Head of Business Development
Allied Talent Partners (ATP) is a marketplace that connects experienced professionals and climate experts, locally and globally, to climate-related projects in emerging markets and developing economies, with an initial focus on Africa. Our project-based work focuses on climate-related infrastructure (e.g., utility-scale solar & wind), platform businesses (e.g., rooftop solar, e-mobility, energy efficiency), governmental and regulatory bodies, power and water utilities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), donor agencies, and consulting firms.
ATP builds upon a proven model that has been applied in the US and Europe. These talent marketplaces help a client scope a project, breaking down work into a set of deliverables to be completed in a discrete amount of time. They then connect independent workers to fixed-term projects, representing a new and efficient way to get work done. ATP’s model leverages global trends in the way that work gets done, building more flexibility and autonomy into the market, and channelling people to work on interesting, mission-critical climate and energy projects.
By applying this model to climate in Africa, ATP aims to (1) grow the local and global pools of talent focused on climate, (2) connect talent more efficiently to projects, and (3) enable the transfer and development of key skills to local organisations.
The talent marketplace is the first phase of our broader ambition to enhance the talent development ecosystem across emerging markets and developing economies.
ATP is an early-stage, non-profit entity, looking to build and scale our operations and presence across the African continent.
Today, ATP has 7 FTEs based across Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg and the US.
Key Responsibilities
Role Description:
Allied Talent Partners (ATP) is seeking a seasoned, strategic, and results-oriented Head of Business Development to establish and lead a new business development team, steering ATP’s growth in the climate and clean energy space across Africa.
Allied Talent Partners (ATP) is seeking a seasoned, strategic, and results-oriented Head of Business Development to establish and lead a new business development team, steering ATP’s growth in the climate and clean energy space across Africa.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading sales and business development teams, building strong client relationships, and driving revenue growth in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. This role will oversee ATP’s Business Development team and will be responsible for setting strategy, managing execution, and ensuring ATP grows its qualified lead pipeline and deepens client relationships.
The role is based in Nairobi or Johannesburg, with expected travel across Africa and internationally to meet clients, attend industry events, and cultivate relationships that advance ATP’s mission and business goals.
Key Responsibilities:
Business Development Execution
- Actively lead from the front in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, leveraging existing networks, partnerships and market intelligence to secure high-impact clients and projects, and building new partnerships with clients and potential clients. Serve as a strategic thought partner, leveraging deep problem-solving skills, business acumen, and a nuanced understanding of client operations to uncover needs and help them craft high-impact discrete projects to address their unique challenges and unlock value through meaningful, consultative business development discussions.
Market Intelligence and Opportunity Analysis
- Oversee the monitoring of market trends, competitor activities, and client needs to inform ATP’s positioning and service offerings.
- Develop actionable insights to guide strategic decision-making and identify emerging opportunities in the climate talent marketplace.
Client Relationship Management
- Build and nurture relationships with key decision-makers in ATP’s target client sectors, including DFIs, climate-focused corporates, professional services, and financiers and investment firms among others.
- Oversee the development of tailored client engagement plans, ensuring a seamless client experience and that ATP remains a trusted partner for on-demand access to high-quality local and global talent for climate-related fixed-term projects.
- Follow through with priority clients on specific projects, and working with ATP’s talent and project delivery team to ensure successful project execution and a seamless client experience.
Business Development Processes and Tools
- Oversee the implementation and effective use of CRM systems and other tools to track pipelines, manage client interactions, and measure performance.
- Ensure accurate reporting on sales metrics, progress against targets, and forecasts to inform leadership decision-making.
Strategy and Leadership
- Develop, own and execute ATP’s business development strategy, focusing on growing ATP’s presence and reputation in ATP’s target markets.
- Lead and mentor the business development team, setting clear goals, measuring performance, and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
- Collaborate with other ATP teams/colleagues to align business development efforts with overall organisational goals.
Team Oversight and Development
- Provide guidance and support to the Business Development team, ensuring their success in meeting individual and team targets.
- Implement training and development initiatives to enhance the team’s skills in client acquisition, relationship management, and pipeline building.
- Regularly review and refine team structures and workflows for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a top-tier university with consistent outstanding academic record; Advanced degree or MBA is preferred.
Professional Experience:
- At least 10 years of relevant work experience, including 5+ years leading sales or business development teams.
- Proven success in growing client portfolios, developing relationships, and driving revenue growth in nascent and/or complex sectors and geographies.
- Experience working in or directly with one or more of the following industries:
- Official Sector: DFIs (e.g., World Bank, AfDB, IFC), intergovernmental organizations (e.g., UNEP, UNECA), bilateral aid agencies (e.g., USAID, GIZ). (highly preferred)
- Operating Companies in Climate/Clean Energy in Africa: Renewable energy companies, climate startups, or conventional energy firms and corporations looking for climate-related solutions.
- Professional Services, Development Platforms and Investment Firms: Management consulting / advisory firms; Investment firms and funders in the climate space; Infrastructure developers / platforms focused on large-scale funding and development of climate-related projects
- Proven record of high performance and substantial achievements in your past positions.
Technical Skills:
- Expertise in consultative sales and business development methodologies.
- Proficiency in using CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) for pipeline management and reporting.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and market trends to drive strategic decisions.
Competencies and Leadership Skills:
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to act as a thought partner to clients, understanding their business needs and tailoring solutions effectively.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
- Familiarity with Africa-focused markets and experience working across diverse cultural and geographical contexts.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a diverse team, drive performance, and foster a collaborative and results-driven culture in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and deliver impactful presentations.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a strong ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and clients
Other Characteristics
- Excited about working in a mission-driven organization that combines commercial and social impact goals.
- Comfortable working with an international team across Africa and beyond.
- Willingness to travel across Africa and internationally.
- Proficiency in French or other languages relevant to ATP’s target markets is an added advantage.
- Interest in being part of a growing, dynamic team
Travel within Africa and internationally expected up to 25% of the time.
If you are a dynamic leader passionate about growing a high-impact business and contributing to climate solutions, we would love to hear from you.
À propos de Allied Talent Partners
Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.
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