Hybrid Business Development Manager

at Allied Talent Partners

• Job title: Business Development Manager
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior, Lead
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Johannesburg, South Africa

About the role

• Business Development Manager at Allied Talent Partners, focusing on client growth and project development in Africa's climate sector.

Responsibilities

• Overall Business Development Strategy Development
• Support the Director of Business Development in translating ATP's growth vision and organizational goals into a clear, phased business development strategy.
• Partner with the Director to define client segmentation frameworks, prioritize target sectors, and identify key accounts and partnerships that advance ATP's commercial objectives.
• Integrate insights from external research partners, internal delivery teams, and leadership discussions into a cohesive strategic plan that informs business development execution.
• Develop and maintain structured work plans, timelines, and reporting tools to track progress against strategic deliverables, surfacing insights and risks to the Director as needed.
• Provide operational continuity for business development initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment while leading day-to-day execution of plans and activities with Director input.
• Client Growth and Prospect Strategy
• Lead the design and execution of structured account strategies for approximately priority clients, focusing on growth, relationship deepening, and project pipeline expansion.
• Develop phased account plans outlining objectives, commercial priorities, and partnership opportunities.
• Capture and codify client learnings and engagement practices into standardized templates and playbooks for scalability.
• Lead the development of targeted outreach and re-engagement plans for high-potential prospects - both dormant and new - based on ATP's strategic priorities and capacity.
• Collaborate with the Director to refine prospect messaging, sequencing, and engagement tactics across target sectors and regions.
• Ensure prospect activities are timed and resourced effectively in line with available delivery capacity and market conditions.
• Execution and Pipeline Management
• Lead structured outreach across clients and prospects to identify, qualify, and validate new opportunities.
• Develop high-quality client-facing materials, including proposals and project briefs, in collaboration with the Director to refine value propositions and ensure alignment with ATP's mission, tone, and commercial priorities.
• Lead day-to-day client relationship management across priority accounts and prospects to ensure consistent engagement and the capture of client learnings.
• Coordinate with the Delivery and Talent teams to scope project requirements, manage submissions through to close, and lead final negotiations with clients to ensure a seamless transition from business development to delivery.
• Tracking, Learning, and Collaboration
• Monitor engagement and conversion metrics, analyzing results to refine strategies and improve future execution.
• Capture client and partner feedback to strengthen ATP's learning loop and inform iterative improvement.
• Pilot and coordinate new tools, templates, and processes to enhance efficiency and consistency across business development operations.
• Act as a conduit between external research partners, internal delivery teams, and the Director to ensure insight integration and strategic continuity.
• Support the Director in institutionalizing best practices and frameworks that can scale as ATP's business development function grows.

Requirements

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a top-tier university with consistent outstanding academic record; Advanced degree or MBA is preferred.
• 8 years overall experience, with 5+ years in business development, account management, or client success within professional services, recruitment, or HR consulting.
• Proven success in growing client portfolios, developing relationships, and driving revenue growth in nascent and/or complex sectors and geographies.
• Experience working in or directly with one or more of the following industries: DFIs (e.g., World Bank, AfDB, IFC), intergovernmental organizations (e.g., UNEP, UNECA), bilateral aid agencies (e.g., USAID, GIZ). (highly preferred)
• Operating Companies in Climate/Clean Energy in Africa: Renewable energy companies, climate startups, or conventional energy firms and corporations looking for climate-related solutions.
• Professional Services, Development Platforms and Investment Firms: Management consulting / advisory firms; Investment firms and funders in the climate space; Infrastructure developers / platforms focused on large-scale funding and development of climate-related projects.
• Proven record of high performance and substantial achievements in your past positions.
• Expertise in consultative sales and business development methodologies.
• Proficiency in using CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) for pipeline management and reporting.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and market trends to drive strategic decisions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to act as a thought partner to clients, understanding their business needs and tailoring solutions effectively.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with Africa-focused markets and experience working across diverse cultural and geographical contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse team, drive performance, and foster a collaborative and results-driven culture in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and deliver impactful presentations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a strong ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and clients.
• Excited about working in a mission-driven organization that combines commercial and social impact goals.
• Comfortable working with an international team across Africa and beyond.
• Willingness to travel across Africa and internationally.
• Proficiency in French or other languages relevant to ATP’s target markets is an added advantage.
• Interest in being part of a growing, dynamic team