George: Business Development Manager / Partners (Pet) posted by DataFin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

JOIN the George-based team of one of SAs fastest growing Fintech brands seeking your expertise to fill the role of a Business Development Manager who will be responsible for is responsible for driving sustainable growth through the acquisition, onboarding and development of high-value strategic partners within insurance ecosystem. This role owns the full partner lifecycle from opportunity identification and commercial negotiation, through project planning, onboarding and launch, to ongoing performance management and optimisation. The role acts as a key advocate for partner success by ensuring alignment, execution, feedback management and measurable outcomes, while collaborating effectively across internal teams without role duplication.

DUTIES:

Partner Acquisition & Growth

• Identify, qualify and secure strategic pet-related business partners aligned to the groups growth strategy.
• Develop and execute business development plans to drive partner-led sales growth and market expansion.
• Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing structures and service terms to maximise long-term value and profitability.
• Lead project briefing and oversee partner-related project development and delivery.
• Maintain a structured framework documenting standard offerings, partner-specific agreements and contractual terms.
• Guide partners through onboarding with clear objectives, timelines and success metrics.
• Proactively address risks, resolve issues and maintain project momentum.
• Monitor success metrics and escalate concerns to senior management where required.
• Document best practices, refine partnership strategies and track market trends.

Relationship & Account Management

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with key partner stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary liaison between partners and internal teams to ensure alignment and delivery on agreed objectives.
• Develop a deep understanding of partner needs, challenges and opportunities to deliver value-added solutions.

Partner Onboarding & Execution

• Own the end-to-end onboarding process, ensuring seamless integration into systems, processes and operating model.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (operations, sales, marketing, projects, compliance and finance) to ensure successful launches.
• Ensure partners are fully enabled, trained and supported to perform effectively from day one and beyond.

Performance & Commercial Management

• Monitor, analyse and report on partner performance against agreed KPIs, SLAs and commercial targets.
• Manage financial forecasting, budget projections and revenue tracking for partner portfolios.
• Identify performance gaps and implement corrective actions to optimise outcomes.
• Oversee ongoing partner engagement, queries, training and post-onboarding support.

Market & Industry Engagement

• Stay informed on industry trends, competitor activity and regulatory developments within the pet and insurance sectors.
• Represent the company at industry events, conferences and networking opportunities to strengthen brand presence and partnerships.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing or a related field (preferred but not essential).
• Minimum 5 years experience in business development, partnerships or account management within insurance, financial services or a related industry.
• Proven track record as a dealmaker, successfully acquiring, implementing and launching commercial partnerships.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in contract negotiation and financial analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Highly organised with strong project management capability and attention to detail.
• Strong relationship-building, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate needs and manage risks effectively.
• Passion for client service delivery and partnership excellence.
• Computer literate with strong reporting and presentation skills.
• Own reliable vehicle and valid drivers licence.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively across all provinces.
• Animal lover, a genuine passion for pets is essential.