Country Manager - Business Development

Responsibilities

Based in Kenya, the successful candidate will serve as the Group's senior business development representative in the country. The role will build the market intelligence, relationships and qualified opportunity pipeline required to support the Group's growth across industrial, energy, infrastructure and related sectors.

This is a highly strategic position for a commercially driven leader who combines strong local market knowledge, senior stakeholder access and a proven ability to originate and advance significant business opportunities.

• Develop and execute an annual business development strategy for Kenya, aligned with Group priorities.
• Identify, assess and shape new business opportunities and maintain a structured, quantified pipeline.
• Prepare clear opportunity briefs and coordinate the required market, commercial, technical, financial, legal and risk assessments.
• Recommend whether opportunities should progress, be paused or discontinued in line with the Group's approval process.
• Monitor political, economic, competitive and regulatory developments in Kenya and provide timely market intelligence and early warnings.
• Build trusted senior-level relationships with government institutions, regulators, national companies, customers, investors and strategic partners.
• Support the Group's engagement on licences, approvals, concessions, investment facilitation and strategic partnerships.
• Identify potential customers, distributors, suppliers, investors, joint-venture partners and technical partners.
• Lead early-stage commercial discussions and support negotiations until approved opportunities are transferred to the relevant business unit.
• Coordinate executive visits, presentations, negotiations and follow-up actions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead and develop the local business development team, manage the approved budget and ensure high-quality monthly reporting.
• Ensure that all stakeholder engagement, commercial activity and commitments comply with the Group's governance, integrity and approval requirements.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, engineering, finance, international relations or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Typically 12 to 15 years of relevant experience, including senior responsibility in business development, investment, commercial management, government-facing projects or industrial development.
• Strong and current knowledge of Kenya's political economy, institutions, business environment and decision-making networks.
• A proven record of originating, structuring and advancing material business opportunities, beyond relationship management alone.
• Relevant exposure to industrial, energy, infrastructure, mining, logistics or other capital-intensive sectors.
• A Kenyan national or a candidate with substantial, credible and recent experience in the Kenyan market.
• Strong commercial judgement, strategic thinking and negotiation skills.
• The credibility and communication skills required to engage confidently with senior government and business leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead across functions and operate effectively in a complex group environment.
• High personal integrity, sound judgement and strict respect for governance and compliance requirements.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French would be a distinct advantage.
• Enterprise and strategic thinking
• Opportunity origination and commercial judgement
• Government and regulatory engagement
• Negotiation and influencing
• Cross-functional leadership
• Executive communication
• Integrity and sound judgement