KickStart’s best selling devices are their human-powered, MoneyMaker irrigation pumps. These low-cost pumps are sold in local retail shops and enable famers to move from subsistence to commercial irrigated farming. The farmers grow high value crops throughout the year, increase their net annual incomes by over $900 and lift their families out of poverty. Over 110,000 farmers across Africa are already using these pumps, and presently over 2,500 more pumps are being sold every month.
KickStart is seeking an experienced and dynamic Program Director to lead its Sales & Marketing operations in West Africa.
The preferred base for this position is Bamako, Mali with frequent travel within Mali and Burkina Faso and to other parts of West Africa.
The Job Opportunity
The successful candidate will develop, manage and lead, all of KickStart’s sales and marketing operations in West Africa. They will report to KickStart’s COO in Nairobi, Kenya. And will manage and grow KickStart’s on-going sales operations in Mali and Burkina Faso and expand KickStart’s foot print in West Africa to other high potential countries.
The major job responsibilities will be:
* Developing and implementing marketing and sales plans for MoneyMaker pumps in West Africa. With the aim of maximizing sales, social impacts, market share and profitability. This will be done primarily through:
o The selection, development and management of a strong private sector importer and distributor network
o The expansion of on-the-ground marketing and sales efforts in Mali and Burkina Faso by working with/training the appointed distributors and retailers and marketing to NGOs and other players working with small-scale farmers
o The recruitment and development of new pump customers including NGOs, Agri-businesses and government bodies throughout West Africa
o The development of dynamic partnerships with NGOs, Agri-businesses, MFIs, banks, and multi-lateral/bi-lateral and local donors/governments in the region
* Developing, managing and mentoring KickStart’s staff in Mali and Burkina Faso to ensure they work as a proactive, ethical and high performing team
* Developing and managing to a budget, and ensuring timely and accurate tracking of KickStart’s activities, finances, sales, receivables and social impacts, and reporting on the same to senior management, partners and donors.
Required Qualifications:
Skills, Experiences, and Competencies
* Shares KickStart’s values and believes in its Mission
* 10 plus years of sales experience with a strong customer focus
* At least 3 years experience living and working in Sub-Saharan West Africa
* Good understanding of the agricultural market in West Africa preferred
* People Management Experience – managing, mentoring, and developing a high performing team
* Financial management experience – developing and managing operational plans, budgets, customer accounts and collection of receivables
* Results/Performance Orientation – proven “self-starter” who is flexible and adaptable
o Able to work effectively in an unstructured and fast moving environment with limited guidance and oversight
o A can-do entrepreneurial spirit
* Excellent oral and written communication and negotiation skills
* Strong analytical abilities and detail orientation – including Microsoft Excel skills
* Fluency in French and English required.
o Bambara or other West African languages will be a plus
* Willingness to travel for up to 50% to 60% every month
* Bachelor degree required. MBA preferred.
* Shares KickStart’s values and believes in its Mission
* 10 plus years of sales experience with a strong customer focus
* At least 3 years experience living and working in Sub-Saharan West Africa
* Good understanding of the agricultural market in West Africa preferred
* People Management Experience – managing, mentoring, and developing a high performing team
* Financial management experience – developing and managing operational plans, budgets, customer accounts and collection of receivables
* Results/Performance Orientation – proven “self-starter” who is flexible and adaptable
o Able to work effectively in an unstructured and fast moving environment with limited guidance and oversight
o A can-do entrepreneurial spirit
* Excellent oral and written communication and negotiation skills
* Strong analytical abilities and detail orientation – including Microsoft Excel skills
* Fluency in French and English required.
o Bambara or other West African languages will be a plus
* Willingness to travel for up to 50% to 60% every month
* Bachelor degree required. MBA preferred.
How to apply
If you believe you have what it takes to handle this exciting opportunity, kindly email your one page Application Letter, together with your CV (maximum of 3 pages), with the position in the subject line of your email to HR@kickstart.org by July 15, 2011.You can now click on this link www.careerstom.com to visit our career centre for a more incisive advice from experts.
