Business Development Manager
Play to your human relationship building strengths in the age of AI + get paid to meet people and drink coffee + make a real positive impact in the lives of SME Business Owners
If you've been looking for a job for longer than 5 minutes you've probably got Seek fatigue.
All the beige copy-and-paste ads that make you feel depressed just thinking about having to do that job
Or the AI-generated stuff that feels like it's about as honest as the picture of the big mac on the billboard.
If that's at least made you smile you might be the rare kind of BDM we're looking for.
👉 You find it almost effortless to connect and build relationships, even in a business context.
👉 You naturally balance relationship-building with winning the business in a way that supports real win-win business relationships that stand the test of time.
👉 You love getting out of the office and meeting people face to face.
Sounds like you?
If it does, this might be just the job you've been hoping you'd find.
Who are we?
de Jonge Read (DJRA) help directors and business owners through some of the toughest financial times of their lives.
But we don’t just advise, we guide, support, and walk alongside them with empathy and clarity.
For us, trust and relationships aren’t a “nice to have,” they are the foundation of everything we do.
Most of our clients come to us through referrals.
Specifically, through the relationships our BDMs build with accountants, bookkeepers, and advisors.
This role is about establishing new relationships, strengthening existing relationships and cementing your reputation (and ours) as the trusted person they call when a client needs our help or advice.
About the role
As a Business Development Manager your role is about building relationships with referral partners.
Everything you do will be about these relationships and building genuine trust with these people.
You’ll need to be someone who can confidently pick up the phone or meet for coffee, not to “sell,” but to listen, connect, and help our referral partners understand how we can help them to help their clients.
This is not your typical business development job though.
The measure of success here is not just about activity levels, number of leads generated or financial targets - it’s about the quality of the relationships you create, and the level of real trust you foster with professionals who, in turn, feel safe trusting us with their clients.
How you’ll spend your time
👉 Building and nurturing relationships with accountants, bookkeepers, and other advisors.
👉 Educating our referrers on how they can build clients for life through our services.
👉 Making calls and setting up coffee catch-ups that feel like conversations, not transactions.
👉 Representing DJRA at networking events and industry gatherings.
👉 Acting as the bridge between referrers and our Strategists, ensuring seamless client handover.
👉 Remembering the details that matter, names, hobbies, stories, because those small things are the building blocks for the big things (trust and credibility).
Who’s the ideal partnerships manager?
These statements feel true for you.
✅ I get energy from meeting new people and maintaining long-term connections.
✅ I naturally remember the details about others and find it easy to stay in touch over time to check in on key occasions.
✅ I’m comfortable speaking with professional advisors in a way that’s not ‘stuffy and corporate’.
✅ I have experience in relationship-driven roles.
✅ I’ve been described as very relatable.
✅ I’m good at managing my own time and staying organised.
If you already have an existing professional network in Sydney, or experience with referral-based business development that would be the cherry on the cake.
Who else is on the team?
Although the business has well-established offices in Brisbane and Melbourne with larger teams, our Sydney office is still relatively new so right now it’s our Head of Strategy, Matthew, who you’ll be reporting to and our Strategist Victor who will be handling any clients referred to the firm by your referral partners.
What we’re offering
➡️ A role where your relational strengths are highly valued, not treated as “soft skills”.
➡️ A values-led culture: ethical, empathetic, passionate, and client-centred.
➡️ Chance to be part of a national team of BDMs and share what's working, what's not and new ideas.
➡️ The chance to make a genuine difference in the lives of people facing financial hardship.
➡️ $100k + $18k car allowance + super + $20k OTE commission
Next Steps
We’ve created a digital Application Pack so you can learn more about DJRA, the team, and whether this role is really for you or not.
Step 1
Click Quick Apply and go through the process - when you click submit you'll get a copy of the Application Pack emailed to you (you don't have to add a resume or cover letter to do this).
Step 2
Have a good read of the pack, watch Matthew's video, if you think it's the right role for you, click the link in the pack to apply.
Step 3
You'll get a confirmation that we have your application and then we’ll be in touch ASAP with an update.
PS - If this role is still listed then it’s still available.
- Locations
- Sydney
- Remote status
- Hybrid
About The Unforgettable Agency
We're a boutique talent attraction & activation agency.
We believe in alignment and alchemy lead to achievement and enjoyment.
Our signature SCALE method is designed to help people find jobs that light them up so they're energised at work and can reach their full potential.
Because when you're lit up at work everybody wins (and life is so much better).