Johannesburg: Business Unit Lead – Sales posted by DataFin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

Our Client is seeking a Business Unit Lead – Sales which is a senior commercial leadership position responsible for driving the growth and strategic direction of a business unit within a hypergrowth environment. The role focuses on attracting and developing top talent, establishing scalable sales operations, and building key market relationships to accelerate revenue and market share. This position requires a balance of strategic vision, operational discipline, and stakeholder influence to ensure sustainable and compliant growth.

DUTIES:

• Strategy & Growth Leadership: Develop and execute the business unit’s commercial strategy to achieve aggressive growth targets. Align the sales strategy with overall company objectives and market opportunities.
• Talent & Team Development: Attract, hire, develop, and retain high-calibre commercial talent suited to a fast-paced, scaling environment. Foster a high-performance culture through coaching, mentorship, and clear performance management.
• Sales Operations & Governance: Design, implement, and optimise scalable sales processes, forecasting methodologies, and operating rhythms. Establish clear governance to ensure efficiency, compliance, and accurate pipeline management.
• Stakeholder & Market Engagement: Act as the senior commercial interface for key clients, strategic partners, and major accounts. Collaborate closely with cross-functional leadership in Product, Marketing, Finance, and Operations to ensure alignment and drive integrated growth initiatives.
• Commercial Execution & P&L Management: Assume full accountability for the business unit’s Profit & Loss (P&L), driving revenue growth while managing costs and ensuring profitability. Oversee complex contracting and negotiation processes.
• Governance & Risk Management: Ensure all commercial activities adhere to financial, legal, and ethical standards. Drive disciplined execution while maintaining organisational agility, effectively balancing risk management with the enablement of innovation.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven track record of at least 8-10 years in senior sales or commercial leadership roles, with significant experience in a hypergrowth or fast-scaling technology environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing sales strategies that have consistently exceeded revenue targets.
• Extensive experience in full P&L management, financial planning, and complex deal negotiation.
• Strong background in building, mentoring, and leading high-performing commercial teams.
• Experience in designing and implementing scalable sales processes, CRM systems, and performance management frameworks.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with experience engaging at C-level both internally and externally.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Results-Driven Mindset: Intensely focused on achieving and exceeding commercial objectives.
• Strategic Leader: Possesses strong strategic thinking and planning capabilities with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Relationship Builder: Excellent at cultivating and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships with clients, partners, and internal teams.
• Resilient & Adaptable: Thrives under pressure and can navigate ambiguity and rapid change inherent in a hypergrowth setting.
• High Integrity & Professionalism: Operates with unwavering ethics and professionalism, serving as a credible representative of the business unit and the wider organisation.