Job Description

The Business Development Manager (BDM) is a key strategic role responsible for driving growth and identifying new business opportunities across all business units (BUs) within the Group. This individual will actively manage the pipeline, develop customer value propositions, lead negotiations, and foster partnerships that maximize revenue potential. The BDM will play a crucial part in ensuring cross-functional collaboration, facilitating the successful launch of new initiatives, and maintaining robust governance standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

Opportunity Identification & Qualification:
Spearhead the identification, qualification, and prioritization of high-potential business opportunities across all BUs to drive revenue growth and market expansion.

Business Development & Pipeline Management:
Lead the development and nurturing of prospective business for the Group, ensuring seamless tracking and conversion of the sales pipeline. Collaborate with relevant BUs and departments to maximize conversion rates and optimize business development efforts.

Cross-Unit Liaison & Coordination:
Serve as the key liaison for complex business opportunities involving multiple BUs, ensuring smooth coordination, resource allocation, and integration across various stakeholders.

Customer Value Proposition & Business Model Development:
Work closely with BUs to design compelling customer value propositions and innovative business models for entering new markets. This includes collaborating on partnerships, distribution channels, and other strategies outside the scope of each BU but critical to the Group's growth.

Business Case Development & Approval:
Take ownership of developing comprehensive business cases for newinitiatives, securing internal buy-in, and navigating the approval process for project implementation in alignment with the Group's strategic objectives.

Market Entry & Negotiations:
Lead strategic negotiations and facilitate the Group’s entry into new markets, ensuring the optimal positioning of the business within competitive landscapes.

Integration & Synergy Creation:
Collaborate with existing business units to identify synergies, integrate new business opportunities, and align initiatives to existing business models, fostering innovative solutions and complementary offerings.

Strategic Marketing & Distribution Alignment:
Ensure marketing, distribution, and communication strategies are aligned with the Group’s overarching goals. Oversee the development of campaigns that effectively promote new initiatives while maintaining brand integrity and governance standards.

Service Level & Partner Management:
Define and monitor service levels for business development activities, including overseeing agreements with service providers and partners. Take proactive measures to address any deviations from agreed service levels to ensure optimal outcomes.

Governance & Financial Control:
Establish and enforce the necessary governance frameworks, financial controls, and reporting mechanisms for new initiatives, ensuring compliance and alignment with corporate objectives.

Stakeholder Relationship Management:
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including potential partners, industry influencers, and market leaders. Leverage networks to identify market trends, business opportunities, and best practices that benefit the BU and the Group.

Team Leadership & Innovation:
Create an inspiring environment for the Business Development team and colleagues across BUs, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high-performance delivery, based on Old Mutual Group values. Motivate the team to consistently meet objectives while driving creativity and excellence in execution.

Qualifications and Experience

Requirements: Skills, Qualifications and Experience required

An advanced Business degree or similar degree is essential
An MBA or similar will be advantageous
Proven track record in business development, sales, or strategic partnerships, preferably within the financial services industry.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive results in a complex and dynamic business environment.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
High level of financial acumen, with experience in business case development and financial oversight.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate, and drive a team toward achieving business objectives. Strong business acumen and commercialization understanding
Competencies

Strategic Thinking
Market Analysis & Trend Identification
Stakeholder Management & Networking
Leadership & Team Development
Financial Planning & Governance
Negotiation & Deal Structuring
Cross-functional Collaboration
Skills

Building Trust, Business Models, Business Opportunities, Change Management, Client Needs Assessments, Commercial Acumen, Consultative Selling, Customer Service, Customer Understanding, Customer Value Proposition Development, Direct Selling, Executing Plans, Identifying Sales Opportunities, Leadership, Oral Communications, Sales Software, Strengthening Customer Relationships
Competencies

Builds Effective Teams
Builds Networks
Collaborates
Communicates Effectively
Customer Focus
Drives Results
Drives Vision and Purpose
Financial Acumen
Education

NQF Level 9 – Masters