Business Development & Account Manager at WeFarm

The Role

We are looking for someone to take on a senior position within our Kenyan Office. Reporting to the Head of Business in London, your role will be to bring new partners to the business. This is a relationship driven role and you’ll need to excel at networking, meeting potential partners and managing existing partnerships and relationships. Your role will involve generating and managing new leads, pitching to clients and presenting at events and conferences. While primarily based in Nairobi, the role will require travel and occasional unsociable working hours.

We are looking for someone who would enjoy the challenges and different environments of working for a start-up, someone comfortable meeting with small, local businesses in Meru one day, a top government official the day after, and the CTO of a famous tech start-up the day after.

Key Responsibilities:

• Pro-actively identifying and developing partnership opportunities throughout Kenya and building a key role for WeFarm in the Kenyan agricultural ecosystem
• Planning persuasive approaches and pitches to convince local and multinational businesses, NGOs and local governments to partner with WeFarm
• Attending conferences, events and trade shows to maximise opportunities, seek new leads and develop a strong network of contacts
• Reviewing leads, tracking success of proposals and reporting on progress
• Maintaining a network of partners and prospects
• Supporting growth and retention of existing partnerships
• Liaising and collaborating with farmer on-boarding and marketing team to ensure successful delivery of contracts
• Collecting and sharing market intelligence

Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience working in bus. dev. or account management
• Proven track record of successful selling to major accounts and business development experience
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic approach
• Passion for WeFarm’s social mission
• Experience working across international markets – preferred
• Knowledge of supply chain and food industry – ideal
• Knowledge of the smallholder farmer ecosystem – ideal

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to lead and motivate others
• Organisational skills
• Competitive
• Self-driven and ability to generate own leads

What we Provide:

• Salary commensurate with experience in the start-up environment
• Chance to work in amazing social enterprise start-up environment and help change the world!
• Chance to work with international teams and across countries – opportunity for travel