Business Development Manager at Rafiki wa Maendeleo Trust

Business Development Manager Job Responsibilities

Business Development and Project Implementation

• Provide overall guidance, mentoring, monitoring and supervision to Business Development and Production staff, to ensure successful implementation of Business

• Development activities, targets and revenue goals.

• Mentor Business Development staff to help them achieve timely implementation of work plans according to their quarterly and annual targets, activities and goals.

• Put forward new business ideas and/or recommendations for improvement of existing business programs to the management team.

• Ensure all business staff keep and maintain up-to-date and accurate records of activities, materials, sales, inventory and final products.

• Provide quality and timely delivery of all production reports, in their agreed format, as required by the customers, the finance department, the Executive Director and the Board.

• Advise the Management of any key forums and other networks that might serve RWMT and its ability to achieve its overall business objectives.

• Interpret and implement government policies that affect the business activities in the organization.

Product Development

• Ensure that needs assessments and cost benefits analysis are conducted in the target areas for Business Development initiatives.

• In conjunction with the business staff, decide on income generating initiatives to be undertaken and secure qualified staff for the initiatives.

• Oversee all production activities in the organization such as carpentry, tailoring, silkscreening, honey, etc, as well as all hire activities, such as tractor hire, bus hire, etc.

• Develop service charters for all business units to assure customer satisfaction

• Ensure that all production in the organization is cost effective and of the best quality.

• Oversee, review and monitor all production financials, such as P&Ls, with the Finance Manager, on a monthly basis, ensuring cost savings and profitability for the organization.

• Conduct regular Cost/Benefit analysis for all potential production and business growth initiatives, taking into account tangible and intangible costs and benefits.

• Support initiatives of other project units in business development activities, including community business initiatives.

Sales and Marketing

• Ensure enhanced access to markets both locally and beyond for products made by individuals, groups and project production units.

• Coordinate the assessment of client satisfaction in a bid to ensure constant improvement of

Business Development initiatives

Put forth a customer service initiative and training for all RWMT staff, to ensure continual and end-to-end customer satisfaction for all business activities.
Identify and develop new and existing referral sources to develop successful referring relationships.
Maintain good working relationships with existing clients previously to enhance client retention and new sales through referrals and references.
Provide content updates and support for the Rafiki website and Facebook, leveraging it as a sales tool.
Develop a diverse marketing campaign and tools to increase sales and awareness of Rafiki products and services.
Participate in Business Development program concept paper and proposal development for donor funding if applicable.

Skills Development

• Provide overall guidance to the skills development units of the project.

• Provide support supervision to the Business Development staff to ensure staff activities are planned efficiently, and are carried out effectively.

• Undertake periodic training needs assessment and develop appropriate training programs designed to address the identified gaps.

• Conduct regular business staff performance reviews, focusing on production quality, quantity, P&Ls, and business development skills for all business staff.

• The incumbent may be called upon to support and provide trainings to the organizations beneficiaries who are involved in the RTRC entrepreneurship and work readiness classes and/or Rafiki community IGA related projects.

Partnership, Networking and Collaboration

• Ensure strong partnership between RWMT with the government and other partners.

• Build trusting business relationships with local SMEs and other Kenyan non-profit organizations to market RWMT business ventures and encourage internship opportunities for RTRC students.

• Represent the organization in any relevant stakeholders meetings whenever called to.

• Ensure that the organization upholds the governments’ policies and procedures of providing quality Business Development services.

Rafiki Values and Ethics

• Share and instill the values of RWMT to the Business Development staff and the project beneficiaries.

• Keep and maintain the name of RWMT in high esteem and respect to the community.

Internal Administration

• Ensure the integrity of information collected and presented is not compromised in any way whatsoever.

• Maintain and keep up-to-date and accurate records and reports of activities and customers according to the organization’s requirements.

• Ensure that casual staff working under the Business Development are rotated and substituted appropriately using fair practices.

• Take part in the process of wage preparation for the casuals working with Business Development.

• Review the projects operational budgets in conjunction with the projects team and the Training Manager.

• Provide timely advice to the RTRC Manager as well as the Management Team on issues likely to affect/impact business implementation and revenues.

• The incumbent is part of the management and leadership teams and hence will be required to attend all the management and leadership meetings.

• Follow all RWMT inventory practices and procedures, and ensure all inventory items issued to the department are maintained in good condition and are stored neatly and in a secured room.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the Saturday Psycho-Social Support Program for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and build the community’s capacity to eventually run the Saturday PSS on their own.

• Perform any other duties and responsibilities which may be assigned by the management from time to time and which are related to the achievement of RWMT’s mission and vision.

Qualifications for the Business Development Manager Job

• At least five (5) years’ experience in a business leadership position that involves direct sales.

• The knowledge, skills and abilities may be required through a combination of formal schooling, self-education and prior experience or on-the-job-training).

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics or any other business related field with emphasis on entrepreneurship development.

• Financial, Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing or Quality management recommended.

Other Competencies

• Requires good interpersonal skills with ability to build personal relationships with business community, customers, Local Community Members, senior government officials, and staff.

• Must have strong sales and marketing skills.

• Must have developed good intercultural orientation and strong public relations skills.

• Should possess strong communication, negotiation, marketing, sales, and administration skills.

• Possession of a valid Motorbike license and ability to ride motorbike is desired.