Business Development Manager (Cape Town)

The AI-powered OS for beauty, wellness and self-care About Fresha Fresha is the AI-powered operating system for the global beauty, wellness and self-care industry, connecting and powering everything from salons and barbers to spas, medspas, fitness studios and health practices. Trusted by millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. Fresha is used by 140,000+ businesses and 450,000+ stylists and professionals worldwide, processing over 1 billion appointments to date. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with 15 global offices located across North America, EMEA and APAC. Fresha allows consumers to discover, book and pay for beauty and wellness appointments with local businesses via its marketplace, while beauty and wellness businesses and professionals use an all-in-one platform to manage their entire operations with an intuitive business software and financial technology solutions.   Fresha’s ecosystem gives merchants everything they need to run their business seamlessly by facilitating appointment bookings, point-of-sale, customer records management, marketing automation, loyalty, beauty products inventory and team management.   The consumer marketplace unlocks revenue potential for partner businesses by leveraging the power of online bookings and automated marketing through mobile apps and advanced integrations with major tech brands including Instagram, Facebook and Google. Why This Role Is Exceptional You will be one of the first commercial hires supporting the South African market — a major career accelerator with meaningful visibility and responsibility. You will play a key role in shaping Fresha’s growth in South Africa and the broader Sub-Saharan African region, working closely with local and international leadership. You will help build and refine our sales and go-to-market processes for the region, rather than simply inheriting existing structures. Your work will have real impact: your success will strengthen Fresha’s footprint in one of the most dynamic and influential beauty and wellness markets in Africa. Fast growth = fast development opportunities: progression into leadership or strategic account roles is a realistic next step. This role is ideal for ambitious business development professionals who embrace ownership and enjoy the energy of a scale-up environment.   Key Responsibilities Identify, approach, and acquire new beauty & wellness partners across South Africa, with a focus on Cape Town and surrounding regions. Conduct product demos and advise prospective partners on Fresha’s software and payment solutions. Build strong, long-term relationships with key decision-makers in the industry. Manage the full sales cycle — from first outreach to successful onboarding and activation. Collaborate closely with Marketing, Partner Operations, and Product teams to strengthen our go-to-market strategy in South Africa. Provide market insights and feedback to help refine Fresha’s positioning in the local landscape. Consistently achieve and exceed personal KPIs and commercial growth targets.   About You These requirements are inherent to the role and essential for success: Proven experience in sales, business development, or a client-facing advisory role. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with genuine enthusiasm for engaging customers. High motivation, resilience, and a proactive approach to generating new business. Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to help shape new processes and ways of working. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, scaling environment while taking full ownership of outcomes. Excellent command of English; additional South African languages are advantageous. Valid work authorisation in South Africa. Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel as required.   Employment Equity: All suitably qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. In alignment with our Employment Equity commitments, preference may be given to candidates from designated groups as defined by the South African Employment Equity Act.   What We Offer Hybrid - 3 days in the office. A rare opportunity to be an early commercial hire with significant ownership and influence. Direct involvement in building Fresha’s presence and brand in the South African market. Competitive compensation with performance-based incentives. Flexible working arrangements: hybrid working in Cape Town. Modern equipment and access to continuous learning and development. A diverse, international team with a strong culture of collaboration, ambition, and support.   POPIA Notice Your personal information will be processed solely for recruitment purposes in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). By applying, you consent to the secure handling and storage of your information for the duration of the recruitment process. Inclusive workforce   At Fresha, we are creating a culture where individuals of all backgrounds feel comfortable.   We want all Fresha people to feel included and truly empowered to contribute fully to our vision and goals. Everyone who applies will receive fair consideration for employment.   We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics in the location in which the candidate is applying.   If you have any accessibility requirements that would make you more comfortable during the interview process and/or once you join, please let us know so that we can support you.