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Field

Details

Job Title

Senior - Business & Partnership Manager (Francophone Africa) 

Department and Location

Corporate Services, Abidjan

Incumbent Supervisor

Country Manager - IvC

Suggested start date

Immediately

Length of assignment

Permanent role subject to performance

Role Overview

The overall purpose of Senior - Business & Partnership Manager (Francophone Africa) is to meet and exceed sales targets and business goals by bringing Farmerline’s tools and services to clients and partners around the world. The role involves building a deep understanding of Farmerline’s technologies, products, services, and potential tools, translating these to fit the needs of a wide range of organizations (including but not limited to Local agribusinesses, Global Traders and Manufactures, Food Brands, Cooperatives/ Farmer groups, NGOs, Donors, Government institutions) working to improve the livelihoods of farmers and help create lasting profit for farmers everywhere. You will be evaluated based on partnerships initiated and managed successfully, and sales closed. The ideal candidate is a self-starter and a team player, has strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills and a deep understanding and network of the global commodity supply chain (especially Cocoa), agricultural digitalization and business intelligence and insight services.

Responsibilities

• Provide general support to Farmerline ’s business development processes by participating on concept notes and proposals and business development marketing materials: management plans, corporate capability statements;
• Stay abreast with key market trends and intelligence with the ability to seek new business opportunities and formulate sales strategies to capitalize on growing the business
• Generate sales leads, actively engage and manage a growing pipeline of potential partners (Local agribusinesses, Global Traders and Manufactures, Cooperatives/ Farmer groups, NGOs, Government institutions),  prioritize and build strategic relationships with them based on needs and alignment to Farmerline’s mission and business goals.
• Assess and convert leads with sales potentials from the Marketing and Communications team 
• Grow Farmerline’s market share across Africa in the digitalization of commodities sector, prospecting, cold calling, and networking within the global commodity trading/ sourcing, agricultural and nutrition security, and other relevant sectors with a primary focus on countries in Francophone West Africa.
• Research and identify new business opportunities - including new markets, growth areas, trends, customers, partnerships, products and services - or new ways of reaching existing markets
• Establish and develop relationships with key contacts in potential organizations to foster partnerships and business development opportunities.

• Leverage knowledge, experience and network in local and global market space to negotiate prices and secure deals from local and international businesses.
• Carry out sales forecasts and analysis and present your findings to senior management/the board of directors
• Understand the needs of your customers and be able to respond effectively with a plan of how to meet these needs
• Research and attend relevant seminars, conferences and events to expand network and boost sales potential
• Prepare proposals and conduct professional presentations to prospective and existing customers and partners
• Consultative sales and account management of new and existing partner  base 
• Become fully conversant on Corporate and Farmer Services operations, historical and current, and be able to support, advise and recommend to team and partners best approach for collaboration in order to achieve sales target and business goals

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters Degree in an appropriate field of study
• Successful track record in building partnerships, relationship management, and business development in the commodity industry (especially Cocoa) with increasing responsibilities with a minimum of 4 years of experience.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the business community, industry players in agriculture, customers, and colleagues
• Excellent organization, problem-solving and time management skills.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in French and English; especially budget and proposal writing
• The ideal candidate must have resided and worked in Ivory Coast for a minimum of 3 years 
• Demonstrated ability to learn new processes and adapt quickly to changing requirements and roles
• Proven experience in client prospecting,  negotiation, closing,  client relationships and meeting sales goals
• Advanced use in productivity tools and Sales CRM such as Pipedrive.
• Must be fluent in basic written and spoken English and French