Permanent - Business Development Consultant - Ekurhuleni (East Rand) - South Africa

Job Overview

• Responsible for driving sales growth, building and maintaining client relationships, and developing strategic partnerships.
• This role requires a proactive individual with a strong track record in business development, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects and clients simultaneously

Key Responsibilities:

Sales and Business Development:

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities to achieve sales targets and expand company's client base.
• Develop and implement sales strategies and plans to meet organisational goals.
• Conduct market research to identify trends, competitor activities, and potential areas for growth.

Client Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain strong, long-lasting client relationships.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for key clients, ensuring their needs are met and exceeded.
• Conduct regular client meetings to discuss their training needs and provide customised solutions.

Proposal and Contract Management:

• Prepare and present compelling proposals and presentations to prospective clients.
• Negotiate contracts and close agreements to maximise revenue.
• Ensure all proposals and contracts are compliant with company policies and standards.

Collaboration and Team Support:

• Work closely with the Business Development team to share insights, strategies, and best practices.
• Mentor and support junior team members to enhance their development and performance.
• Collaborate with other departments, including Projects and Finance, to ensure seamless project handovers and client satisfaction.

Reporting and Analysis:

• Track and report on sales performance metrics and KPIs.
• Provide regular updates to the Head of Business Development on sales activities, pipeline status, and market conditions.
• Analyse sales data to identify areas for improvement and develop action plans accordingly.

Pipeline & Financial & Commercial Acumen

• Manage the sales pipeline end-to-end, from lead to signed contract and handover.
• Maintain accurate, probability-weighted pipeline forecasts to support Finance and cash-flow planning.
• Clearly distinguish between leads, qualified opportunities, proposals, and signed deals.
• Ensure CRM accuracy, including stages, values, close dates, and decision-makers.
• Understand pricing, margins, and basic cost drivers.
• Assess commercial viability of opportunities, not just likelihood of closure.
• Work with Finance to price programmes appropriately and avoid margin erosion.
• Present opportunities in terms of revenue, gross profit, and cash impact.

Sector & Funding Awareness

• Demonstrate working knowledge of the skills development and funding environment
• Identify and support funded and donor-based opportunities
• Engage corporates as clients, sponsors, or ESD partners
• Translate client needs into viable, fundable training solutions

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in business development, sales, or a related role, preferably within the training and education sector.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets.
• Strong understanding of the sales process and dynamics.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and closing skills.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proficiency in CRM software and MS Office Suite.

Personal Attributes:

• Proactive and self-motivated with a strong sense of initiative.
• Results-oriented with a focus on achieving and exceeding targets.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically.
• Adaptable and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment