Business Development Officer

Division: Strategy and Growth

Department/ Section: Business Development Services

Location / Work station: Nairobi, with expected field travel

Reporting to Consulting Services Manager

Related reports Operations & Logistics, M&E, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Marketing teams.

Direct Reports Relevant Program Staff allocated to the department.

Job Purpose

Together with department head, to identify, undertake the development and execution of new business opportunities aligned to the core business of SRC of offering business development and advisory services, access to finance linkage and access to markets linkage.

Supporting administrative and programmatic activities representing the organization’s interests..

Key Responsibilities / Duties

Strategic Responsibilities

Support in Program Development and Management:

Program Leadership:

• Together with the department head, develop and implement the overall program strategy in alignment with the organization’s mission and objectives.
• Together with the department head, provide support and guidance to business development managers, program managers and staff to ensure successful execution of programs.
• Together with the department head, develop goals for the business development team and business growth and ensure they are met.

Program Development:

• Proactively identify opportunities for program growth and expansion that lead to the growth of the business of SRC.
• Work closely with stakeholders to conceptualize and design new programs that address community needs and aligned to the organization’s mission and objectives

Risk Management:

• Together with the department head, Identify potential risks and challenges related to program implementation.
• Together with the department head, Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure program success.

Quality Assurance:

• Establish and enforce program quality standards and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and ethical standards.
• Foster and protect SRC brand and image.

Fundraising Strategy:

• Together with the department head, proactively identify opportunities that lead to the growth of the business.
• Together with the department head, develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure financial support and contracts for programs.
• Together with the head of programs, identify and cultivate relationships with potential donors, sponsors, and partners.
• Together with the department head,, explore diverse fundraising avenues, including grants, consulting contracts, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and events.

Projects Proposal Development and Implementation

• Together with the department head,, research and identify potential funding opportunities, project opportunities that align with the organization’s mission and objectives.
• Together with the department head,, write compelling project proposals and applications, ensuring accuracy and alignment with funding guidelines.
• Together with the department head,, manage the proposal application process from submission to reporting.
• Once a proposal is awarded, support in the project management and technical implementation of the activities from contracting until close of project, This will involve SRC client management, managing SRC staff and consultants allocated to the project, managing SRC resources in the project, briefing the CEO on progress of the project.
• Support the SRC incubation centers in product development for the benefit of SMEs.
• Undertake a ToT from the organization, adapt and train entrepreneurs in the organization’s cohorts in entrepreneurship, investor readiness, undertake market assessment.

Partners / Clients Engagement and Stewardship:

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and implement stewardship activities to recognize and appreciate clients’ contributions.
• Keep donors, partners informed about program achievements, impact, and financial stewardship.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Work closely with the CEO, program managers, strategy, finance and other stakeholders to ensure alignment of fundraising and programmatic goals.
• Effectively communicate programmatic successes and challenges to internal and external audiences.

Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities

• Together with the department head, Monitor and ensure 100% compliance to all the company policies, processes, procedures and other controls
• Together with the department head, Engage with management in broader organizational strategic planning.
• Together with the department head hold training and coaching sessions with the SRC team members to ensure that they are skilled in business development and up – skilled to deliver on their targets and handle clients
• Together with the department head, play a championing role in liaison with technical teams to co – develop innovative solution for SRC clients
• Monitoring and Evaluation: (Together with the department head)
• Establish and implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess program effectiveness and impact.
• Analyze data and feedback to make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
• Develop goals for the business development team and business growth and ensure they are met.
• Devise and execute new business development strategy, growth plans and consequently handhold and manage new and existing projects as allocated.
• Foster a collaborative and positive working environment that encourages innovation and creativity

Operational Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all statutory, legal and regulatory requirements in the operations of all beneficiary businesses.
• Sales performance monitoring and planning through participation in various meetings addressing periodic targets, performance, and progress of business leads. Generating accurate periodic reports to be used at the operational and strategic levels
• Communicate with other teams within the company to ensure that the projects are well understood, and that the information is always shared to the relevant staff
• Ensure that beneficiary businesses maintain high ethical standards and that any incidences of corruption and malfeasance are dealt with.
• Review financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement and to determine areas needing improvement and probable interventions to improve beneficiary businesses
• Maintain awareness of the business, economic and political environment as it affects the beneficiary businesses.
• Take remedial action where necessary and informing SRC of significant changes recommended.

Job Dimensions:

Financial Responsibility:

The holder of the role will oversee the prudent utilization of financial and other resources allocated to their office they oversee in the implementation of SRC programmatic and administrative activities.

Decision Making:

The role is responsible for decision-making in matters affecting the Business Support component implementation on behalf of SRC within its various programs

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).

Academic Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in economics, business, finance, agriculture, Food Production, Animal Health, Agricultural Economics, Livestock Management, Veterinary Services, Sales, or any other relevant degree

Certifications/ Professional Qualifications

Professional qualifications are added advantages in business related courses.

Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies

Any Relevant Professional Body

Previous relevant work experience required

At least two years’ work-experience working within business development departments. Demonstrated ability to deal with a wide array of private sector, governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.

Functional Skills:

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and decision making skills
• Financial and risk management skills
• Ability to engage other agencies, donors and development stakeholders
• Deeply practical and able to change theoretical hypothesis into actionable solutions.

Behavioral Competencies/Attributes:

• Ability to set goals and pursue them until finality
• Ability to make new and useful ideas work and to get things done
• Ability to persuade others to follow
• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform