to identify risks, bottlenecks and areas requiring intervention.
• Prepare regular pipeline reports and sales forecasts, providing management with visibility of current opportunities, anticipated revenue and business development performance.
• Ensure consistent follow-up with prospects and internal stakeholders to maintain engagement and advance opportunities towards closure.
• Apply disciplined sales administration and reporting practices to support reliable forecasting, accountability and sustainable revenue growth.

The ideal profile

We are looking for a commercially driven individual who combines technical aptitude, strong communication skills and a genuine passion for business development. We value capability, initiative and potential over previous job titles, and welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds who can demonstrate the right balance of technical understanding and sales ability.

Potential candidates may include:

• Technical Consultants or Developers: Individuals with a solid technical foundation who want to transition into a commercial role, develop their sales expertise and take responsibility for generating revenue and building client relationships.
• Sales Engineers or Pre‑Sales Specialists: Professionals experienced in technical demonstrations, proposal development, RFP responses and engaging with technical stakeholders who are ready to take on broader sales responsibilities and greater ownership of the commercial process.
• Technology Business Development Professionals: Candidates with proven experience in outbound prospecting, opportunity qualification and pipeline development, together with practical proficiency in modern AI‑assisted development tools and rapid prototyping.

Experience

• A minimum of 6–9 years’ relevant experience in technology sales, pre‑sales, bid management, business development or consulting, with a strong focus on commercial outcomes and revenue growth.
• Demonstrable experience leading or contributing significantly to competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Information (RFI) processes.
• Proven ability to identify and generate new business opportunities through outbound prospecting and proactive sales initiatives. Candidates should be able to quantify their sales achievements and demonstrate how they have contributed to business growth.
• Hands‑on experience with AI‑powered prototyping and development tools, such as Claude, Cursor, v0 or equivalent platforms. The ability to demonstrate practical proficiency by developing a working prototype during the interview process is required.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce compelling, well‑structured proposals, tender responses and client‑facing communications.
• Experience engaging with prospective clients at conferences and industry events, including arranging meetings beforehand and converting contacts into qualified sales opportunities afterwards.
• Strong CRM management skills, with a disciplined approach to maintaining pipeline visibility, tracking sales activities and working towards measurable performance targets.
• Advantageous: Experience within capital markets, structured finance, commercial real estate or financial services technology.