Business Development Officer at Kenya Association of Travel Agents

About The Role

• As a member of our Business Development team, you will develop, implement, and manage the strategy to grow the association’s membership and delivery of the KATA value proposition. The position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of business objectives, establishing, and managing strategic partnerships to ensure profitable growth. This position is perfect for an engaging, personable, enthusiastic, sales-focused, client-committed, and highly successful relationship leader to work closely with the marketing and communication teams within the Association. You must have a strong understanding of customer support and brand success. Growth will be driven through relationship building, working with the Association’s partners, members, and external stakeholders, and through new client engagement. You will have an in-depth knowledge of the travel industry, an understanding of the challenges travel agents face, and a genuine passion for tourism and travel.

Roles and Responsibilities

Business Development

• Develop proactive member recruitment and retention strategy, with regular reviews, maximizing specific business opportunities as they arise.
• Research and identify new business opportunities - including new partnerships, sponsorships, advertisement, products and services
• Conduct regular research to identify new markets and customer needs
• Arrange business meetings with prospective partners, sponsors and advertisers
• Planning and overseeing new marketing initiatives.
• Oversee the management and execution of events, conceptualizing in-house events, joint events and sponsorships for raising brand awareness, database acquisition and leads generation
• Generate and follow up new business leads to meet business development and profitability targets in line with overall strategy.
• Keep abreast of all developments in the market both client and competitor-related, contributing to new product development/business initiatives accordingly.
• Attend and participate local and international events/fairs/conferences and international Travel and Trade Exhibitions.
• Participate in key projects, events, meetings as may be required

Partnership Management

• Continuously adjust strategies as markets and technologies change to maintain strong existing relationships whilst actively targeting new business opportunities
• Manage partner and stakeholder relationships by proactively implementing innovative improvements to add business value to our partners and create win-win collaboration.
• Organize, prepare, and lead partner satisfaction reviews with clients to discuss observations & trends, and determine focus areas for improvements that drive sales and mutual profitability.

Stakeholder Facilitation and Communications

• Engage with stakeholders at multiple levels: informing, consulting, and collaborating.
• Lead outreach efforts with Strategic Partners and coordinate amongst the department to track progress on planning tasks related to meetings, trainings and other convenings.
• Coordinate regular check-ins with marketing and communication team and track action items as needed.
• Support partners and stakeholders in accessing key information, facilitating collaboration and ensure efforts are aligned with high – level strategic advocacy and engagement priorities.
• Support the development of reports resulting from the range of advocacy and market engagement initiatives by contributing to concept notes, drafting implementation plans, and conducting market research.

New funding and proposal development

• Pursues new sponsorship and revenue generating partnership opportunities for the association from private sector entities including corporations, foundations, and destination marketing companies
• Ensures that the association’s funding needs and priorities are well represented among the association’s teams and leadership on an ongoing basis
• Identify new areas of work that can be proactively worked up and offered to new partners
• Manage proposal development processes as required for business opportunities for the association
• Reviews budgets and supporting documentation for the association’s activities in coordination with the Finance Department and assists in creating budgets when necessary.
• Maintain an up-to-date record of all partnerships to inform effective and timely delivery of partner value

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communication, Business, or related field.
• At least 5 years' experience marketing and business development, advocacy communications strategies, media relations
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• Ability to communicate complex concepts concisely.
• Ability to research, prepare and deliver client presentations in a range of formats and settings.
• Effective relationship builder with outstanding people skills
• Excellent time management and project management skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Fast thinker/problem solver with the ability to work in fast-paced environments
• Team player, able to partner and collaborate with many organizations and functions at all levels
• Ability to work independently to achieve ambitious new business targets
• High level consultative Business Development/Negotiation/Influencing
• Regulatory awareness
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information and strong attention to detail
• Leadership and people management