Business Development Manager (Merchant Acquisitions)

About the Company:

Our client is a technology-driven company focused on integrating digital solutions into diverse business sectors. They specialize in fintech, eCommerce, artificial intelligence (AI), and online-to-offline (O2O) ecosystems, leveraging technology to enhance consumer experiences and create scalable, high-growth opportunities.

Role Overview:
Business Development Manager is expecting to spearhead the launch and expansion of company’s merchant voucher (digital coupon) platform in Malaysia. In this strategic, high-ownership role, you will shape and execute the go-to-market strategy from the ground up – driving market penetration, merchant acquisition, and partnership growth to establish the new platform as the go-to merchant rewards and digital coupon infrastructure in the country. Reporting directly to the CEO, the BD Manager will work cross-functionally with marketing, product, and data teams to ensure a successful rollout and scalable growth of this new venture. This is a high-impact role for a proactive leader excited about building a business in a fast-growing digital rewards market.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategy & Market Launch
   — Develop and execute the go-to-market strategy for company’s new platform in Malaysia, including market research, target segmentation, pricing, and rollout planning.
   — Identify market opportunities and refine value propositions to effectively penetrate the SME and enterprise segments.
2. Merchant Acquisition & Sales Funnel
   — Proactively identify, target, and onboard merchant clients (from small businesses to large enterprises) onto the new platform.
   — Manage the entire sales funnel – from lead generation, prospect pitching, and negotiation to closing deals and onboarding new merchants – ensuring a robust pipeline and steady conversion rates.
3. Partnerships & Market Presence
   — Forge strategic partnerships (e.g. with industry associations, payment providers, and marketing agencies) to amplify new platform’s market presence and drive adoption at scale.
   — Represent the Company and the new platform at industry events, meetings, and presentations, serving as a key evangelist to promote the platform and build its brand in the Malaysian market.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration
   — Collaborate closely with the Marketing team to design and implement campaigns, promotions, and outreach programs that generate merchant leads and boost platform usage.
   — Work with Data/Analytics teams to monitor performance metrics, user engagement, and coupon redemption data, using insights to adjust strategies and improve merchant success on the platform.
   — Coordinate with new platform’s product and technical teams to relay local market feedback and ensure the platform’s features/services align with Malaysian merchants’ needs.
5. Reporting & Growth Scaling
   — Report directly to the CEO on business development performance, market feedback, key metrics, and ongoing strategy refinements.
   — Take ownership of commercial targets (e.g. merchant count, transaction volume, revenue), and ensure the initiative meets its growth projections and revenue goals within the first year and beyond.
   — Plan for scale-up by outlining future team structure, operational processes, and growth strategies as the merchant base and platform usage expand. (This role may evolve to lead a larger sales/business development team as the venture grows.)

Qualifications & Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Finance or a related field. (MBA or other relevant master’s degree is a plus.)
2. 5–8+ years of experience in business development, sales, or strategic partnerships, with a track record of driving growth and closing deals – preferably in tech, fintech, SaaS, or digital platform environments.
3. Proven experience launching new products or entering new markets is highly desirable. (Experience in the digital payments, e-commerce, or loyalty/rewards sector is a strong advantage.)
4. Demonstrated success in engaging and managing both SME and enterprise clients, including building relationships with senior decision-makers and navigating longer sales cycles for enterprise deals.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strategic & Analytical: Ability to craft market entry strategies and make data-driven decisions; strong business acumen to identify growth opportunities and optimize sales approaches.
• Sales & Negotiation: Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills with a talent for consultative selling and adapting pitches to different client needs.
• Relationship Building: Strong networker with the ability to establish credibility and trust with a diverse range of clients and partners. Customer-focused mindset to ensure merchant success and satisfaction.
• Entrepreneurial Drive: Self-motivated, proactive, and hands-on. Comfortable operating in a startup-like environment – capable of working independently, setting priorities, and quickly adapting to changes.
• Collaboration: Effective team player who can work cross-functionally and influence internal stakeholders. Experience coordinating with marketing, product, and analytics teams to achieve common goals.
• Language: Fluent in English (written and spoken). Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and/or Mandarin is an advantage.

For more information, you may reach out to Gina Koh at her email, gina.koh@peoplelake.asia or contact her at 016-6948780 via WhatsApp.