Merchant Acquisition Executive

Entertainer Fz; Mbombela; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital incentive company is seeking a Merchant Acquisition Executive in Mbombela, South Africa. Responsibilities include acquiring new merchants, managing sales cycles, and building strong relationships with partners. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and 3–5 years of relevant experience, with strong negotiation skills and proficiency in CRM tools like Salesforce. This position requires a proactive approach and deep knowledge of the local business environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3–5 years' experience in sales, merchant acquisition, or account management.
• Proven track record of achieving and exceeding sales targets.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Acquire new merchants and strengthen existing partnerships across multiple categories.
• Manage the full sales cycle — from prospecting and pitching to negotiation and closure.
• Onboard and train merchants to ensure they understand how to use the platform effectively.

Skills

Sales negotiation

Relationship management

Customer focus

Data-driven decision making

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Salesforce

MS Office

Job description

About Us

The ENTERTAINER is a leading digital company whose main goal is to add value to consumers by bringing them the best incentive offers globally.

We are a data-driven, digital, tech company.

Providing first-rate offers across renowned dining, leisure, entertainment and hotel brands worldwide, the ENTERTAINER has grown with the aim of creating unbeatable value and loyalty everywhere we go.

We believe that "experience is everything", resulting in our passion for creating unforgettable experiences for both our customers, partners and employees.

Overview of the role

As a Merchant Acquisition Executive, you will play a key role in expanding and managing our network of merchant partners across South Africa. This includes identifying new opportunities, building strong relationships, and ensuring long‑term, mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver value to both our merchants and our users. The role is fast‑paced, target‑driven, and ideal for someone who loves being out in the market — meeting people, pitching creative ideas, and bringing businesses on board.

Responsibilities

• Acquire new merchants and strengthen existing partnerships across multiple categories, including dining, leisure, beauty, fitness, and entertainment.
• Proactively identify potential merchants through market visits, networking, and outreach.
• Manage the full sales cycle — from prospecting and pitching to negotiation and closure.
• Verify, collect, and process all required documentation related to merchant agreements and offers.
• Onboard and train merchants to ensure they understand how to use the platform effectively.
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams (content, operations, marketing, finance) to ensure smooth onboarding and ongoing merchant satisfaction.
• Monitor merchant performance, feedback, and redemptions to ensure retention and engagement.
• Support merchants throughout the year with tactical campaigns and promotional initiatives.
• Track and report daily activities, progress against KPIs, and deal status updates.
• Conduct in‑trade compliance checks and maintain up‑to‑date market knowledge, including competitor activities and trends.

What you'll enjoy and succeed in this job if

• You are persistent – you don't take "no" for an answer and easily come up with a solid argument and negotiate professionally; you go above and beyond to get what you need.
• You are customer focused – you listen, you understand, you are able to determine your clients' needs and deliver speedy and quality results that will benefit both parties.
• You demonstrate initiative – you don't have to be told to get your 'feet on the street' and start signing new merchants; you are able to work independently without a close supervision from your manager and do not have to be chased for results.
• You are highly organized – you are detail oriented and excellent at prioritizing to get things done in a fast‑paced environment; you're not easily overwhelmed and able to look after multiple accounts at the same time.
• You are data driven – you love using data to create case studies & make projections and present them to the clients.
• You are a great communicator – you love meeting new people and building relationships with them; you can start a conversation with anyone at any time, you know how to communicate tactfully, whatever the situation and adapt accordingly.
• You are highly adaptable – you welcome change and have the ability to problem solve, prioritise and execute within short time frames.

Qualification and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Minimum of 3–5 years' experience in sales, merchant acquisition, or account management.

Proven track record of achieving and exceeding sales targets.

Experience in hospitality, lifestyle, retail, or FMCG industries is highly advantageous.

Strong negotiation, analytical, and relationship management skills.

Proficiency in MS Office and CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce).

Excellent communication skills in English; other local languages are an advantage.

Must have a valid driver's license and access to own transport.

Deep knowledge of the local business environment and trends in your territory.