Business Development Director

SUMMARY:
Business Development Director Jobs Johannesburg North | PBSA | Co-Living | Built-to-Rent | Real Estate Investment

A leading property development company specialising in Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is seeking a commercially astute Business Development Director to drive strategic growth across the evolving Living-sector real estate market in South Africa.

This executive role is ideal for a Business Development Director, Head of Business Development, or Real Estate Investment Executive with experience in property development, real estate investment, portfolio growth, and commercial deal structuring.

POSITION INFO:
About the Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, this Exco-level Business Development Director role will be responsible for driving long-term growth strategy, new market entry, and revenue diversification across multiple residential real estate sectors.
You will lead expansion beyond PBSA into Co-Living, Built-to-Rent (BTR), Senior Living, third-party property management, asset management services, and PropTech / real estate software commercialisation.

Role Overview
The Business Development Director will:

• Identify and develop new real estate investment opportunities across Living-sector markets
• Lead geographic expansion strategies across South Africa and targeted international markets
• Structure and negotiate complex commercial property transactions
• Launch new residential property verticals aligned with market demand
• Expand third-party property and asset management services
• Drive commercialisation of property management software and real estate technology platforms
• Build strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and co-investment structures
• Present investment cases, financial models, and business strategies to Board and EXCO

• Develop opportunity pipelines across PBSA, Co-Living, Built-to-Rent (BTR), and Senior Living
• Evaluate new geographic markets for development and portfolio expansion
• Conduct feasibility studies, financial modelling, and market analysis
• Lead entry into new residential and mixed-use property sectors

• Structure, negotiate, and conclude complex commercial agreements
• Lead joint ventures, partnerships, and co-investment transactions
• Secure sustainable and value-accretive revenue streams
• Ensure governance, compliance, and commercial risk oversight

• Develop scalable property management and asset management platforms
• Engage with institutional investors, funds, and property stakeholders
• Expand third-party real estate portfolio management mandates

• Drive growth of real estate technology platforms and property management systems
• Improve product-market fit and customer adoption
• Support enterprise sales, onboarding, and system integration

• Build and lead high-performance business development teams
• Align cross-functional business units to support growth strategy
• Deliver Board-level reporting, investment memoranda, and performance insights
• Support succession planning and organisational capability development

• Real estate investment strategy and portfolio expansion
• Financial modelling, feasibility studies, and scenario planning
• Commercial structuring, deal negotiation, and transaction execution
• Market intelligence and competitive analysis
• Strategic partnerships and investor relations
• Property development and Living-sector trends (PBSA, BTR, Co-Living, Senior Living)
• Governance, compliance, and risk management
• Data-driven decision-making and analytics
• Technology-enabled real estate business models
• Executive communication and Board-level engagement

• Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Real Estate, Investment Management, or related field
• MBA or postgraduate qualification (advantageous)
• 10–15+ years’ experience in business development, real estate investment, or property development
• Proven track record of securing high-value commercial transactions
• Experience presenting to Boards, investors, and Executive Committees
• Strong understanding of student accommodation, Living-sector real estate, and market expansion
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in complex property environments

• Executive-level role within a high-growth property development group
• Opportunity to shape the future of Living-sector real estate in South Africa
• Drive expansion across PBSA, Built-to-Rent, Co-Living, and PropTech
• Work with institutional investors and strategic partners
• Lead innovation and scalable real estate platforms