Senior Business Development Manager (Parkwood, Rosebank Johannesburg)

Senior Business Development Manager

Employer: WeThinkCode_

Employment term: Permanent

Location: Johannesburg

Working style: Hybrid 

Reports to: Director of Finance 

WeThinkCode_ is a leading software development training academy on a mission to unlock South Africa’s digital potential. By recruiting talented youth from underserved communities and equipping them with world-class coding skills, we connect top performing graduates with forward thinking employers in the tech sector.

Role Summary 
We are seeking a mission-driven Senior Business Development Manager to spearhead strategic alliances that advance WeThinkCode's vision of democratizing access to world-class tech education. The ideal candidate will be passionate about social impact and possess a proven track record in corporate partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and building mutually beneficial relationships that create sustainable change.

Your Mission:

Lead the development of transformative corporate partnerships that position WeThinkCode as the premier destination for exceptional tech talent while advancing our core philanthropic goals. You'll forge strategic alliances with forward-thinking companies who recognise that investing in underrepresented communities creates both social impact and access to South Africa's most innovative developers.

Key Responsibilities 
1. Strategic Partnership Development & Impact Amplification

• Identify and cultivate transformative corporate partnerships with tech leaders, scale-ups, and enterprises committed to accessing exceptional talent while driving social change
• Build comprehensive market intelligence on partner talent acquisition challenges, diversity goals, and skills gaps to position WTC as the strategic solution
• Develop innovative partnership models that demonstrate measurable ROI through both talent outcomes and social impact metrics
• Create long-term strategic roadmaps with partners that align their growth objectives with WTC's mission to transform lives through technology

2. Revenue Generation & Sustainable Growth

• Own the complete partnership lifecycle from initial engagement through multi-year contract renewal and expansion
• Design compelling, customise partnership packages including direct talent placement, bespoke upskilling programs, diversity pipeline development, and leadership mentorship initiatives
• Exceed revenue targets while maintaining strict alignment with WTC's values and commitment to student success outcomes
• Leverage data-driven insights to optimise pricing strategies, partnership structures, and value delivery models

3. Executive Relationship Building and Strategic Account Growth

• Establish trusted advisor relationships with C-suite executives, Chief People Officers, and Head of Diversity leaders who champion both talent excellence and social responsibility
• Position WTC leadership as thought partners in solving complex workforce challenges and advancing inclusive hiring practices
• Identify and execute account expansion opportunities that deepen partner investment in WTC's mission while scaling their access to top-tier talent
• Lead high-stakes negotiations that create win-win outcomes advancing both commercial and philanthropic objectives

Qualifications and experience

• Five+ years of experience in business development, sales, or commercial partnerships (preferably in tech, training, not-for-profit or professional services sectors)
• Exposure to hybrid commercial and social impact organisations is a plus but not required

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel locally for in-person partner meetings and events 
• Strong alignment with WeThinkCode_’s mission to build Africa’s digital future through talent