Market Development Manager

Alliance Abroad South Africa; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic international organisation seeks a Market Development Manager in South Africa. This role leads a sales team, builds partnerships with culinary and hospitality schools, and engages alumni as advocates. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in international education and proven sales experience. You will have the opportunity to innovate and make a meaningful impact in cultural exchange programs. This position is full-time, offering a mid-senior level role with a focus on sales and business development.

Qualifications

• Experience in international education, recruitment, hospitality, or mobility programmes.
• Experience working with alumni or community-engagement networks.
• Proven experience leading a sales or recruitment team.
• Strong background in business development, partnerships, or market growth.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence working with performance data and CRM systems.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-moving global environment.
• Knowledge of South Africa’s education, skills, and talent landscape (or willingness to learn fast).

Responsibilities

• Lead a regional sales team to meet recruitment and placement targets.
• Build and manage partnerships with culinary schools and colleges.
• Support alumni events and community-building activities.

Skills

International education recruitment

Sales team leadership

Relationship building

Business development

CRM skills (HubSpot)

Sales leadership

Partnership development

CRM data

HubSpot

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

Market Development Manager

About Alliance Strategies

Alliance Strategies is the parent company behind the brands we know and work with every day. Alliance Abroad, GeoVisions, Stepwest, Stepabroad, Wild Packs, and Teacher Lounge. Together, we’re part of a global team committed to creating life‑changing work, study, and cultural exchange experiences.

Across our offices in 10 countries, we support participants, partners, and host organisations by connecting great people with meaningful opportunities. Whether it’s helping a teacher move to the US, a student land their first internship abroad, or a resort fill key roles with international talent, everything we do is about building pathways that make a real difference.

Position Summary

We’re looking for a dynamic Market Development Manager to lead growth for Alliance Abroad in South Africa. This role combines sales leadership, partner development, and alumni engagement to build strong, sustainable recruitment pipelines across the region. You’ll manage and motivate a regional sales team to deliver strong results, build trusted relationships with culinary and hospitality schools, and re‑energise our alumni community so they become active ambassadors and referral partners. You’ll play a leading role in shaping South Africa as a key growth market within a global organisation that believes deeply in cultural exchange, opportunity creation, and international career pathways. You’ll have room to innovate, build relationships that matter, and make a genuine impact.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and support a regional sales team to meet recruitment and placement targets on a range of cultural exchange programmes.
• Strengthen the candidate journey and improve conversion across the sales funnel.
• Ensure disciplined use of CRM and insightful reporting.

Feeder Institutions & Partnerships

• Build and manage partnerships with culinary schools, hospitality colleges, universities, and training institutions.
• Develop structured recruitment flows through these relationships.
• Represent Alliance Abroad at meetings, events, and industry engagements.

Alumni Engagement & Activation

• Support alumni events, referral initiatives, and community‑building activities.
• Turn alumni into advocates, referrers, and supporters of new candidates.
• Work closely with global marketing, operations, and programme teams.
• Share market insight, trends, and opportunities to shape ongoing strategy.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Experience in international education, recruitment, hospitality, or mobility programmes.
• Experience working with alumni or community‑engagement networks.
• Proven experience leading a sales or recruitment team.
• Strong background in business development, partnerships, or market growth.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Confidence working with performance data and CRM systems (HubSpot).
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑moving global environment.
• Knowledge of South Africa’s education, skills, and talent landscape (or willingness to learn fast).

Work Schedule

Monday to Friday

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Sales and Business Development

Industries

Human Resources Services