REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE (RDE) – WEST AFRICA (GHANAIAN NATIONALS ONLY)
Company: Ghana HR Solutions
Location: Ghana
Category: Business Development, Management
Our client is a UK organisation providing finance to fair trade organisations around the world. Our client is seeking to recruit a Regional Development Executive (RDE) for their their operations in West Africa.
Role and Responsibilities
To represent client in Africa, concentrating on West Africa. Responsible for the daily management of the West Africa office reporting to the Business Development Manager (BDM). Responsible for the development of relationships with existing customers and driving new business by developing and building appropriate networks and partnerships in region.
Core Tasks
- Runs the day-to-day business of the Accra office
- Manages an assigned geographical area to maximise lending income, in line with corporate objectives, business plan, sales targets and lending limits
- Establishes, develops and maintains excellent relationships with existing and potential customers through effective communication (telephone, email, letter, visit etc)
- Contributes to the annual business planning and budget process by providing accurate regional sales forecasts
- Progresses requests for new facilities, collects information and prepares proposals for lending to new and existing customers
- Attends trade fairs, partner forums and other ad hoc activities involving customers & potential customers
- Develops and manages relationships with networks and partners within the region
- Establishes a regional Producer Committee and organises, chairs and minutes regular meetings
- Works closely with the Account Managers and as required follows up any customers not fully utilising their facilities
- Supports the annual review of customer facilities, helping to ensure that all required information is submitted
- Contributes to development of marketing strategy and materials
- Contributes to product development (both lending and capacity development products) in response to customer needs
- Liaises with external translation bureau/consultants as and when necessary
- Keeps abreast of competitors’ activities in the region
- Manages administrative assistant to ensure the smooth running of the regional office
- Communicates regularly with the BDM and other staff members to ensure good information and workflow
- Liaises closely with other RDEs and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (MEO)
- Works closely with the Account Managers, agreeing a contact plan for existing customers with the relevant Account Manager
- Works with other teams particularly CST, Foundation and SRT
- Develops and maintains relationships with key networks (Fairtrade International and regional initiatives, WFTO and regional secretariats and other FT & certifying bodies)
- Develops and maintains relationships with customers and other social lenders
- Keeps BDM & Business Development Assistant (BDA) abreast of the status of proposals in the pipeline, of travel plans and budgets (travel & operational budgets)
- Maintains accurate records using the agreed systems and ensures all local customer files are well organised with all documentation in English as well as any local language
- Contributes to the overall documentation of the in-market procedures, making recommendations for improvement as and when required (eg.proposals, customer relationship database, reporting etc.)
- Provides all relevant input to the BDM (eg.pipeline business, barriers/issues to achieve monthly profitability) to allow quarterly results assessments
- Provides case studies, articles and other reporting/internal communication as required in a format suitable for publication in members’ newsletters and Shared Interest Social Accounts
- Analyses market statistics of fair trade products to show sales potential and to dictate focus
- Carries out any other work necessary to maintain excellent customer service, and any other duties commensurate with this post, or as reasonably requested by senior management
Required Skills or Experience
Skills and ExperienceEssential:
- At least 2 years experience of working in a customer-facing role
- Excellent customer relationship management skills
- Numerate – able to understand and interpret financial reports and information
- Experience of working in and being sensitive to different cultures
- Detail-conscious and accurate
- Excellent report writing
- Experience of working, and building relationships, with others who are based remotely and good at building and managing relationships by phone
- Excellent communication, influencing and listening skills, including presentation skills and verbal and written communications with a wide range of people from different backgrounds
- Flexibility to work at operational level and assist Managers at strategic level
- Aptitude in credit appraisal
- Sound business analysis skills
- Results-focused, evidence of achievement of meeting and exceeding sales targets
- Excellent team-working and team-building skills
- Excellent networking skills
- Ability to deliver to tight deadlines – a completer/finisher
- Extensive local, regional knowledge
- IT literate – MS Office and the internet
- Self-motivated, proactive, organised and able to use initiative and to prioritise (self and others) in a multi-task environment
Desirable:
- Experience of working with SMEs (small and medium enterprises)/co-operatives
- Experience in a lending environment
- Experience of developing and maximizing partnerships with other organizations eg. NGOs, banks etc
- International Development background (Fair Trade an advantage)
Education and Qualifications
Essential:
- Maths & English at GCSE level or local equivalent
- Educated to at least degree level or equivalent (ideally in business, sales, finance or marketing or equivalent training in business or sales management)
- Or equivalent work experience
- Fluency in English both written and verbal
- Fluency in French both written and verbal
Within Society guidelines, policies and procedures the post holder will be expected to:
- Support the BDM in managing the team’s expenditure within the approved budget
- Submit all expense claims promptly and manage credit card expenses (if any) within the credit limit
- Gain line management approval to all purchase orders including agreeing travel in advance with their line manager
- Other
- Strong social motivation: commitment to, and empathy with, the aims and objectives of the Society and Foundation
- Flexibility: In general, Client is a small organisation, you may well be asked to cover for other members of staff during sickness, annual leave etc. As our clients work across different time zones, you will also need to be flexible regarding your hours of work
- Team working: as Client is a small organisation, getting along with your colleagues is essential. As part of your personal development programme, you will be asked to be a member of various cross-departmental project teams in order to meet specific objectives
- Fair trade and overseas development: it is essential for our employees to have an understanding of the main issues
- Willingness and ability to travel widely within the region and overseas.
