Director: Strategic Market Engagement

Primary Purpose of the Job BDO South Africa is seeking a commercially driven and well-connected senior leader to take on the role of Director: Strategic Market Engagement. This role is focused on expanding the firm’s presence in key markets by building and leveraging strategic relationships that create access to new opportunities and strengthen BDO’s position within priority sectors. The successful candidate will operate at a senior level, engaging with executives, board members, and industry leaders, and will play a key role in enabling business growth through targeted market engagement and opportunity development. This is a high-impact role suited to an individual who thrives in a relationship-led environment and is motivated by influence, access, and commercial outcomes. Main Duties and Responsibilities Key Responsibilities 1. Market Development & Strategic Engagement Develop and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders across priority sectors Strengthen BDO’s visibility and positioning within relevant markets and industry platforms Represent BDO at selected industry engagements, forums, and networking platforms Build a strong external network that enhances access to decision-makers 2. Business Development & Opportunity Creation Identify and develop new business opportunities aligned to the firm’s growth priorities Facilitate strategic introductions between prospective clients and BDO leadership Support the progression of opportunities into formal client engagements Collaborate across service lines to maximise the value of opportunities 3. Market Insight & Intelligence Gather insights on market trends, stakeholder movements, and sector developments Contribute to shaping client targeting and business development initiatives Identify opportunities to enhance BDO’s market presence through strategic initiatives 4. Relationship Management Build and sustain long-term, trust-based relationships with key stakeholders Ensure relationships are embedded within the firm Maintain visibility of engagement activity and opportunity progression 5. Internal Collaboration Work closely with leadership teams to align market activity with business priorities Support collaboration across sectors and service lines Contribute to a coordinated and consistent approach to market engagement 6. Leadership & People Management Provide leadership and direction within market development to ensure alignment with the firm’s strategic priorities Influence and guide internal stakeholders to effectively leverage relationships and convert business opportunities Support the development of a relationship-driven and business focused culture across the firm Act as a role model in stakeholder engagement, professionalism, and external representation Contribute to knowledge sharing and capability building in business development and market engagement practices