Head of Business Development & Growth (Property & Real Estate)

About the role

Career Directions Limited (CDL) is hiring a Head of Business Development & Growth for its property and real estate business in Nairobi. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the role leads growth across Marketing, Revenue & Data and Business Development, overseeing the full sales and revenue funnel from lead generation to conversion, revenue growth, strategic partnerships and portfolio expansion.

Key responsibilities

• Develop annual and quarterly growth plans aligned with company priorities and budgets, set and monitor targets for revenue, occupancy, leads, conversions, partnerships and portfolio growth, and report forecasts and recommendations to the CEO.
• Set the strategy for brand visibility, lead generation and customer acquisition, oversee SEO and marketing campaigns, and monitor campaign performance, lead conversion and acquisition costs.
• Set and monitor revenue, occupancy, ADR, RevPAR and channel targets, ensure pricing responds to demand and seasonality, review booking trends and promotions, and develop recovery plans for underperforming units.
• Build relationships with corporates, NGOs, relocation agencies, property agents, landlords and developers, create strategies to acquire properties, clients and new units, identify expansion opportunities, and lead strategic pitches and negotiations.
• Develop strategies for client retention, repeat bookings, referrals and renewals, use client feedback to improve the offering, align growth departments around shared targets and escalate major commercial risks to the CEO.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Commerce, Hospitality, Real Estate or a related field.
• 6-8 years' relevant experience in business development, commercial growth, sales, revenue management or a related field, including leadership responsibility.
• Experience in hospitality, property management, real estate or serviced apartments is an advantage.
• Proven ability to negotiate, influence stakeholders and support high-value commercial agreements.

Required skills

• Managing a sales pipeline, interpreting performance data and developing practical growth plans.
• Strategic thinking, commercial judgement, forecasting and data-driven decision-making.
• Team leadership, partnership development, negotiation, client relationship management and clear reporting.