Business Unit Manager / IT Distribution

Ready to lead the future of technology?

Are you a commercially driven leader who knows how to grow brands, build winning partnerships, and turn strategy into results? We're looking for an experienced Business Unit Manager to lead one of our high-performing technology portfolios. This is an opportunity to shape go-to-market strategy, drive revenue growth, influence executive decisions, and lead a talented team in one of South Africa's leading technology distribution environments.If you're passionate about technology, thrive on building strong vendor and channel relationships, and love delivering measurable business results—we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

As Business Unit Manager, you'll be responsible for the overall success of your business unit by driving commercial growth, developing strategic partnerships, and leading a high-performing team.

Your day-to-day will include:

Grow the Business

• Develop and execute winning business strategies.
• Identify new revenue opportunities and emerging market trends.
• Build innovative solutions by combining technologies and products.
• Drive market share growth and profitability.
• Work closely with vendors, partners, and internal sales teams to maximise opportunities.

  Build Strong Vendor & Channel Relationships

• Manage key vendor relationships and contractual commitments.
• Grow and enable channel partners across your portfolio.
• Develop go-to-market initiatives that create demand and increase sales.
• Ensure effective use of marketing development funds (MDF).

Drive Commercial Success

• Own budgets, forecasting, pricing, and margin optimisation.
• Monitor business performance and adjust strategy where needed.
• Analyse sales data and market trends to make informed business decisions.
• Ensure financial targets are achieved consistently.

Lead Strategy & Execution

• Develop annual, quarterly, and operational business plans.
• Translate strategy into clear actions and measurable KPIs.
• Drive operational excellence across the business unit.
• Identify risks, solve problems proactively, and continuously improve performance.

Inspire Great People

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Coach team members to achieve both personal and business success.
• Support succession planning and talent development.

Deliver Market Impact

• Collaborate with Product Marketing on campaigns and thought leadership.
• Analyse customer and end-user needs to improve market positioning.
• Support product launches and enable sales teams with the right tools and knowledge.
  

Requirements

What we're looking for

Essential Experience

• Minimum 4 years' experience in product management, business development, or sales within the IT industry .
• Proven success managing vendor relationships and channel partners.
• Experience developing and executing commercial growth strategies.
• Strong understanding of product marketing and go-to-market planning.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasting, and financial performance.
• Confident presenting to senior executives and key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Business Management or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Technical Knowledge

You'll stand out if you have experience with:

• IT products and channel sales
• Product management and product marketing
• Business development
• Vendor and contract management
• Budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and margin management
• Market research and competitive analysis
• Data analysis and reporting
• Strategic planning and execution
• Digital, Cloud, Marketplace, and Services business models