Business Development Manager Challenges Group Zambia

About the Challenges Group

We are an international enterprise development organisation that delivers enterprising solutions to global challenges. We operate globally and have offices in six countries: Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, the UK, and Zambia

Our Approach

We have had the privilege of partnering with enterprise ecosystem support organisations across 78 countries.

Through working directly onsite with over 5,000 individual enterprises, our approach to enterprise support is rooted in tried and tested methodologies and our culture, then refined by 25 years of application. An innovative mindset underpins everything we do at Challenges Group. From our experience, we believe that real performance improvement is unlocked when there is an understanding of the business model and its delivery, the people, and the ecosystem. Then, to add value, Challenges Group must bring an innovation mindset to plan and support transformation.

Our History

We have been operating globally for 25 years across four continents

Since 1999, we have provided over 200,000 onsite consulting days, delivered £30 million in debt and equity financing, and supported more than 4,000 social businesses in 78 countries.

About the role

We are seeking to appoint a skilled Manager who will have oversight for our Zambia country team and delivery portfolio including overseeing the RISEE project, Scottish government funded projects and a wider portfolio of contracts.

As part of the Challenges Group, each Manager & Senior Manager is expected to hold at least one internal specialism that they can lead on within the wider group. These areas include: Youth Employment, Rural Programming, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, MEL, Finance & Accounting, Change Management, Investment, Proposal & Bid Writing:

Identify and access new opportunities that align with Challenges Annual Business Development Plan (50%)

• Manage and grow Challenges’ network and partnerships
• Lead in the development of proposals, ensuring submissions meet the required quality standards and timeframes
• Ensure proposal design, project design and delivery all meet Challenges’ and our client’s quality and ethical standards
• Work with project managers to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes are achieved within agreed timelines and within budget
• Lead the delivery of the Country Business Development Plan
• Draft and lead on the delivery of the Annual Business Development Plan, with support from Challenges Group Directors

Lead and Manage the Operation of the Challenges Country Office (25%)

• Be the Point of Contact for the Country Office for discussions with Challenges’ directors
• Ensure the timely submission of reports to Challenges Group and relevant in- country authorities.
• Ensure that Challenges has the necessary permits and licenses to operate

Line manage the in-country team, delivering upon the Challenges performance and appraisal process; coaching and mentoring the team as required (25%)

• Oversee the financial management of the Country Office, and track performance against agreed budgets.
• Proactively identify areas for development for the Country Office and Challenges’ offering, including skills development of team members; communicate these with Challenges’ Directors
• Support the Finance team in drafting and delivery of the Country budget.
• Support the Business Development Manager in the drafting of an Annual Business Development Plan for the Country Office and oversee performance of the team against those annual targets.

Personal Specification

Essential

• University degree or equivalent experience
• 8 years+ experience working at a similar position with responsibilities in the planning, winning and delivery of business growth support services
• Experience of managing a range of multifaceted projects across a range of geographies and sectors
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and professional network building skills
• Strong project management skills, including project development, monitoring and evaluation
• Knowledge of small and mid-size company finances, people, sales, marketing with the ability to analyze, recommend, and support implementation projects
• Confidence in supporting colleagues to learn and use continually improving methods of work
• Flexible and adaptable with an ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• High level of IT competence, particularly Microsoft Office
• Financial analysis and modelling skill
• Network / connections in the BGS/P&P ecosystem in Zambia
• Experience in developing concepts and proposals as well as managing client relationships

Desirable

• Experience in growing a portfolio of contracts across multiple geographies