SUMMARY:
Executive Director: Growth & New Ventures
We are seeking a
highly entrepreneurial Executive Director to originate, build, and scale new business opportunities.
This is a
venture-building role, not a traditional business development or sales position. We are specifically looking for someone who has
created, built, or significantly scaled a business, division, or revenue stream — and understands what it takes to turn an idea into a commercially viable operation.
POSITION INFO:
The Opportunity
You will be responsible for identifying new markets, validating opportunities, structuring strategic deals, and building scalable operating models from the ground up.
This role requires a rare combination of
commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and hands-on execution — someone equally comfortable in the boardroom and in the detail of building a business.
Key Responsibilities
- Originate and evaluate new business opportunities, ventures, and partnerships
- Assess commercial viability, risk, and scalability of opportunities
- Structure, negotiate, and conclude complex commercial transactions
- Build and implement fit-for-purpose operating models for new ventures
- Develop and present investment cases to Board and Executive Committees
- Drive market expansion and portfolio growth strategies
- Lead cross-functional teams to execute, launch, and scale initiatives
Minimum Requirements
- South African citizen
- 10–15+ years’ experience in entrepreneurial, venture-building, or commercial leadership roles
- Proven track record of building, scaling, or turning around a business, division, or significant revenue stream
- Founder, co-founder, or start-up/scale-up experience highly advantageous
- Strong experience in structuring and closing complex commercial agreements
- Experience engaging at Board and Executive level
- Deep commercial understanding of growth, profitability, and value creation
Non-Negotiable Profile
We are looking for someone who:
- Has an owner’s mindset — takes full accountability for outcomes
- Has built something from scratch or scaled something meaningfully
- Is opportunity-led, not target-led
- Thrives in ambiguity, pace, and change
- Is highly resourceful and able to execute without extensive support structures
- Thinks in terms of business models, not just deals
- Brings a broad, cross-industry perspective
This Role Is Not For
- Traditional sales professionals
- Career business development managers focused on pipeline or client acquisition
- Candidates whose experience is limited to revenue generation without ownership of full business outcomes
Why Join
This is a rare opportunity to
build, shape, and scale new ventures within an established platform. You will play a defining role in driving long-term growth and creating real, measurable value.
