Business Development Manager — Learning & Talents (TAYARI Platform)

ABOUT SMARTLAB
SmartLab is Smart Africa Group's innovation engine — an ecosystem designed to grow Africa's innovation landscape by empowering learners, corporates, and startups to develop groundbreaking solutions that impact African communities. SmartLab operates across four core pillars: Learning, Talent Hire, Accelerator, and Events — connecting ambitious individuals and organisations to opportunities that move Africa forward.

ABOUT THE ROLE
TAYARI is SmartLab's digital learning and talent placement platform — built to upskill Africa's workforce and connect talent with opportunity. As Business Development Manager for TAYARI, you will lead the commercial growth, partnership development, and operational performance of the platform across B2B and B2C segments.
This is an entrepreneurial, high-ownership role for a digital-savvy professional who understands the learning and HR tech landscape, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and is passionate about building platforms that create real economic impact for African learners and employers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Business Development
   • Develop and execute the growth strategy for the TAYARI Platform, including partnerships with corporates, universities, training providers, and job boards.
   • Identify and secure B2B clients (employers) for recruitment and job-matching services, and B2C users (learners) for upskilling programmes.
   • Lead content partner onboarding for learning modules; negotiate licensing and co-creation agreements with subject matter experts and academic institutions.
2. Client Relationship Management
   • Manage corporate relationships with hiring companies, HR partners, and training institutions.
   • Build engagement and satisfaction pathways for learners and job seekers on the platform.
   • Maintain active communication channels through CRM tools, community forums, and user analytics.
3. Performance Management
   • Define and monitor KPIs including number of active learners, job placements, course completion rates, and employer satisfaction scores.
   • Track platform engagement metrics, produce monthly performance dashboards, and report business outcomes to senior leadership.
   • Coordinate with the tech, marketing, and operations teams to improve user experience and platform conversion rates.
4. Technology & Innovation
   • Work closely with the product and tech team to guide platform enhancements — including UI/UX feedback, new feature design, and content integration.
   • Explore and pilot emerging tools such as AI-driven learning pathways and skills assessment engines to enhance platform value.
   • Stay current on EdTech and HRTech trends to inform product strategy and competitive positioning.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in EdTech, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, or Digital Platform Management.
• Proven track record launching or scaling a digital platform, particularly in learning or recruitment.
• Experience working with corporates and/or academic partners is a strong advantage.

CORE COMPETENCIES
• Platform growth mindset and digital product thinking.
• Business development and client acquisition in B2B and B2C environments.
• Talent ecosystem and job market insight relevant to the Tanzanian and East African context.
• Strategic thinking and stakeholder management across diverse partner types.
• Working knowledge of LMS platforms and job portal tools.
• Analytical, KPI-driven approach to performance and growth.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Adaptable and results-oriented in fast-paced, startup-style environments.