Business Development Head/Commercial Manager

Please read the application process carefully before applying for this role. All applications should go to nwaiku@lagos-ahk.de

Organisational Objective:

Atmosfair Climate and Sustainability Ltd. is a Nigerian-German social company dedicated to fighting climate change and deforestation while promoting renewable energy, decarbonization, poverty reduction and rural livelihoods.

Reflecting the challenges in Nigeria, atmosfairs core business is to set up and operate a large-scale domestic clean cook stove production and engage in innovative financing, manufacturing and sales solutions for high class, shiny and efficient Save80 stainless steel cook stoves available predominantly in the northern rural areas of Nigeria at affordable market prices.

Role Overview:

The Commercial Manager will be pivotal in expanding the Save80 cookstoves project across Nigeria and neighboring countries. This role entails managing all sales and commercial activities to drive annual sales growth from 50,000 to 1 million cookstoves by 2025. The successful candidate will develop innovative business models, foster relationships with intermediaries and cooperatives, and build a high-performing sales team. Additionally, the Commercial Manager will collaborate closely with supply chain and marketing teams to ensure successful market penetration and maintain strong customer relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Managing all sales and commercial activities for the project.

• Growing sales from 50,000 cookstoves annually to 1 million per year.

• Developing business models, particularly for sales through banks and other microfinance institutions or organizations.

• Creating strategies to address the overall market, including offering financial options to all potential customers, especially in underserved regions (last mile/missing link).

• Establishing or strengthening relationships with intermediaries and cooperatives who can purchase cookstoves in bulk for resale.

• Expanding direct sales channels and setting up state-specific sales teams to maximize market reach.

• Recruiting, growing, and training the sales team across selected states to ensure deep market penetration.

• Implementing a clear and focused sales strategy to achieve growth and meet sales targets.

• Building and maintaining positive, long-term relationships with established customers through proactive account management.

• Executing the sales and marketing strategy of Save80 stoves across Nigeria, with a particular focus on northern states.

• Coordinating closely with supply chain management to monitor and optimize inventory levels.

• Engaging in hands-on operational tasks such as hiring local warehouses and business partners.

• Acquiring and managing local sales partners and negotiating contracts where necessary.

• Organizing cost-efficient logistics, including the shipment and handling of stoves and their components.

• Serving as the local point of contact for contractors, service providers, and local authorities, or establishing positions to manage these relationships.

• Building and leading a team of sales managers across the region.

This position reports to the General Manager of atmosfair climate & sustainability ltd. in Nigeria, and to the management team of atmosfair gGmbH based in Berlin, Germany.

As part of all these functions, you will report to the general manager of atmosfair climate & sustainability ltd. and the management of atmosfair gGmbH, based in Berlin, Germany.

Candidate Profile:

• A good university degree or a similar qualification, showing your business competence, added advantage degree in Marketing.
• At least 5 yrs corporate B2B and B2C direct selling and sales management/relationship, management experience in related industries.
• Practical experience in sales of products to low income target groups.
• Demonstrable success in business development tasks.
• Show a proven track record of work in the past with intermediaries and associations that multiply our reach and offer security.
• Candidate has experience with micro credits and cash flows
• Since the company is working in very close proximity with governmental leaders, the candidate needs to have worked in similar fields and feels comfortable talking and dealing with governmental institutions and their employees.
• The ideal candidate should have prior international work experience abroad
• Enjoys the art of selling and is willing to go hands-on when required.
• Proven records of high-performance sales.
• Ambitious and performance-driven personality.
• Affinity to numbers and metrics of business.
• Willingness to move to Kano and to work from Kano.
• Motivation to act against climate change.
• Business-fluent English knowledge. Language skills in other local languages (e.g. Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, or Fulfulde) are of advantage
• Ability to operate smoothly on political and international stage.

We Offer:

• Full-time permanent employment (freelance contract a possibility)
• Very good compensation, performance-based payments and career opportunities
• Opportunity to build up a sales team
• Top Class Products in an all-made-in-Nigeria Company
• Excellent brand reputation
• High-level government contacts
• A high-level task in combating poverty and climate change
• Dedicated and motivating colleagues in an organization with flat hierarchies

Salary: ~ 1.6 Mio. Naira (net) per Month + bonus opportunities & social benefits

Application Instructions:

We look forward to receiving your application. Please send the following documents by e-mail (attachment max 10MB) to nwaiku@lagos-ahk.de.

The deadline is the 7th of November 2024.

The e-mail should contain the following two attachments: Formatted in one PDF document:

• A short letter with information about your motivation and personal competences
• Tabular CV, including an indication of your desired salary
• Employment certificates from previous employers
• Certificates of your school and university education

if available: documentation of social/political involvement (leaflets, newspaper articles, websites, etc.)

Next steps:

1. Application

2. 1st and 2nd Level Interview

3. Paid test assignment

4. Invitation to in-person meeting in Kano and presentation

5. Final Interview with CEO of atmosfair gGmbH