Innovation & New Business Associate

iStore South Africa; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology retailer in Gauteng is seeking an Innovation & New Business Associate to drive new business initiatives and client proposals. This hands-on role requires excellent communication skills, strong organization, and a degree in Business or Marketing. Ideal candidates have 1-3 years of relevant experience and are excited about innovation.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years’ experience in business development, project coordination, or consulting.
• Experience or interest in entrepreneurship or innovation projects is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine client-facing proposals and presentations.
• Assist in launching new initiatives driven by the innovation team.
• Conduct market research on trends and consumer insights.
• Coordinate workshops and internal check-ins for new ideas.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Highly organized with attention to detail

Comfortable with ambiguity

Curious mindset with commercial thinking

Proficient in PowerPoint and Excel

Education

Degree in Business, Marketing, or related discipline

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

Job Description

The iStore is looking for a Innovation & New Business Associate that will play a key role in the innovation space, focusing on the development and implementation of new business initiatives, client proposals, and internal projects. It’s a hands-on, high-energy position that blends creativity, commercial thinking, and project coordination, perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative sales driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Client Proposals & Business Development Support

• Develop, refine and format impactful client-facing proposals and presentations.
• Coordinate follow-ups post client engagements, ensuring momentum and clarity on next steps.
• Work with internal teams to gather the necessary inputs, documentation and timelines for new business opportunities.
  
  

Project Coordination & Implementation

• Assist in launching new initiatives and pilots driven by the innovation team.
• Create structured action plans and manage the delivery of key project milestones.
• Track progress, manage task handovers, and ensure deadlines are met across teams.
  
  

Market Research & Idea Validation

• Conduct focused research on market trends, consumer insights, and competitive landscapes.
• Support the development of business cases and opportunity assessments through data collection, benchmarking, and concept testing.
  
  

Internal Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate and facilitate workshops, brainstorming sessions, and internal check-ins to evolve new ideas.
• Capture meeting notes, feedback, and next steps; translate ideas into actionable briefs or tasks.
• Act as the bridge between departments — including marketing, operations, legal, and product — to ensure alignment on innovation projects.
  
  

Education & Experience

• A degree in Business, Marketing, or a related commercial discipline.
• 1–3 years’ experience in business development, project coordination, consulting, or a commercial support role.
• Experience or interest in entrepreneurship, startups, or innovation projects will be an advantage.
  
  

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in proposal writing and presentations.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-moving projects.
• A curious mindset with strong commercial and analytical thinking.
• Proficient in PowerPoint, Excel or Google Sheets, and basic research tools.
  
  

At iStore, innovation is part of who we are, from how we serve our customers to the way we launch new ideas. This role offers the chance to be at the centre of new business thinking, working closely with leaders across the company. You’ll gain exposure to the full lifecycle of innovation: from idea to implementation.

If you're hungry to learn, eager to grow, and excited about creating the future, this is the place for you.

Apply