About the role
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Business Development Manager with a demonstrable track record of securing solar PV business to play a key role in expanding the company’s presence across Kenya and the wider East African region.
The role is focused on originating, developing, and converting new business opportunities across the commercial and industrial, institutional, and utility-scale solar PV markets. Candidates must be able to provide clear evidence of their success in developing project pipelines, converting opportunities into signed contracts, and supporting commercial negotiations within the solar PV sector.
Your duties will include
Identify, develop, and secure new solar PV business opportunities across Kenya and the wider East African region, with a primary focus on utility-scale projects of 5 MW and above, while also pursuing C&I projects of approximately 1 MW per project.
Build and manage a qualified project pipeline, progressing opportunities from initial identification through to commercial negotiation and signed contract.
Lead project origination activities, including prospecting, client engagement, opportunity qualification, proposal development, and commercial positioning.
Develop long-term relationships with commercial clients, investors, developers, consultants, financiers, utilities, and strategic partners.
Support the development of market-entry strategies, pricing approaches, partnership structures, and tender responses aligned with the company’s technical, financial, and operational capabilities.
Lead market analysis to identify project opportunities, emerging trends, regulatory developments, and changes affecting the East African solar PV market.
Support the negotiation and structuring of commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, and power purchase agreements.
Work closely with technical, legal, and financial teams to assess project feasibility, commercial viability, contractual requirements, and project risks.
Represent the business at industry conferences, networking events, client meetings, and stakeholder engagements.
Your profile / our requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Economics, or a related field.
5 - 8 years of proven and demonstrable business development or sales experience within the solar PV sector, ideally gained within an EPC, developer, or closely related project environment.
A clear track record of originating opportunities, building a project pipeline, and converting qualified solar PV opportunities into signed contracts or awarded projects.
Strong knowledge of the East African energy market, with direct experience in Kenya and exposure to neighbouring East African markets strongly preferred.
Practical understanding of power purchase agreement negotiations, including key commercial terms, pricing structures, risk allocation, contract duration, payment arrangements, and stakeholder requirements, and experience supporting or participating directly in the negotiation of PPAs, commercial agreements, or similar energy offtake arrangements.
Demonstrated ability to build and manage strategic relationships with clients, investors, developers, financiers, consultants, and other project stakeholders.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
Strong commercial judgement and analytical capability.
Ability to work independently and effectively within multicultural and international teams.
Willingness to travel within East Africa as required.