Jobs RK Consulting, Business Development Officer

Location
Arusha Mjini Arusha

Description

CLIENT:
Our Client is a well-established Safari, Touring, Hotel & Resort business based in Arusha, Tanzania. The Group Company boasts a well-known luxury boutique style hotel in Arusha catering to foreign tourists and affluent local patrons. It has won several awards and recognition, and is features on TripAdvisor, Expedia and other popular online international hotel booking sites. In May of 2016, the company opened a resort and tourist lodge located very close to a UNESCO world heritage site called the Ngorongoro crater. This lodge caters to medium-upper end tourists and visitors from within and out of the country.

The Group Company is seeking a well-qualified BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (BDO) to join its dynamic team of professionals, with a mandate to handle all aspects new business acquisition within the Eastern African Region & Overseas markets, strategize market positioning and achieve financial targets for the company’s hotel in Arusha and resort lodge at Ngorongoro.
This position is based in Arusha, Tanzania and will require selected candidate who resides out of the city of country to relocate.

SUMMARY:

The BDO will work in consultation with the General Manager at both the Hotel (Arusha) and Resort (Ngorongoro). He/she will have overall mandate and objective in following areas:

• Market Position: Maximize and improve market positioning in a competitive environment, within Eastern Africa Region and beyond overseas;
• Market Intelligence: Maintain extensive knowledge of current market conditions, trends, and expectations of clients.
• Business Development: Prospect for new clients, Identify business opportunities, negotiate and close business deals;
• Financial Targets: Achieve established financial growth targets and responsibility for maximum occupancy at the Hotel and Resort;
• Strategic: Define long-term business develoment, sales & marketing strategic goals to attract clients from within the region and overseas;
• Customer Growth & Relationship: Build and retain key customer relationships.

The BDO will partner with the Sales & Reservations department, and work with internal teams to increase and respond to sales opportunities, providing suitable solutions to the clients from Eastern Africa region and overseas markets.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION:**

• Prospect for new clients by networking, cold calling, advertising or other means of generating interest from potential clients such as using social media (Instagram, twitter, facebook, trip advisor), reservations channels (booking.com, JUMIA, Expedia etc).
• Plan persuasive approaches and conduct marketing pitches.
• Working with other internal teams, put together comprehensive proposals and/or responses to RFPs. These should provide win-win solutions for both the client and company.
• Contribute and provide inputs in pricing the solutions/services.
• Handle queries or issues by clarifying, emphasizing agreements and working through differences to a positive conclusion. (Use a variety of styles to persuade or negotiate appropriately).

 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES & PLANNING

• Craft campaigns, events and outreach programs designed to inform and attract high-end travellers and lovers of game parks, private, corporate or executives while providing tailored options and offerings. Penetration should be worldwide. Maintain a robust follow-up and follow-through system of staying connected and build rapport.
• Attend industry functions, such as association events and conferences, and provide feedback and information on market and creative trends. Generate new clients, ensuring follow-up, providing solutions and winning the client.
• Present to and consult with mid and senior level management on business trends with a view to developing new services, products, and distribution channels.
• Identify opportunities for campaigns, services, and distribution channels that will lead to an increase in sales.
• Using knowledge of the market and competitors, identify and develop the company’s unique selling propositions and differentiators.

CUSTOMER RETENTION & RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

• Manage all client requirements, concerns and issues ensuring top-notch service, swift responsiveness, solutions and successful resolutions are achieved.
• Present new products and services and enhance existing relationships.
• Work with technical staff and other internal colleagues to meet customer needs.
• Arrange and participate in internal and external client debriefs.

MANAGEMENT | REPORTING | MARKETING INTELLIGENCE | TARGETS

• Submit weekly progress reports and ensure data is accurate.
• Ensure that data is accurately entered and managed within the company’s CRM or other sales management system. The Hotel used OPERA system, and Resort uses IDS system.
• Maintain record of lost sales, analyze and work with marketing to take corrective action.
• Conduct market research, trends, competition, challenges & threats, and contribute to programmatic planning to convert opportunities to business deals in order to meet revenue targets and increase revenue streams.
• Contribute to forecasting sales targets and ensure they are met.
• Track and record activity on customers and help to close deals to meet these targets.
• Work with marketing staff to ensure that prerequisites (like prequalification or getting on a vendor list) are fulfilled within a timely manner.
• Conduct weekly meetings to review progress, threats and opportunities (SWOT Analysis), record actionable items and implement possible solutions to overcome constraints and challenges. Forward plan and drive upcoming activities, proposals and prospects.
• Identify skill gaps and competencies, plan and implement training programmes to keep staff at the highest level of skill necessary to meet company’s standards and objectives.
• Present business development guidance and mentoring to other internal staff.

BEST PRACTICE | ETHICS

• Ensure thorough, best-practice obligations and regulations are followed by all staff, at all levels, within each business line.
• Understand the company’s goal and purpose so that will continual to enhance the company’s performance.
• Keep management informed of area activities, changes in conditions, and significant issues for resolution.
• Promote an environment founded on the Company’s values of integrity, respect and fairness.
• Participate in community affairs and initiatives to promote corporate and environmental responsibility.
• Present a professional image in all dealings with the public including appropriate dress standards and behaviour.
• Promote a balanced team environment with a focus on continuous improvements, best practice and member focus.

 
ACADEMICS | QUALIFICATIONS | SKILLS | EXPERIENCE

A. ACADEMICS | WORK EXPERIENCE**

• Degree in Business Administration, Business Management, or Marketing is required. An MBA in addition would be a definite asset.
• At least 5 years of experience in business development, sales and marketing, or a combination thereof.

B. PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Must be able to prove demonstrated ability in business development activities, achieving targets, and building client base. Treats business like his/her own!
• Bring own networks, clientelle to the business; demonstrated ability to reach out to overseas market is highly desired.
• Outstanding networking, interpersonal, communication, people-management and relationship/rapport management skills.
• Strong presenter - influential, charismatic, genuine, and dress the part. Network as if every sale depended upon it.

Confidence & Communication

• Communicates effectively & comfortably in writing and verbally with internal & external ‘customers’, stakeholders, management and Board.
• Excellent communicator in English and Swahili, presentable, professional, well-groomed, well-attired.

Performance Focus

• Entrepreneurial Spirit! Compulsive solutions and results-oriented individual. Must be hands-on and out-of-box quick thinker, with an attitude to “get down and dirty” to get the job done or overcome crises situations. Work by example.
• Consistent in delivering performance standards and service levels.
• Tracks results and achievements against plan.

Technical Application | Computer Literacy

• MS Office application literate, with strong proficiency in MS WORD, POWER POINT, Advanced MS EXCEL skills.
• Working knowledge of Software packages. Quick learner of relevant software systems.

Apply for this job
Before applying, candidates MUST ENSURE their profile matches academic and experience of this job profile


ONLY THOSE WHO MATCH THE POSITION PROFILE WILL BE CONTACTED..

HIRING PROCESS: Pre-Screening, Interviews

REFERENCE SUBJECT LINE: “BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER- APPLICATION”

ATTACHMENTS REQUIRED:

CV in WORD Format
Cover letter: “Why I am the Right Fit for this Role” – Generic form cover letter will not be considered. To be evaluated for this role, your motivation letter must be directly related, demonstrating areas where your experience matches the Job Description. Live examples, along with demonstrated or measurable achievements showing outcome are desirable.
*Do not send large .pdf files at this time. Authenticated certificates, degrees and other academic credentials will be required at time of interview.

EMAIL TO ATTENTION OF: info.talent@rkconsulting.org (No phone calls please)