Location: Cape Town or Johannesburg, with regular travel across South Africa's key financial centres.
Purpose of role:Prescient Investment Management is expanding its offering of global investment solutions available to South African investors. This presents an exciting growth opportunity for the business, and we are looking for an experienced, commercially astute Business Development professional to help drive adoption and growth within the institutional market.
This role will engage the same institutional client base Prescient already serves in South Africa, including pension funds, retirement funds, multi-managers and consultants, positioning global investment solutions. The successful candidate will report directly to the Head of Institutional and will work closely with the broader distribution team to ensure a coordinated, one-firm approach to the market.
Duties and responsibilities:
Business Development & Client Origination
- Drive new business growth across institutional channels in South Africa.
- Identify, prioritise and pursue opportunities within Prescient's existing client base, as well as new prospects, in line with agreed business development targets.
- Present and position global investment capabilities in a manner that supports client needs and investment objectives.
Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with institutional asset owners, consultants, retirement fund trustees and multi-managers.
- Act as a key point of contact for clients regarding investment solutions, product updates and market insights, collaborating with relevant stakeholders as required.
- Manage the client engagement calendar, including roadshows, due diligence meetings, presentations and ongoing client servicing.
Internal Collaboration
- Work closely with Prescient's distribution, client service and marketing teams to deliver a seamless client experience.
- Share market intelligence, client feedback and pipeline visibility with the broader team and Head of Institutional on a regular basis.
- Contribute to a collaborative, team-first culture; this is not a siloed or purely individual-contributor role.
- Partner with product, compliance and operations colleagues to support the effective onboarding and servicing of clients.
Strategic Input & Reporting
- Provide input into the broader institutional growth strategy, including target segments, market positioning and competitive dynamics.
- Track and report on pipeline, conversion and revenue against agreed targets using Prescient's CRM and reporting tools.
- Keep abreast of regulatory, market and competitor developments relevant to the institutional investment landscape.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure all client engagement and marketing activities comply with FAIS, FICA and other applicable South African regulatory requirements.
- Maintain accurate records of client interactions and adhere to Prescient's internal governance and conduct standards.
Required experience:- 10+ years' experience in business development, distribution or institutional sales within asset management, investment banking or a related financial services environment.
- A demonstrable, existing network across South African institutional investors (pension and retirement funds, consultants, medical schemes) and multi-managers channel.
- Experience working with, or distributing on behalf of, an international asset manager is strongly preferred, given the nature of this partnership.
- A track record of meeting or exceeding new business and AUM growth targets.
Required Qualifications:- A relevant tertiary qualification (Finance, Investment Management, Business, Economics or similar); an honours degree, CFA charter or equivalent postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
- RE5 certification, and compliance with FAIS fit-and-proper requirements for a representative role.
Key competencies:- A natural collaborator: someone who builds trust quickly with colleagues as well as clients, shares credit and strengthens the team rather than operating apart from it.
- Strong commercial instincts, with the gravitas and polish to represent Prescient Investment Management credibly at senior client and consultant level.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, comfortable engaging technical investment content with sophisticated institutional audiences.
- Self-starter with the discipline to manage a demanding travel and meeting schedule, balanced with genuine team orientation and responsiveness to Head of Institutional and the wider team.
- High integrity and sound judgement, particularly given the dual representation of two asset managers' interests.
Why this role:
If you are passionate about building relationships, creating commercial opportunities, and representing world-class investment capabilities, this role offers a rare chance to help shape the future of a strategic partnership between Prescient and our clients. You'll work alongside a collaborative, high-performing team, engage with leading institutional investors, and play a key role in growing a business with significant long-term potential. This is an opportunity to combine entrepreneurial thinking with the backing of two respected investment brands.