Ethiopia Business Leader

Job Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

About the Role:

The Business Manager will oversee sales, collections, and business operations across the country for Sun King’s direct distribution of solar products through the Pay-As-You-Go model, also known as the EasyBuy business unit.

The business operates through a large network of field sales representatives who engage customers directly within their communities. EasyBuy technology and services enable customers to purchase solar products through affordable instalment payments, making clean energy accessible to off-grid and rural communities.

The Country Business Manager will have overall accountability for sales performance, timely and accurate collections, and the sustainable growth of the direct distribution network.

The role will work closely with Regional Business Managers, Area Business Managers, Sun King Store Executives, Customer Executives, and Field Sales Executives across the country.

What you will be expected to do: Planning and Resourcing

• Deliver EasyBuy Direct and Retail Sales revenue targets. • Own delivery of quarterly and annual operating plan revenue targets for Ethiopia. • Maintain timely and accurate sales pipeline forecasts in line with established reporting cycles. • Contribute to annual business planning and target-setting activities. • Implement the go-to-market strategy with relevant EBD stakeholders to address priority markets and business opportunities. • Align territories with market potential and priorities, ensuring appropriate allocation of account management and sales resources with the relevant modality teams. • Ensure team members have clear opportunity management and relationship-building plans for effective territory coverage. • Establish regular performance management practices through feedback, coaching, development conversations, and the annual appraisal process. • Maintain current knowledge of market conditions and activity from other businesses in the sector, provide relevant insights, and contribute to appropriate business actions. • Manage the allocated country budget for field activities in a disciplined and effective manner. Strengthen Field Sales Processes • Review sales and collection performance regularly and provide appropriate coaching and assistance to improve results. • Conduct customer visits to gain insight into repayment behaviour and identify ways to improve portfolio performance. • Work with the Risk team to develop and improve processes that strengthen portfolio performance, while documenting and reporting identified gaps and opportunities. • Conduct regional and area profiling to identify differences across geographies and develop appropriate solutions based on local performance. • Develop and implement interventions to address performance gaps and enable sustainable improvement. Distribution and Channel Management • Recruit and retain sales teams, including employees and commission-based agents, through effective training, development, performance management, and engagement. • Facilitate recruitment, training, and onboarding of team members across their respective locations. • Communicate sales targets clearly and establish daily, weekly, and monthly operating routines that enable delivery against targets. • Develop route-to-market approaches that expand customer reach through home visits and engagement with key establishments, including marketplaces, schools, churches, supermarkets, malls, restaurants, hospitals, and other relevant locations. Corporate Sales Management • Develop institutional sales opportunities across HORECAs, MFIs, SMEs, and other relevant customer segments. • Partner with Marketing and Corporate Communications teams to develop partnerships and strengthen brand presence through trade fairs and corporate events. Marketing Campaigns • Coordinate the development and implementation of marketing activities with relevant teams and resources. • Partner with the Marketing team to develop digital media campaigns and promotions that increase customer engagement, traffic, and sales. • Develop targeted marketing activation campaigns in high-traffic locations, including malls and gated communities. Customer Service • Develop a customer feedback and resolution dashboard to track customer issues, identify recurring themes, and improve customer satisfaction. • Partner with the After-Sales team to address warranty concerns and after-sales service requirements.