About Shega - Shega is on a mission of elevating decision-making in Africa, through media, data & Intelligence services to elevate business decision making and empower businesses, development partners, and innovators with the tools and insights they need to grow. We also provide Agency Services to help brands and organizations connect with our expanding audience. By combining intelligence, an audience ecosystem, and tailored advisory, Shega partners with local and international private and development actors to catalyze innovation and informed growth.

Position Summary - Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for driving sales and building impactful relationships? We are seeking a dynamic Commercial and Strategic Partnerships Manager to lead our efforts in forging partnerships with corporates and development partners, driving revenue growth, and executing go-to-market strategies for our media, data, and advisory products. This role is perfect for a sales-driven leader who excels in fast-moving sectors like tech, media, and development, and is committed to nurturing lasting client relationships that foster both impact and growth. The role requires someone who is naturally great at driving sales and partnerships, fast learner, excellent communicator, and comfortable with technology.

Primary Responsibilities:

Forge Partnerships

• Identify, develop, and manage strategic partnerships with corporates and development partners to enhance the company's market presence and product offerings.

• Identify, prospect, cultivate and secure new business opportunities and manage strategic partnerships across sectors (e.g., Corporate, NGOs and Development Partners).

• Develop and implement strategies to drive revenue growth, including pricing models, sales incentives, and channel partnerships.

• Identify customer needs and new business opportunities, build relationships with potential clients, develop proposals, pricing, terms, negotiate and follow up opportunities and close deals.

• Design and execute client acquisition campaigns using various channels such as digital marketing, events, and partnerships.

Drive Revenue Growth

• Build and maintain a robust sales pipeline, implementing strategies to achieve and exceed revenue targets. Negotiate contracts and commercial terms, ensuring mutual value for Shega and its partners.

• Maintain a deep understanding of industry trends, challenges, and opportunities relevant to Shega.

• Gather data from various sources, and analyze to generate actionable insights, identify market trends, and uncover growth opportunities.

• Develop a growth roadmap that outlines short-term and long-term objectives, key milestones, and actionable steps to achieve business goals.

• Implement customer retention programs, personalized communication, and customer feedback loops to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

• Define and track KPIs to measure the effectiveness of business development activities. Prepare regular reports, highlighting progress, challenges, and recommendations.

Lead Go-to-Market Strategies

• Collaborate with senior leadership to define and implement go-to-market strategies leveraging Shega’s Data & Intelligence Platform, Media Ecosystem, and Services.

• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for media, data, and advisory products, ensuring successful market penetration and growth.

• Conduct market research to identify target audiences, trends, and competitive landscape.

• Formulate comprehensive go-to-market strategies tailored to media, data, and advisory products.

• Define and communicate unique value propositions to differentiate products in the market.

• Work closely with marketing, sales, product development, and other teams for alignment and execution.

• Design and oversee marketing campaigns to drive product awareness and adoption.

• Establish KPIs to measure success and adjust strategies as needed.

• Gather and analyze customer feedback to refine product offerings and improve market fit.

• Provide cross-functional sales teams with tools, training, and support to effectively sell new products.

Lead Sales Strategy and Internal Collaborations

• Identify and pursue leads in target markets, guiding them through the sales cycle. Develop quotes and proposals for potential clients.

• Promote Shega’s products and services by addressing clients’ objectives. Prepare contracts in compliance with legal standards.

• Attend industry events and conferences to build relationships with potential clients and partners.

• Align product offerings with client needs, guide development, and prioritize features that support growth.

• Coordinate with Insights & Advisory, Technology, Media, and Agency Services teams to create integrated client solutions and align growth strategies with marketing campaigns.

Manage Client Relationships

• Engage with clients regularly to understand their needs, address concerns, and identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.

• Nurture key client relationships, ensure client satisfaction and loyalty, and acquire new customers and manage existing client relationships effectively.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients, ensuring their business needs are met and fostering long-term partnerships
  

Knowledge and Skills

• Commercial and financial acumen - understanding of commercial activities, including scaling, expansion, business development, revenue generation, financial targets, and budgeting.

• Ability to develop and manage profitable partnerships with key stakeholders.

• Ability to develop and implement long-term growth strategies that align with Shega’s vision.

• Use data to inform decisions, measure the success of growth initiatives, and adjust as needed.

• Strong understanding of customer needs and the ability to enhance the customer experience.

• Strong proposal writing abilities, communication and presentation skills,

• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams, clients, and partners.

• Ability to lead and motivate a team, fostering growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions, business needs, and customer preferences.

• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills

• Goal driven and adept with building relationships.

Education and Work Experience

• A degree in business, marketing, or a related field is preferred.

• 5+ years of experience in business development, and sales with a proven track record of driving growth initiatives, and experience as a business development manager.

• Strong understanding of market dynamics, business strategy, and client management.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret market data and make informed decisions.

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with a focus on building long-term partnerships.

• Ability to develop and execute business strategies that align with company goals.

• Experience in developing strategic partnerships and alliances.

• Familiarity with industry-specific tools and platforms, CRM software, market analysis tools, and business development platforms.