ASSOCIATE: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

This is a 3-year contractual position subject to the successful candidate signing a performance agreement.

All-inclusive remuneration package: Market-related

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Associate: Business Development provides professional business development, investor attraction and investor facilitation support to the Executive: Business Development across the functional areas of lead generation, sector research and development, investor attraction and facilitation, stakeholder engagement and pipeline management.

The primary purpose of the role is to identify, engage and convert prospective investors into commercially sound tenant opportunities for Freeport Saldanha. The position is responsible for generating qualified leads, supporting investor engagement activities, developing sector intelligence and marketing collateral, coordinating investor facilitation interventions, and maintaining a strong investment pipeline that contributes directly to the achievement of investment attraction and revenue generation targets.

The role supports Freeport Saldanha’s Ease of Doing Business offering by assisting investors to navigate regulatory, permitting, infrastructure and stakeholder-related requirements. The Associate is expected to proactively coordinate with government departments, municipalities, regulators, utilities, industry partners and other stakeholders to remove barriers to investment and improve the investor experience.

The position contributes to the organisation’s objectives of growing investment, increasing tenant occupancy, developing priority sectors, strengthening investor relationships and positioning Freeport Saldanha as Africa’s leading energy, maritime and industrial investment destination.

• Identify, qualify and pursue prospective investors, tenants and strategic partners aligned with Freeport Saldanha's priority sectors.
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified investment opportunities through direct outreach, networking, conferences, referrals, industry engagement and targeted business development campaigns.
• Support the preparation and delivery of investment pitches, presentations, proposals and business cases to prospective investors.
• Conduct investor meetings, site visits and follow-up engagements aimed at progressing opportunities through the investment pipeline.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, investment pipeline reports and investor engagement documentation.
• Contribute directly to investment attraction targets, tenant acquisition objectives and conversion metrics.
• Conduct market research, industry analysis and sector intelligence activities to identify investment opportunities, emerging trends and priority target companies.
• Support the development and refinement of sector value propositions for strategic sectors including energy, maritime, logistics, manufacturing, green hydrogen, oil and gas services and other priority sectors.
• Monitor competitor investment destinations, industry developments, policy changes and market opportunities.
• Prepare research reports, investor briefs, sector profiles and market intelligence documents to support business development initiatives.
• Support the identification of strategic partnerships that strengthen sector development and investment readiness.
• Support investors throughout the investment lifecycle by coordinating responses to enquiries, facilitating stakeholder engagements and assisting with investment establishment processes.
• Facilitate introductions and engagements between investors and key government departments, regulators, municipalities, utilities, industry partners and service providers.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with industry stakeholders, government institutions, business associations, investors and strategic partners.
• Represent Freeport Saldanha at conferences, exhibitions, networking events, business forums and stakeholder engagements.
• Support the coordination of stakeholder meetings, workshops, investor visits and industry engagement activities.
• Prepare business development reports, investor pipeline updates, market intelligence reports and performance tracking information.
• Maintain organised records of investor engagements, facilitation activities and business development initiatives.

The Applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree (NQF 7) in Business, Commerce, Economics, Marketing, Investment Promotion, International Trade, Property Development, Engineering Management or a related field.
• Candidates holding degrees outside commercial disciplines must demonstrate significant commercial, client-facing and business development experience.
• Additional training in sales, business development, investment promotion, stakeholder management, project management or economic development will be advantageous.
• Minimum four (4) years' experience in a client-facing commercial role or field.
• Demonstrated track record of originating, progressing and successfully closing commercial transactions, investments, sales opportunities, tenant acquisitions or strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating solutions for clients by coordinating stakeholders, leveraging professional networks and removing barriers to successful outcomes.
• Experience in investment promotion, business development, commercial property, economic development, infrastructure, logistics, energy, maritime, industrial development or related sectors will be advantageous.
• Experience operating within complex stakeholder environments involving government, regulators or public sector institutions will be advantageous

COMPETENCIES

• Business Development and Sales Orientation
• Investor Relationship Management
• Commercial Acumen
• Research and Market Intelligence
• Facilitation and Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Planning and Organisation
• CRM and Pipeline Management
• Initiative and Results Orientation

Market related

The successful candidate will report to the Executive: Business Development and will be stationed at our offices in Saldanha Bay.

Should you comply with the above requirements and have a valid driver’s license and own transport, please do not hesitate to apply. Kindly submit your CV to Thembakazi Kobese (Human Resources) at ***email_hidden***. Direct all enquiries to Thembakazi Kobese on 087 095 0261.

Freeport Saldanha is an equal opportunity employer .

Closing Date: 31 July 2026

Should you not have received any response from us 30 days after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.