Cape Town: Corporate Partnerships & Business Development Manager (Jhb or CT based) posted by O’Brien Recruitment

Are you commercially astute, relationship-driven, and passionate about sustainability?

A globally respected conservation organisation is seeking a Corporate Partnerships Officer to help grow and strengthen its Business Network and corporate funding portfolio. This role is ideal for someone who understands the language of both boardrooms and impact, someone who can identify opportunity, build trust, and convert engagement into meaningful partnerships. This position can be based in either Gauteng or Cape Town.

This is not just relationship management. This is strategic corporate fundraising with purpose. Please kindly forward your CV to .za or apply here directly.

The Opportunity

The successful candidate will play a key role in:

• Identifying and acquiring new corporate partners
• Retaining and nurturing existing Business Network partners
• Securing unrestricted funding and in-kind contributions through CSR/CSI initiatives
• Growing and strengthening a national corporate network
• Supporting the development of transformational partnerships

You will be responsible for both strategic engagement and operational excellence, from researching prospects and conducting due diligence, to managing CRM systems and coordinating corporate events.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and research potential corporate partners
• Conduct sustainability and sector trend analysis
• Recruit corporates into the Business Network and grow membership
• Coordinate corporate meetings, Business Network events, and partner engagements
• Deepen and retain existing partnerships
• Manage administrative processes including S18A certificates, reporting, sponsorship documentation, and CRM updates
• Assist in proposal development and impact reporting
• Contribute to corporate communications materials
• Support fundraising campaigns and corporate engagement initiatives
• Drive employee engagement opportunities with corporate partners
• Secure additional financial and in-kind sponsorships as required
• Maintain and update CRM databases for effective portfolio management

What Were Looking For

• Degree in Marketing, Sales, Communications, Business Management, Sustainability or similar
• Minimum 5 years experience in corporate fundraising, business development, sustainability, marketing or corporate relations
• Experience in either the Non-Profit sector or corporate environment (essential)
• Strong understanding of CSR, CSI, BBBEE, Shared Value and sustainability frameworks
• Proven ability to engage senior stakeholders and influence decision-makers
• Demonstrated track record in fundraising, sales or corporate engagement
• Excellent research, negotiation, presentation and networking skills
• Strong administrative capability and CRM database experience
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• A self-driven, target-focused team player
• Genuine passion for conservation and sustainability

The Ideal Person

• You are commercially sharp but mission-led.
• You understand funding cycles and corporate motivations.
• You can confidently engage executives yet still manage the detail.
• You take ownership, work independently, and exceed targets.

Most importantly, you care deeply about impact, and you want your work to mean something.