Business Development Manager South Africa

Facephi; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a strategic member for its Commercial team in South Africa. The successful candidate will spearhead partnership development and manage commercial activities, ensuring client satisfaction while driving regional growth in the digital identity and engagement sectors. The role offers flexibility, a collaborative environment, and a focus on personal development within a dynamic setting.

Benefits

Work-from-home flexibility

Flexible working hours

Personalised career development plan

Innovative team culture

Job stability in a fast-growing company

Qualifications

• Proven experience in developing business strategies across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Deep understanding of digital identity, biometrics or fintech sectors.
• Experience negotiating complex deals with C-level executives.

Responsibilities

• Identify and build strategic relationships with key Partners and Clients.
• Manage due diligence and onboarding processes for new Partners.
• Negotiate and adjust the terms of commercial agreements.

Skills

Negotiation

Partner Management

Commercial Strategy

Interpersonal Skills

Communication

Customer-Centric Mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

MBA preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Sales Navigator

Job description

Do you want an opportunity to be part of our Commercial team?

Are you passionate about tackling challenges and pushing your professional boundaries?

At Facephi, we are looking to expand our Commercial capability in Central and South Africa to serve a growing wave of interest in what we do. If you understand the Identity, Digital Customer Engagement, and Partner Ecosystem Development space, and have a passion for driving regional growth, we would love to hear from you!

What will you focus on?

• Identify and build strategic relationships with key Partners and Clients in the assigned region, across different business verticals.
• Manage the evaluation, due diligence, and onboarding process for new Partners and Clients, coordinating closely with legal, finance, and product teams.
• Negotiate and adjust the terms of commercial agreements in collaboration with the legal department, ensuring a balanced distribution of responsibilities.
• Cultivate strong, long-lasting relationships with Partners and Clients, ensuring high levels of satisfaction while representing Facephi’s interests.
• Support and coordinate Partner marketing activities, including events, campaigns, and customised marketing actions aligned to regional objectives.
• Explore and identify new business opportunities with both existing and potential Partners, driving revenue growth across financial and non-financial sectors.
• Collaborate closely with the regional Identity Solutions Managers and commercial teams to help close deals and achieve regional goals.
• Develop and execute account plans and specific strategies to strengthen Facephi’s presence in South Africa and surrounding regions.
• Conduct Partner enablement activities such as training sessions, product updates, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Monitor and analyse Partner and Client performance, providing regular updates to senior leadership and suggesting improvement strategies.
• Support the regional strategic planning process, set quantitative goals, and track progress toward achieving KPIs.
• Actively engage in cross-departmental projects and initiatives that support company-wide growth and innovation.

What do we offer our team?

• Become an integral member of a close-knit professional family, surrounded by individuals who inspire and collaborate with one another.
• Innovative, young, and transparent team culture.
• Job stability within a fast-growing, international technology company.
• Full-time permanent contract.
• Work-from-home flexibility.
• Flexible working hours to promote a healthy work-life balance.
• Personalised career development and growth plan.
• A dynamic environment where your ideas, initiative, and leadership are valued.
• At Facephi we are committed to diversity and equal opportunities.

Requirements:

• Proven experience in developing business strategies and managing commercial activities across Sub-Saharan Africa (Central & South Africa focus).
• Deep understanding of the digital identity, biometrics, fintech, or digital customer engagement sectors.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and closing complex commercial deals with C-level executives.
• Expertise in Partner Management, Ecosystem Development, and indirect sales models.
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of contract structures and legal negotiation frameworks.
• Experience with CRM platforms such as Salesforce and tools like Sales Navigator.
• Ability to lead, develop, and motivate multicultural and cross-functional teams remotely.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong customer-centric mindset, always aiming to deliver solutions that fit clients' evolving needs.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of French or Portuguese is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Law, or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Strong commitment to ethical conduct, internal compliance, and organisational values.