Closing date: 17 July 2026
Are you a driven relationship-builder with strong financial acumen and a passion for early childhood development? If so, we’d love to hear from you!
Grow ECD is committed to providing 5-star early learning opportunities in every neighbourhood by equipping ECD centres with the skills, support, and resources needed to operate as professional, financially sustainable businesses. Our free mobile app offers a comprehensive suite of tools, training, and resources for centre owners, teachers, and parents, enabling effective management and high-quality early learning.
Reporting to the Senior Business Development Advisor, you will identify, assess, prepare and onboard ECD centres into the Grow Small Business Programme (SBP). You will be responsible for pipeline development, site assessments, financial screening, SBP-readiness training, and a structured handover to the Programme Business Support team.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Identifying and sourcing potential ECD centres through forums, networks, referrals and community engagement, and building a healthy pipeline aligned to regional growth targets.
- Conducting site visits to assess the operational readiness and suitability of prospective centres.
- Carrying out break-even analyses and reviewing financial records to assess affordability and financial sustainability.
- Obtaining and reviewing credit reports to assess risk and evaluate financial viability ahead of programme handover.
- Presenting Grow’s value proposition (App and SBP) to ECD owners and stakeholders, and representing Grow professionally in sector meetings and events.
- Supporting new centres in onboarding onto the Grow App, and delivering structured training and one-on-one mentoring on financial readiness and programme preparedness.
- Ensuring recruitment documentation is complete and meets quality standards, and preparing applications for submission to the Grow Finance Committee.
- Following up on Finance Committee feedback and providing a structured, thorough handover to the Business Support Advisor.
- Maintaining accurate records and pipeline tracking dashboards.
Requirements
- A relevant tertiary qualification in Business, Finance, Marketing or Community Development.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in business development, community engagement or pipeline management.
- Strong financial literacy and analytical ability.
- Experience in the Early Childhood Development sector is advantageous.
- Proven ability to build trust-based relationships with stakeholders, partners and community networks.
- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
- Proactive and resilient, with the ability to manage multiple processes and deadlines while maintaining accuracy.
- Comfortable using data, tools and systems to track pipeline performance and inform decision-making.
- A valid driver’s license and reliable own transport.
To apply, please email your CV along with a brief cover letter explaining why you’d like to work for Grow ECD and your suitability for the role to lyndseypetro@growecd.org.za by no later than 17 July 2026.
Please note that if you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.