Business Development Specialist

**Full Job Description**

**Position Title**: Business Development Manager

**Industry**: Food & Beverage

**Location**: Focus on South African and East African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa

**Reports To**: Director of Sales & Business Development

**Department**: Sales & Expansion Strategy

**Role Overview**

The Business Development Manager will drive the company’s expansion in South African and East African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, within the food and beverage sector. This role involves identifying business opportunities, building strategic partnerships with local distributors and retailers, navigating regulatory environments, and closing profitable deals. The objective is to enhance the company’s market presence and achieve substantial revenue growth through targeted client acquisition and strategic market penetration, all while managing allocated budgets effectively.

**Key Responsibilities**

1. **Market Research & Intelligence Gathering**
- Conduct comprehensive market research: Analyze consumer behavior, market trends, and competitor activities in South African and East African countries, with a primary focus on Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa.
- Regulatory Analysis: Understand and interpret local regulations, import/export requirements, and legal frameworks to inform market entry strategies.
- Strategic Insights: Provide actionable recommendations to internal teams based on market data and analysis.

2. **Market Entry Strategy**
- Develop and execute entry plans: Create detailed strategies for entering South African and East African markets, particularly Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, considering competitive landscapes and consumer demand.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure full compliance with local laws and regulations to facilitate smooth market entry.
- Risk Assessment: Identify potential challenges and develop mitigation plans to address market entry risks.

3. **Lead Generation & Prospecting**
- Develop prospect lists: Build and maintain a database of prospective clients through research and industry events.
- Qualify leads: Assess potential clients based on predefined criteria to prioritize high-opportunity prospects.

4. **Client Acquisition & Relationship Management**
- Aggressive client acquisition: Secure new clients, including distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and food service providers in South African and East African countries, focusing on Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa.
- Relationship building: Establish and nurture strong, long-term relationships with key stakeholders.
- Negotiations: Lead negotiations to finalize distribution and sales agreements that align with company objectives.
- Client onboarding: Oversee the onboarding process, ensuring a seamless transition and integration.

5. **Sales Growth & Target Achievement**
- Achieve sales targets: Consistently meet or exceed sales goals within South African and East African countries, particularly in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, driving rapid growth and market penetration.
- Sales strategy development: Design and implement aggressive sales strategies tailored to the specific needs of these markets.
- Pipeline management: Manage the sales funnel from lead generation to deal closure, ensuring efficient conversion rates.

6. **Networking & Partnership Development**
- Establish strategic alliances: Build partnerships with local trade associations, government agencies, and industry leaders to enhance market presence in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and other key countries in the region.
- Brand promotion: Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions to generate leads and increase brand visibility.

7. **Budget Management**
- Manage budgets efficiently: Oversee and manage the allocated budget for market entry, sales activities, and client acquisition, ensuring alignment with company financial objectives.
- Forecasting & resource allocation: Prepare accurate sales forecasts and allocate resources efficiently to maximize return on investment.
- Cost control: Monitor and control expenses to ensure that all activities remain within budgetary limits while achieving sales targets and market expansion goals.

8. **Reporting & Strategy Optimization**
- Performance reporting: Provide regular updates to senior management on sales performance, client acquisition progress, market entry initiatives, and budget utilization.
- Strategy refinement: Adjust strategies based on performance metrics, client feedback, and changing market conditions.
- Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with internal teams to adapt product offerings and marketing materials to local preferences.

9. **Logistics & Supply Chain Coordination**
- Ensure efficient delivery: Coordinate with logistics teams to guarantee timely and cost-effective delivery of products to Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and other South African and East African countries.
- Inventory m