The Emerging Leaders Foundation Africa (ELF-Africa) exists to empower, support and accompany young women and men to achieve meaningful, dignified and impactful participation in governance, economy and public affairs at all levels of society.

Your Role as The Business Development Manager

You will be instrumental in leading the full operationalization of and shaping the organization’s strategic direction and value proposition, fostering strategic partnerships and revenue growth, and ensuring ELE’s sustainable financial success, which will result in the success of ELF-Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy Development

• Identify, develop, and evaluate new business opportunities to meet and exceed ELE targets.
• Conduct market research to identify emerging trends, market demands, and competitor activity, providing strategic insights for business growth.
• Create and execute a comprehensive business development strategy in alignment with the ELE’s goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with the Programs and Communications teams to create compelling marketing campaigns and sales materials that resonate with target clients.
• Negotiate and close business deals, contracts, and agreements, ensuring favourable terms for ELE while fostering long-term relationships with clients.
• Provide regular reports, forecasts, and analysis to the management team, outlining performance metrics, achievements, and areas for improvement.
• Stay updated on industry trends, market conditions, and technological advancements to ensure the company remains competitive and innovative in its approach.
• Conduct field visits as and when needed to monitor the implementation of training and other initiatives supported by ELE and provide guidance and technical assistance to partners.
• Ensure quality and timely implementation of the agreed activities by all partners.

Coordination of ELE:

• Serve as the resource person for ELE and provide advisory updates to the ELF-Africa Senior Management Team and the Board.
• Oversee the budget for ELE activities and ensure that budget expenditures are in accordance with the agreed plans.
• Assist in the preparation of budgets and revisions related to ELE.
• Lead, mentor, and motivate the business development team to achieve individual and team targets.
• Oversight quality and timely management and reporting of activities and the ELE focal point.

Partnerships building

• Build and maintain strong relationships with potential clients, understanding their needs and offering tailored solutions to meet their objectives. Maintain close contacts with all partners and investors.
• When authorized, represent ELE on the platforms relating to entrepreneurship and enterprises.
• As and when requested, give presentations on different forums to stakeholders on ELE interventions.

Sales and Marketing

• Promote and advertise ELE’s existing brands and introduce new products to the market.
• Research and develop marketing opportunities and plans, understand consumer requirements, identify market trends, and suggest system improvements to achieve the ELE’s goals.
• Implementing new sales plans and advertising.
• Maintaining relationships with important clients by making regular visits, understanding their needs, and anticipating new marketing opportunities.

Competencies:

• Ability to multi-task and respond simultaneously and promptly to job requirements.
• Ability to work under pressure, beat deadlines, and handle numerous tasks simultaneously.
• Strong and proven integrity, time management and work prioritization skills
• Understanding ELE procedures, rules, and regulations is an asset.
• Capacity to take initiative and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated sensitivity, discretion, tact, and courtesy concerning equality and safeguarding with participants and implementing partners.
• Ability to set up, equip and oversee a team.
• Excellent communication skills, written and oral.
• Commitment to upholding the organizational values and principles of ELE.
• A proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations, and grassroots organizations.
• Experience in planning, budgeting, work plan development, participating in program development and proposal writing, project implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and program coordination.
• Previous work experience in a start-up or setting up an organization is an added advantage.

Additional competencies for your consideration:

• Project Management Skills – proven ability to manage projects from inception to closure, with demonstrable experience in monitoring and evaluation.
• Strategy Execution – demonstrate ability to lead or be part of the development and implementation of organizational strategic plans.
• Negotiation Skills – ability to negotiate with different entities in relation to business development, contractual agreements, funding, contracts and agreements that are favourable to the organization.

Requirements

Education:

• Master’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Management, Investment Management, Organizational Development, or related field, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience in the areas of business management, project management and coordination.

Or

• Bachelor’s Degree in the above-mentioned subjects with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in a well reputable organisation.