Lulalend
OVERALL PURPOSE
The purpose of this role is to help Lula find its next wave of growth, whether through new partners, products, or markets. We have spent the last 11 years helping SMEs in South Africa solve their cash flow problems.
This role is about finding that next frontier of growth to continue scaling Lula at the 100% year-on-year growth rates it’s used to.
Responsibilities will include:
Opportunity Identification & Prioritisation
Continuously scan for new markets, segments, and partnership opportunities
Build and maintain a clear pipeline of opportunities (not just deals, but ideas)
Develop hypotheses on where growth will come from and pressure-test them
Size opportunities (market, revenue potential, complexity) and prioritise ruthlessly
Partner Sourcing & Deal Execution
Identify, approach, and engage high-potential partners
Lead end-to-end deal process: outreach → pitching → negotiation → close
Structure commercial terms that drive meaningful revenue (not just logos)
Work through legal, risk, and product constraints to get deals over the line
New Initiatives (Markets / Products / Channels)
Lead discovery and early-stage validation of new growth bets
Run pilots and MVP launches with partners or internally
Translate ambiguous ideas into concrete execution plans
Kill weak ideas quickly; double down on what shows traction
Partner & Channel Performance Management
Own performance of key partnerships and channels
Track metrics (volume, revenue, CAC, conversion, etc.) and identify gaps
Work with partners to optimise performance—not just maintain relationships
Intervene quickly when something underperforms
Cross-functional Leadership
Work closely with product, credit, risk, and operations to launch and scale initiatives
Act as the bridge between external opportunity and internal execution
Push internal teams when needed—don’t accept slow or vague responses
Ensure deals actually get implemented and don’t stall post-signature
Commercial & Strategic Input
Contribute to overall growth strategy and planning cycles
Build business cases for new initiatives and present to leadership
Provide regular insight on market trends, competitor moves, and partner landscape
Challenge existing assumptions and surface new angles
Reporting & Accountability
Own a clear set of growth / revenue targets
Report on pipeline, deal progress, and performance of initiatives
Maintain a tight feedback loop between strategy and results
Be accountable for outcomes, not activity
THE COMPETENCIES WE’RE AFTER
Commercial judgment
Structured problem solving
Deal-making ability
Execution bias
Partner management
Communication
Data fluency
THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WE’RE LOOKING FOR
5+ years in:
Business development / partnerships
Strategy / consulting
Venture / startup growth roles
Product roles with commercial ownership
Proven track record
Launching new initiatives (markets, products, channels)
Closing and scaling partnerships
Owning a revenue or growth metric
Industry exposure
SME lending / fintech / financial services
Or adjacent ecosystems (payments, marketplaces, platforms)
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