Strategic Partnerships & Growth Manager

The Unlimited; Durban; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company seeks a Strategic Partnerships & Growth Manager to spearhead the expansion of their annuity product portfolio. This role focuses on driving growth through innovative partnerships, product development, and strategic initiatives, contributing to the long-term value for South Africans.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in commercial, partnerships, or business development roles.
• Experience securing and scaling commercial deals.
• Solid understanding of annuity-based models or exposure to credit, insurance, or lifestyle products.

Responsibilities

• Identify, negotiate, and manage commercial partnerships.
• Lead product innovation alongside cross-functional teams.
• Monitor performance, optimise for scale, and drive ongoing channel success.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field

Job description

Ready to drive bold growth and meaningful impact through partnerships and innovation?

We’re looking for a Strategic Partnerships & Growth Manager to lead the expansion of The Unlimited’s annuity product portfolio. This role will be instrumental in unlocking new customer acquisition routes and revenue opportunities through innovative products and high-impact partnerships.

You’ll sit at the intersection of strategy, execution, and entrepreneurial thinking—contributing directly to our mission of creating real, long-term value for South Africans.

What You’ll Lead

You will drive strategic initiatives across four key growth streams:

Affinity Brand Partnerships: Engage with national retailers, digital platforms, and loyalty ecosystems

• Territory Partnerships: Activate high-footfall spaces such as malls, forecourts, and industrial parks
• B2B Partnerships: Build employer-based distribution through payroll and deduction models
• New Product Development: Innovate across annuity-linked products such as credit, lifestyle benefits, and embedded insurance
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, negotiate, and manage commercial partnerships that drive annuity growth
• Lead product innovation alongside cross-functional teams (product, pricing, operations, legal)
• Assess market and partner opportunities through feasibility and commercial analysis
• Ensure seamless integration of partnerships into operations, systems, and go-to-market campaigns
• Monitor performance, optimise for scale, and drive ongoing channel success
  
  

What You Bring

• 5+ years in commercial, partnerships, or business development roles (retail, fintech, telco, or insurance)
• Proven experience securing and scaling commercial deals with strong financial and strategic outcomes
• Solid understanding of annuity-based models or exposure to credit, insurance, or lifestyle products
• Strong business case development and strategic thinking capability
• A bias for action, with a sharp commercial mindset and a drive to deliver
  
  

Who You Are

• Entrepreneurial but grounded in execution
• Strategic, yet hands-on and outcome-focused
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and creating clarity
• Collaborative, bold, and committed to making things happen
  
  

Success Measures

• Number and impact of partnerships across Affinity, Territory, and B2B streams
• Customer acquisition, conversion, and revenue through partner channels
• Speed and effectiveness of product rollouts
• Efficiency and ROI of partnership-led growth