Lead, Business Development, Enterprise at African Management Institute (AMI)

Job Description

This role is pivotal in catalyzing the expansion of our B2B training initiatives across Africa, steering our efforts towards meaningful skill development across the continent. The successful candidate will be strategically located in Nairobi or Lagos, embedding themselves within a dynamic, international team that is unwavering in its pursuit of excellence. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this individual will be instrumental in sculpting the business development strategy and will have the robust support of a seasoned product and marketing team

The ideal candidate for the Lead Business Development Manager role must be a visionary leader with a strategic mindset. They will possess a strong acumen for metrics-driven sales strategies and demonstrate exceptional analytical skills to deeply understand the learning and development landscape of organizations across diverse sectors. Leveraging their substantial experience and insight, they will guide our esteemed learning design team to develop and pitch comprehensive, tailored solutions that meet the intricate needs of our clients.

This role demands a proactive, self-motivated individual who is adept at navigating complex sales environments and is committed to establishing AMI as the preferred partner for enterprise learning and development across Africa.

Responsibilities

Strategic Sales Leadership

• Design and implement a comprehensive sales strategy across the enterprise division, ensuring alignment with AMI's broader objectives.
• Mentor and manage a team of Business Development Managers, setting clear targets and holding them accountable for their performance.
• Champion the development and refinement of sales processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness across the team.
• Oversee market research to identify and capitalize on trends, opportunities, and competitive threats within Africa's training services sector.
• Direct efforts to tailor AMI's solutions to the unique needs of diverse African regions, ensuring relevance and impact.

Business Growth

• Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with key stakeholders and industry partners to support strategic enterprise growth.
• Spearhead the sales cycle, from lead generation to deal closure, nurturing key accounts, and ensuring the upsell of AMI products.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver customized training offerings that resonate with our clients' evolving needs.

Brand Representation

• Act as a key ambassador for AMI, representing our values and mission in the marketplace, both online and at industry events.
• Partner with the marketing team to develop promotional strategies that enhance AMI's brand and drive business leads.

Insight and Analysis

• Provide strategic insights to the leadership team on market dynamics, ensuring AMI remains at the forefront of executive leadership training.
• Offer feedback from the field to inform and shape our product development, ensuring our offerings remain cutting-edge and market-relevant.

Requirements

Skills & attributes

• Proven success in consultative sales and B2B business development with a preference for SaaS experience
• A drive and tenacity to develop completely new sales
• Ability to generate new leads and relationships and systematically convert those leads
• Ability to sell management education, corporate training and/or enterprise development
• A commitment to AMI’s values of excellence, innovation and accountability
• Clear and effective communicator – both written and verbal
• Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Enthusiasm for AMI’s mission to drive prosperity and growth in Africa by enabling ambitious businesses to thrive, through practical tools and training
• Preference will be given to African candidates

Education and Experience

• 7-10 years of sales experience, specifically selling consulting or business services (B2B)
• Documented success managing a full sales cycle
• Direct experience working on client accounts
• Experience writing business documents such as proposals and training presentations
• Experience working in an entrepreneurial or high-growth environment (essential)
• Experience using Sales force or other CRM systems desired