The role
As a business developer, you open new markets and partnerships for your company. You identify prospects, pitch to decision makers, prepare proposals and negotiate contracts, then hand over signed clients to account teams. You also feed back market insights to management to shape strategy and pricing.
Who is hiring
Fintechs, SaaS start-ups, logistics and energy companies, consulting firms and diaspora businesses expanding into new African countries hire business developers. The role mixes remote work with travel to meet partners, and some positions cover several countries at once.
Background and career path
Business developers often hold a business school or commerce degree, sometimes after a first job in sales or consulting. They grow into business development manager, country manager or head of partnerships.