Job Purpose

The Business Development Manager will be responsible for conducting market research to identify growth opportunities and untapped markets. This will involve market research and opportunity identification, lead generation and prospecting, relationship building and networking, strategic planning and goal setting, sales process management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Summary of Key Responsibilities:

• Conducting market research to identify growth opportunities and untapped markets.
• Analyzing industry trends, competitor strategies, and market gaps to identify potential areas for growth.
• Establish connections with commercial farmer, farming blocks, cooperatives , vendors, partners, and distributors.
• Examine current alliances and sales initiatives with the goal of enhancing what is effective and improving what is ineffective.
• Maintaining important client relationships and establishing new ones.
• Direct the teams in charge of sales, marketing, customer support, and client relationship management.
• Build and strengthen relationships with both internal and external parties to boost lead generation and market share.
• Utilizing data analytics tools to identify potential growth areas and opportunities.
• Conducting SWOT analyses for new market entry to assess the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Developing and implementing lead generation strategies, such as social media campaigns, content marketing, and event marketing.
• Create cross-functional teams to direct and support long-term, sustainable growth.
• Develop and propose strategic alliances.
• Identify strategies for achieving the company’s long-term goals and contribute to their creation.
• Using CRM systems to track and manage potential clients and leads.
• Attending industry/agricultural events, conferences, and trade shows to network with potential clients and partners.
• Cultivating relationships with key decision-makers in target commercial farms through regular communication and field meetings.
• Building and maintaining a professional network for future opportunities and partnerships.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability and resilience in the face of rejections and setbacks
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Strong Leadership skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent networking skills

Primary Areas of Accountability:

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agri-Business, Commerce, Marketing, or related field, MBA a plus.
• Minimum of 5-6 years’ experience in Sales and Marketing
• Must have a minimum of 3+ years at supervisory or management level
• Experience in sales and marketing of seed and other agro products will be a plus
• Strong exposure to regional sales management, channel development including Agro dealer management and commercial farms
• Must have track record of successful deal closures and revenue generation is essential to demonstrate your ability to drive growth and expansion.
• Must be ready to make frequent travels out of Lusaka
• Must have a valid drivers license
• Must be a member of a relevant professional body

• Conducting market research to identify growth opportunities and untapped markets.
• Analyzing industry trends, competitor strategies, and market gaps to identify potential areas for growth.
• Establish connections with commercial farmer, farming blocks, cooperatives , vendors, partners, and distributors.
• Examine current alliances and sales initiatives with the goal of enhancing what is effective and improving what is ineffective.
• Maintaining important client relationships and establishing new ones.
• Direct the teams in charge of sales, marketing, customer support, and client relationship management.
• Build and strengthen relationships with both internal and external parties to boost lead generation and market share.
• Utilizing data analytics tools to identify potential growth areas and opportunities.
• Conducting SWOT analyses for new market entry to assess the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Developing and implementing lead generation strategies, such as social media campaigns, content marketing, and event marketing.
• Create cross-functional teams to direct and support long-term, sustainable growth.
• Develop and propose strategic alliances.
• Identify strategies for achieving the company’s long-term goals and contribute to their creation.
• Using CRM systems to track and manage potential clients and leads.
• Attending industry/agricultural events, conferences, and trade shows to network with potential clients and partners.
• Cultivating relationships with key decision-makers in target commercial farms through regular communication and field meetings.
• Building and maintaining a professional network for future opportunities and partnerships.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability and resilience in the face of rejections and setbacks
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Strong Leadership skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent networking skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agri-Business, Commerce, Marketing, or related field, MBA a plus.
• Minimum of 5-6 years’ experience in Sales and Marketing
• Must have a minimum of 3+ years at supervisory or management level
• Experience in sales and marketing of seed and other agro products will be a plus
• Strong exposure to regional sales management, channel development including Agro dealer management and commercial farms
• Must have track record of successful deal closures and revenue generation is essential to demonstrate your ability to drive growth and expansion.
• Must be ready to make frequent travels out of Lusaka
• Must have a valid drivers license
• Must be a member of a relevant professional body