About Macdonald & Company

Macdonald & Company is a leading professional recruitment consultancy in South Africa, specializing exclusively in the real estate and built environment sectors. Established in London in 1994, the firm expanded into South Africa in 2006 to service the sub-Saharan region from its Johannesburg base.

Job Summary

Our client is South Africa’s leading developer, owner and operator of purpose-built student accommodation, with a national footprint serving institutions such as the University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town and University of Johannesburg. From a single residence launched in 2011, the platform has grown to nearly 11,000 beds nationwide and is firmly on the front foot for its next chapter. With robust operational capability, established brands and strong market credibility, the business is ready to broaden its horizons beyond student accommodation and play boldly across the wider “Living” real estate arena.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Business Development Director will be the tip of the spear for strategic growth. You will identify, shape and close opportunities across Co-Living, Built to Rent and Senior Living, unlock new geographic markets, expand third-party property and asset management services, and commercialise technology-enabled solutions to external clients. This is not a role for spectators. It calls for a sharp commercial mind, rigorous financial modelling expertise and the confidence to negotiate complex deals, structure joint ventures and present bankable opportunities to Executive and Board stakeholders – turning ambition into signed agreements and strategy into scalable revenue.

This mandate will resonate with a commercially astute leader from property or hospitality who understands operating platforms, yield, customer experience and asset-backed growth. With 10–15+ years of senior business development or investment experience, you are comfortable reading the room as well as the numbers, balancing risk with reward and knowing when to strike while the iron is hot. If you are energised by building new verticals, expanding into untapped markets and leaving a tangible mark on a high-growth platform, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of integrated living solutions in South Africa.