Regional Business & Market Development Manager

KickStart is an award-winning, global nonprofit social enterprise that develops and mass-markets low-cost irrigation solutions that are bought by thousands of small-holder farmers in developing countries and used to increase their income by up to a factor of ten, enabling them to lift themselves sustainably out of poverty. (See www.KickStart.org for more information).
Using an entrepreneurial business model, KickStart has proven its cost- effective solution to poverty in Kenya, Tanzania, Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as in a dozen of other African countries , over recent years, it has developed strategic partnerships through its Global Institutional Partnership Division (GIP).
KickStart plans to expand our activities in West Africa besides our current presence in Mali and Burkina Faso through Business to Business Global Institutional Partnership (GIP) program.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Functional Area : West Africa Region Hub
Position / Job Title : Regional Business & Market Development Manager – West Africa
Reports to : Director -Global Institutional Partnerships
Location : Bamako/Burkina Faso but negotiable
Job Purpose
The Regional BMD Manager, West Africa will be responsible for developing, expanding, and reporting on our program in West Africa. He/she is also responsible for managing our program and our staff in Mali and Burkina Faso. The Regional Manager reports to the Director, Global Institutional Partnerships based in KickStart’s Africa Office in Nairobi. These activities support the primary goal of getting people out of poverty in West Africa, by promoting the sales and usage of KickStart’s MoneyMaker branded irrigation pumps.
Nature and Scope:
The Regional BMD Manager will:
• Perform the due-diligence to understand the market potential and opportunities for MoneyMaker products in West Africa.
• Create the market development and sales plans for specific-countries in West Africa. Lead and manage the implementation of the plan to ensure growth in sales, social impacts, market share, and profitability in West Africa. This will be done primarily through:
o the proper selection, development and management of a distributor network
o the identification, promotion, and management of direct customers, such as NGOs, out-growers, multi-lateral organizations, etc
• Manage, coach, and develop capacity of staff based in Mali and Burkina Faso
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of KickStart’s activities, finances and social impacts.
Key Performance Criteria
1. Impact and sales targets
2. Effective management of budgets.
3. A team that is ethical, team-work oriented and high performing.
Principal Accountabilities
 Regular market assessment and pro-active development of country specific sales and marketing plans with distributors to maximize sales and impacts in the West Africa region. This includes sales plans, pricing policies, and promotional plans for each distributor.
 Actively promote products through product demonstrations, product support and training for distributors, customers, thought leaders, and influencers.
 Actively manage customer and distributor accounts and collect outstanding receivables
 Develop and manage the operations budget for this program and provide monthly updated sales forecast.
 Provide leadership, coaching, and support to the staff based in Mali and Burkina Faso.
 Coordinate with KickStart International’s Nairobi and San Francisco offices on both strategic (program design and implementation) and tactical issues.
Skills, Experiences, and Competencies
 7years of sales experience. Both private sector and social sector experience preferred.
 At least 3 years experience living and working in Sub-Saharan West Africa
 Good understand of the agricultural market in West Africa preferred
 People Management Experience – managing, mentoring, and developing people and a high performing team
 Financial management experience – develop and manage operating plans and budgets
 Strong customer focus
 Results/Performance Orientation – proven “self-starter” who is flexible and adaptable
o Able to work effectively in an unstructured and fast moving environment
o Able to work effectively with limited guidance and oversight
o A can-do entrepreneurial spirit
 Excellent personal communication & negotiation skills
 Strong analytical abilities and detail oriented
 Shares KickStart’s values and believe in its Mission
 Fluency in French and English required
 Willingness to travel for up to 50% to 60% every month
 Bachelor degree required. MBA preferred.
Key Responsibilities
• Responsible for scaling up KickStart operations in West Africa
• Responsible for setting a scalable and sustainable model for KickStart in West Africa
• Optimize KickStart economic sustainability in West Africa and support fundraising activities for West Africa
• Establish an annual and long term Business Plan
• Open partnership programs in other countries in West Africa though collaboration with private sector distributors/NGOs or other institutions to stimulate adoption of KickStart products and services.
• Design and implement the relevant model for each country
• Recruit and manage the appropriate staff
Key Competencies & Experiences
• Experience in Sales & marketing in West Africa
• Experience with private sector and social business would be a strong plus. Has shown motivation towards social impact
• Strong managerial and human development skills. Managed a team of people and able to build capacity and competency among the team.
• Able to think strategically yet able to be very hands-on an get into the details
• Ability to operate effectively and efficiently in a start-up, unstructured environment
• Able to operate with minimum guidance
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong process/systems experience and skills
• Capacity to evolve in the organization in other senior managerial positions
Interested candidates should submit their application along with a copy of their resumes/CVs and referees to [email protected] . Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Deadline: 20th November 2012