Business Development Director

SUMMARY:
A leading property development company specialising in Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is seeking a commercially astute and visionary Business Development Director to drive strategic growth across the evolving “Living” real estate sector.

This executive role will expand the organisation’s footprint beyond core student accommodation into complementary verticals including Co-Living, Built-to-Rent (BTR), Senior Living, third-party property management, asset management services, and real estate technology / business software commercialisation.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this role sits at Exco level and will be instrumental in shaping long-term growth strategy, new market entry, and revenue diversification across South Africa and targeted international markets.

POSITION INFO:

Role Overview

• Identify and develop new real estate investment opportunities within Living-sector property markets
• Lead geographic market expansion strategies
• Structure and negotiate complex commercial transactions
• Launch new residential product verticals aligned with PBSA
• Expand third-party real estate portfolio management services
• Commercialise and scale property management software solutions
• Build strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and co-investment platforms
• Present business cases, financial models, and investment proposals to the Board

Key Responsibilities

Growth Strategy & Market Expansion

• Develop structured opportunity pipelines in PBSA, Co-Living, BTR, and Senior Living
• Evaluate new geographic markets for residential development and management services
• Conduct feasibility studies, financial modelling, and scenario analysis
• Lead entry into new real estate verticals aligned with macro housing trends

Commercial Structuring & Deal Execution

• Structure, negotiate and conclude complex commercial agreements
• Lead joint venture and partnership negotiations
• Secure sustainable, value-accretive revenue streams
• Ensure governance, risk management, and compliance oversight

Third-Party Portfolio & Asset Management Growth

• Develop scalable property management and asset management services
• Engage institutional investors, funds, and property owners
• Expand external real estate portfolio management mandates

Business Software Commercialisation

• Drive growth of real estate technology platforms and property management software
• Enhance product-market fit and customer adoption
• Support enterprise sales, onboarding and operational integration

Executive Leadership

• Build and mentor high-performance teams
• Align cross-functional business units to eliminate silos
• Support succession planning and capability development
• Deliver board-level reporting, investment memoranda, and performance dashboards

Competencies & Technical Expertise

• Real Estate Investment Strategy
• Financial Modelling & Scenario Planning
• Commercial Structuring & Deal Economics
• Market Intelligence & Competitive Analysis
• Portfolio Growth & Geographic Expansion
• Property Development & Living-Sector Trends
• Strategic Partnerships & Investor Relations
• Governance & Commercial Risk Oversight
• Data-Driven Decision Making & Predictive Analytics
• Technology-Enabled Real Estate Business Models
• Executive Communication & Board Influence

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Real Estate, Investment Management or related field
• MBA or postgraduate qualification advantageous
• 10–15+ years’ senior experience in business development, property development, real estate investment, or growth strategy
• Proven track record of securing high-value commercial transactions
• Experience presenting investment cases to Boards and Executive Committees
• Strong understanding of student accommodation, living-sector real estate, portfolio management and market expansion
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams within complex property environments

Why Join?

• Executive-level influence within a growth-focused property group
• Opportunity to shape the future of Living-sector real estate in South Africa
• Drive innovation across PBSA, BTR, Co-Living and PropTech
• Build scalable, technology-enabled property platforms
• Partner with institutional investors and strategic stakeholders