KickStart International Africa Sales and Partnerships Director Job in Nairobi Kenya

Vacant Position: Director, Sales and Partnerships - Africa

KickStart International prides itself in being an award-winning, global nonprofit social enterprise that develops and mass- markets low-cost irrigation solutions that are bought by thousands of small-holder farmers in developing countries and used to increase their income by up to a factor of ten, enabling them to lift themselves sustainably out of poverty. 

Function: Sales and Partnerships (B2B or Institutional Export sales)

Location: Nairobi – Kenya with > 50% travel in Africa

Role Purpose: The Director Sales and Partnerships - Africa will be responsible for developing business and markets for Kick Start’s products and services in Africa outside our country programs.

Scope of Role: 

• Reports to: Director- Programs & Partnerships
• Staff directly reporting to this post: 3 Head of Partnerships & Sales for East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa & Executive Sales administrator  
• Works with: All KickStart Directors, Heads of Partnerships and Sales, Executive Sales Administrator, 

Nature and Scope: The position is mandated to develop markets for KickStart products and services outside country programs where KickStart operates through creation of partnerships and development of the private sector supply chain.

The Director of GIP (Global Institutional Partnerships and Sales) key focus will include:

• Business to Business Export Sales to countries outside our Country Programs through creation of partnerships with NGOs, Governments and the private sector supply chain and prepare them for in-country funding.
• Fund raising- Concept papers for funding, Conference & w/shop paper Presentations, feasibility studies.  Physical knocking on donor doors in various countries and making necessary follow-ups.
• Public Relations- Corporate Image of the Corporation. Attending to international enquiries by email or physically.  Attending interviews and presenting KS to development forums through paper presentations and/or participation. 
• Assist in the internal management of KS- Assist in the day to day coordination of activities. 

Key Performance Criteria

• Development of sales and marketing strategies
• Development of sales forecast on monthly basis
• Number of partnerships created 
• Number of distributors and dealers identified and trained
• Creating of end user database for impact monitoring and donor visits.
• Collection of receivables on monthly basis

Principle Accountabilities

• Prepare Key presentations that can be used by Heads of Partnerships & Sales to introduce KickStart solutions to partners in various countries.
• Prepare, attend and make presentations at International conferences to promote KickStart mission and Agricultural water management solutions.
• Identify sales opportunities by identifying and creating working business relationship with NGOs, relevant government institutions and other clients for the sale and marketing of KickStart products and development of sales opportunities pipeline. 
• Prepare and develop potential countries for donor funding on our expansion strategy.
• Set up new country programs 
• Recruit, train, coach and support Heads of Partnerships & Sales to achieve their sales target.
• Collaborate with marketing function to create marketing collateral and strategies for various Regions under GIP.    
• Ensure that KickStart meets its quantitative targets including trainings, post sales supports and create awareness to potential customers and close sales and achieve sales quota.
• Identify, recruit, train and manage distributors and their dealers or partners in all GIP Regions.  
• Representing KickStart at international trade fairs and exhibition.
• Assist the Impact Monitoring team on Impact Monitoring activities by creating a database on end users in GIP regions/countries.
• Provision of customer care services to all export clients from various clients in Africa and beyond on timely basis.
• Management and reporting on all export sales opportunities and receivables 
• Receiving requests and responding to customer inquiries on Sales and Marketing issues
• Assist in the recruitment, management of sales agents in potential countries within the region as deemed necessary.

Liaison with Supply Management

• Compile monthly sales forecast to streamline production forecast and delivery schedules in collaboration with Supply management.
• Liaise with Supply Management Department to ensure the availability and delivery of export goods within stipulated time frame and costs. 
• Liaise with Supply Management Department to establish product availability status for different technologies for sales.
• Liaise with Supply Management for shipping cost information for various quotes and destinations.  
• Organize the transportation of orders to clients in liaison with the Supply Management department. 

Reporting

• Monthly reporting on Projected forecast of sales and orders
• Monthly work plan
• Monthly sales against target
• Field reports
• Prepare quarterly board reports
• Receivables

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Development, Agronomy, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences or Social Sciences or related fields.
• 7 plus years of progressive responsible experience in Private sector, International Development, social enterprise or in providing management advisory services. 
• Prior experience in Africa and in the Agriculture sector. Prior working experience in East African, Southern Africa and West Africa a plus

Skills and Behaviours 

• Strong strategic as well as implementation skills
• Results/performance orientation; proven “self-starter”
• Business and Strategic planning skills as well as knowledge of finance budget management
• Sales and Marketing experience. Competency in consultative and solution selling. Commercially-minded and highly collaborative with proven sales experience and  record of results and clear “wins”
• Excellent customer focus and relations putting the customer at the forefront of the decision making process.
• Track record in people management and in setting of a high performing team
• Excellent personal communication & negotiation skills
• Strong analytical abilities and detail orientation
• Fluency in English while French speaking is an added advantage.
• Commitment to KickStart’s core values

If you feel you are the right candidate to fill this position, please send your CV and Cover letter to hr@kickstart.org quoting the position title on the subject line by COB 30th September, 2014.

(See www.KickStart.org for more information).