Business Development Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa

Upskill Universe; Cape Town; Remote; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Part time

Job summary

A leading educational company in South Africa seeks a Business Development Manager for a 6-month contract. This remote role involves consultative selling to enterprise clients, managing the sales cycle, and driving engagement through AI tools and digital strategies. Ideal candidates are entrepreneurial and skilled at building relationships with senior stakeholders across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Qualifications

• Proven success selling to enterprise clients in fast-paced environments.
• Ability to work independently and build own pipeline.
• Skilled at closing high-value deals.

Responsibilities

• Sell consultatively and craft tailored solutions.
• Identify and close new business opportunities.
• Manage the entire sales cycle from outreach to close.

Skills

Consultative selling

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Complex sales navigation

Entrepreneurial mindset

Tools

AI tools

Digital tools

Job description

At UpSkill Universe, we're on a mission to shape the future of work across Sub‑Saharan Africa.

We're looking for an entrepreneurial Business Development Manager on a 6‑month fixed‑term contract to help us grow our presence and win new enterprise clients. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on autonomy, sells consultatively, and knows how to plug into enterprise networks across markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

You’ll combine curiosity, creativity, and commercial acumen to connect with senior decision‑makers and help solve complex challenges through future skills and digital learning.

Role Highlights

• Sell consultatively, uncovering client needs and crafting tailored solutions that deliver real value
• Identify and close new business opportunities across enterprise clients in SSA
• Operate autonomously, managing the entire sales cycle from outreach to negotiation and close
• Use AI and digital tools to drive smarter prospecting, engagement, and pipeline management
• Leverage your networks and insights to stay plugged into key enterprise sectors and trends
• Travel occasionally across SSA to deepen relationships and close deals face‑to‑face

About You

• Proven success selling consultatively into enterprise clients, ideally in fast‑paced, growth‑focused environments
• Entrepreneurial and proactive, with the ability to work independently and build your own pipeline
• Excellent relationship‑building and communication skills, comfortable engaging senior stakeholders
• Skilled at navigating complex sales cycles and closing high‑value deals
• Passionate about AI, digital tools, and their potential to transform sales and learning
• Deep interest in the future skills landscape and social impact

This is a remote role with regional travel.

Help us unlock potential and shape the future of work across Africa.

Contract – 6‑month FTC