Business Developer (m/f)

Our next chapter is to turn Mala Vila into a destination that is fully booked all week, all year, anchored by a regular calendar of retreats, events and curated programming. We are looking for a commercially driven, well-connected business development individual to lead that growth. The Role: This is a growth role. You will own Mala Vila’s commercial pipeline: designing year-round programming, building partnerships with relevant companies and specialists, and selling the retreat to groups, brands and organisations. Success means a full house through the week and the seasons, with retreats and events taking place every month. You will work in close coordination with the CEO, who sets the company's direction, and with family members who support day-to-day operations on site. Key Responsibilities: Business development & revenue growth: - Build and manage a pipeline of group, retreat and event bookings, from first conversation through proposal, contract and delivery - Drive occupancy across the week and the year, with particular focus on midweek, shoulder-season and winter dates - Develop packages and pricing for retreats, private buyouts, celebrations, intimate weddings, corporate offsites and team-building days, and filming/production bookings - Set annual revenue and occupancy targets with the CEO, track results, and report on pipeline, conversion and margin - Identify and test new revenue streams that fit Mala Vila’s calm, forest-led positioning Programming & year-round events calendar: - Design and publish a 12-month calendar of retreats, workshops and signature events, so there is always a reason to visit - Build recurring formats, such as seasonal wellness and longevity retreats, forest-bathing and mindfulness weekends, creative and culinary gatherings, and leadership or founder retreats - Curate guest experiences and add-ons (practitioner sessions, local food and wine, nature activities) that lift length of stay and spend per guest - Coordinate the planning and on-site delivery of each programme with partners, family members and suppliers Partnerships: - Manage existing partner relationships and scout, pitch and close new partnerships that fit Mala Vila’s positioning - Build a network of specialists who can host or co-create programmes: wellness and longevity practitioners, clinics, yoga and breathwork teachers, coaches, chefs, artists and creatives - Develop corporate and B2B channels: HR and people teams, leadership-development providers, event and wedding planners, DMCs and travel agencies, production companies and location scouts - Explore brand collaborations, product launches and co-marketing with aligned lifestyle, design and wellness brands - Structure partner agreements (revenue share, fees, minimums) with the CEO, and review each partnership’s performance Marketing, sales & distribution: - Promote programmes and events through social media, the website, newsletters, partner channels and press - Prepare sales materials, such as event and retreat brochures, corporate offers and partner decks - Oversee booking channels and the property management system, so listings, availability and rates are accurate and support group and event sales Guest experience & property standards: - Be present on site for events, retreats and group arrivals, ensuring a warm, polished experience from enquiry to departure - Collect guest and partner feedback and use it to improve programmes, and to win repeat and referral business - Work with family members, cleaners and vendors so that the property is always event-ready and reflects the brand’s design and hospitality standards What Success Looks Like: - A published annual programme, with at least one retreat or event taking place every month - Strong midweek and off-season occupancy, alongside consistently full weekends - An active portfolio of partners and specialists who regularly bring or host groups at Mala Vila - A growing share of revenue from events, retreats, buyouts and B2B clients Reporting Line: - Reports directly to the Founder/CEO, who is based outside the country, with short daily morning calls and regular pipeline and performance reports - Works in close day-to-day coordination with family members who support and oversee the business locally

Who We Are Looking For: - A proven business developer with a track record of growing revenue through events, retreats, partnerships or occupancy (hospitality, wellness, events or luxury experience preferred) - A strong network, or the ability to quickly build one, across wellness specialists, corporate clients, planners, brands and creative industries - Programming and curation instincts: you can imagine a retreat, find the right people to deliver it, and sell it out - Confident at sales, from cold outreach and pitching to negotiation and closing - Social media and marketing savvy, with a feel for storytelling that matches a calm, design-led brand - Experience in the luxury segment, with the taste and strong attention to detail to uphold the Mala Vila brand - A self-starter who works with real autonomy and keeps the CEO and family informed - Comfortable with variable hours and a hybrid setup driven by the events calendar - Fluent English required; Croatian a strong plus given the property’s location in Croatia