Business Development Director

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

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.

About the Role
Reporting directly to the CEO, this Exco-level Business Development Director role is 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.

POSITION INFO:
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 and Living-sector real estate
• 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