Vacancy: Head of Strategic Partnerships
The iHub, an innovation hub and hacker space for the technology community in Nairobi, is considered the most successful tech hub in Africa and one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
The iHub, an innovation hub and hacker space for the technology community in Nairobi, is considered the most successful tech hub in Africa and one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
It has
played a pivotal role in growth of the tech community outside of Nairobi
through advisory services resulting in the establishment of hubs in Mombasa,
Kisumu, and Rift Valley.
This
incubator space represents a vibrant community of tech innovators and
entrepreneurs looking to build and scale tech startups.
Over
the past few years, iHub has cemented itself as the nexus point not just for
the Kenyan tech community, but the world.
The iHub’s vision is to create an ecosystem for innovation and technology to solve pressing issues in which those innovations spur entrepreneurial ventures that create jobs and promote human capital development and opportunity.
The iHub’s vision is to create an ecosystem for innovation and technology to solve pressing issues in which those innovations spur entrepreneurial ventures that create jobs and promote human capital development and opportunity.
We believe
that our collective experience can usher in a paradigm shift of innovation-led
development that gives people the tools to invent solutions to the pressing
issues they face each day, such as access to quality education, healthcare,
food security, and poverty.
We aim
to provide the capacity, education, and services needed for these inventions to
turn into entrepreneurial organizations that can scale up to increase
employment opportunities, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.
Today, the iHub is entering a new chapter where they will sharpen their service offerings, become more profitable, and find and grow leading, innovative and forward thinking start-ups.
Today, the iHub is entering a new chapter where they will sharpen their service offerings, become more profitable, and find and grow leading, innovative and forward thinking start-ups.
To
this end, the iHub is expanding their leadership team and is seeking to hire a
Head of Strategic Partnerships.
The
role is responsible for leading the expansion of the iHub through key strategic
relationships, generating leads and promoting the iHub’s services.
Job Summary: The Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships position requires a leader with a presence and creative vision, highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrable ability to influence senior stakeholders, both internal and external, and innate drive to meet targets and objectives.
Job Summary: The Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships position requires a leader with a presence and creative vision, highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrable ability to influence senior stakeholders, both internal and external, and innate drive to meet targets and objectives.
This
position plays a critical role in the development of our overall partnership
and sales strategy, and s/he will be responsible for the execution and ongoing
optimization of a broad range of partnerships and leads.
Therefore
s/he must be a keen strategic thinker with a passion for leading innovation,
advancing the impact of the iHub’s community team, business development, and
driving the growth of the iHub services.
S/he
will be able to build trusting and productive relationships across all areas
and levels as well as also hone and deepen existing ones.
The
candidate will report to the CEO and work closely with the senior management
team.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Director of Sales & Strategic Partnerships are outlined below:
Senior Leadership Team Responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Director of Sales & Strategic Partnerships are outlined below:
Senior Leadership Team Responsibilities
- In
conjunction with the Board and senior management, develop a partnership
strategy designed to maximize revenue by securing new partners for long
term, mutually beneficial, relationships;
- Develop
systems and procedures in support of the identification, engagement, and
development of strategic partnerships;
- Work
closely with a broad range of cross-functional stakeholders and understand
the full scope of iHub’s services and potential while bearing in mind industry
trends and strategic opportunities to partner;
- Contribute
to a thriving culture for the entire organization and positively promote
the iHub’s strategic objectives internally and externally;
- Contribute
proactively to, shape and successfully implement strategic and annual
plans;
- Cultivate
and offer focused strategic thinking, planning and decision making that
accomplishes strategic objectives;
- Lead,
manage and develop assigned staff to meet strategic sales and annual
goals;
- Create
messaging, talking points and scripts for the iHub team to communicate the
broader impact of the iHub and to communicate the types of services
offered;
- Develop
and implement a pricing and discount strategy to maximize iHub profits
while maximizing the iHub’s impact; and
- Manage
the related budgets and responsible for meeting fiscal goals
Lead
Generation
- Create
and implement a plan to generate enough leads to support significant
growth;
- Identify
target markets, create a marketing plan, budget appropriately, and work
effectively with the Marketing team to implement sales messages based on
overall strategy;
- Track
the results of lead generation activities and recommend changes based on
what is working most effectively to generate quality leads that convert to
new groups; and
- Maintain
a long term perspective, understanding the sales cycle and the number of
leads needed to meet current and future goals.
Strategic
Relationships
- Create
and implement a strategy to identify and pursue partners with the capacity
to greatly impact the iHub community and contribute to increase in sale of
iHub services;
- Initiate
relationships by scheduling appointments, identify the mutual win, make
initial presentation, and engage the team as needed;
- Develop
partner networks and strategic partnerships locally, regionally, and
internationally;
- Coordinate
the management of ongoing relationships with existing partners and where
relevant, leverage those relationships to greater collective impact;
- Collaborate
with cross-functional teams within the iHub to structure and execute
business initiatives, lead analysis and develop and communicate final
recommendations for growing partner relationships;
- Provide
timely and accurate reporting of pipeline, strategic partnerships and
management activities;
- Drive
the process of establishing Memo of Understandings between the iHub and
the strategic partner by building rapport; defining success; overcoming
objections; preparing contracts;
- Manage
existing and new strategic relationships by reporting, fostering
excitement and expressing appreciation on behalf of the iHub; and
- Deliver
professional sales presentations to potential partner organizations and
clients with the ability to persuade and close
business.
Sponsor
Relations
- Create
strategy to acquire, retain, and grow sponsor relationships bearing in
mind annual revenue and expense budgets;
- Oversee
sponsor communication and processes to ensure quality service and aid in
retention;
- Integrate
sponsor relationships throughout the organization as needed and ensure
clear communication; and
- Execute
strategic sponsorships; host and speak at key startup events, dinners; and
create mini-events as needed.
Job
Requirements
- Bachelor’s
Degree in related field;
- Minimum
of seven years (7) professional experience;
- At
least three to five years(3-5) of experience in strategic sales or
business development;
- Knowledge
and understanding of the context in Kenya and Africa as it relates
to innovation, start-ups and the tech industry;
- Self
motivated team player with a proven ability to work with aggressive
individual and team sales goals;
- Superior
knowledge regarding the practices and principles related to the sale and
implementation of corporate partnership;
- Ability
to establish and maintain strong working relationships with clients,
investors, donors, and colleagues;
- Proven
ability to find strategic partnerships that have led to increase revenue
and contracts and leveraged further opportunities;
- Proven
ability to negotiate and work with high level executives, both internally
and externally;
- Strong
analytic skills (financial, budgeting, planning, and operational);
- Demonstrated
drive to solve problems in a matrix team environment and leading with high
energy and a positive attitude;
- Demonstrated
success in that role and tangible experience of having expanded and
cultivated existing partnerships over time;
- Experience
of working as part of a senior management team and leading organizational
strategy;
- Strong
relationship building skills and an entrepreneurial approach that
leverages further opportunities;
- Strong
executive presence with excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Experience
working in and interest in startups and the startup community with a
strong understanding of technology trends and innovation;
- Supervisory
and teambuilding experience with the ability to engage, mentor, lead, and
motivate team members; and
- Ability
to plan, effectively, and to delegate.
How to
Apply
If you believe you qualify for this position, please apply for the position by
sending your CV to recruitment@dpckenya.com
Only shortlist candidates shall be contacted
Candidates are reviewed immediately and interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis until a candidate is secured.
Only shortlist candidates shall be contacted
Candidates are reviewed immediately and interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis until a candidate is secured.