West Africa Business Development Manager. (Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal)

BURN; Batu Pahat; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturer of kitchen appliances is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to drive the expansion of its B2B business in West Africa. The role requires a seasoned professional who will manage distributor agreements and build strong relationships with trade communities. Candidates must have over 5 years of experience in business development, particularly in the home appliances sector, and a proven network in local business communities. Proficiency in French is a plus.

Qualifications

• Over 5 years of multi-country experience in business development, sales, or related role with exposure to Sahel and Francophone West Africa markets.
• Established relationships with senior decision-makers at leading trading groups/importers specializing in home appliances or consumer goods in West Africa.
• Well-connected within the Indian and/or Lebanese business communities in West Africa and in major global hubs (Dubai, Shanghai/Guangzhou, Singapore).
• Proven record negotiating and closing importer and distributor agreements for kitchen appliances.
• Deep understanding of trade dynamics and P&L management in West Africa.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and proactive approach in a dynamic environment.
• Strong communication skills and proficiency in French is a competitive advantage.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and onboard national importers across West Africa for biomass stoves and cookware.
• Define pricing, discount structures, and trade terms for local markets.
• Collaborate with distributors to build Joint Business Plans.
• Manage the P&L for new markets.
• Build relationships with key decision-makers across trading communities.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Relationship management

Cross-cultural negotiation

Job description

About The Role

BURN is seeking an accomplished Business Development Manager to lead the strategic expansion of our B2B business (LPG cookers, biomass cooking appliances and cookware) across West Africa. This is a high-impact role for a seasoned professional who will drive growth by recruiting strategic distributors for our biomass/LPG products and converting LPG stove importers into BURN customers, positioning our locally-manufactured solutions as a superior alternative to existing imports, and ensuring the BURN wins in general trade channels across the Region. The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of working within the home appliances or consumer goods trading ecosystem in West Africa (preferably Ghana, Nigeria, Sahel Region, and Francophone West Africa), with strong personal networks within local, Indian and/or Lebanese business communities across Africa and key trading hubs serving Africa (Dubai, Singapore or China). This is a senior role for an experienced operator with deep multi-country exposure and strong cultural fluency — not suitable for candidates without direct industry background.

Duties and Responsibilities

New Business Development

• Recruit, and onboard national importers across West Africa for our biomass stoves and cookware and negotiate favorable trade terms and distribution partnership agreements that enable profitable and sustainable market growth
• Negotiate and secure exclusive importer/distributor agreements with general trade companies purchasing generic branded LPG tabletop cookers, while developing OEM partnerships with trading groups operating under their own brands
• Identify, engage, and convert leading LPG stove importers and trading groups specializing in home appliances, particularly those headquartered in Dubai and Singapore, with deep African distribution networks

Strategy and Performance

• Collaborate with distributors to co-develop Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that align on sales targets, marketing investments, and operational priorities, build robust business cases for entry into new markets; and track market performance to ensure strong return on investment, implementing corrective actions as needed to maximize market profitability
• Define pricing, discount structures, and trade terms to ensure competitiveness of our products in the local markets
• Own and manage the P&L for the new markets, delivering on ambitious volume and revenue targets while balancing growth with margin discipline
• Map and benchmark competitive offerings (pricing, design, performance, channel presence) and translate insights into customer segmentation, portfolio positioning, and value propositions that enable BURN to win in the local markets
• Provide structured market intelligence and continuous feedback to senior management, R&D, Operations to enhance cost efficiency, product design, supply reliability, and go-to-market execution

Relationship Building and Management

• Build and nurture high-impact relationships with key decision-makers across BURN’s existing and prospective partners — with a particular focus on local, Indian, and Lebanese trading communities in West Africa, as well as commercial hubs such as Dubai, Guangzhou/Shanghai, and Singapore — to drive repeat orders and secure long-term, large-scale distribution deals
• Act as BURN’s lead representative in key trading hubs (Dubai, Singapore, Guangzhou, or Shanghai), represent the company at key trade shows and conferences to enhance presence, credibility and expand our networks
• Position BURN as a credible, competitive partner in the LPG kitchen appliances category, differentiating the brand from low-cost/low-quality imports through superior material selection and performance, proven local manufacturing, and aftersales support

Skills and Experience

• Over 5 years of multi-country experience in business development, sales, or related role with exposure to Sahel and Francophone West Africa markets
• Established relationships with senior decision-makers at leading trading groups/importers specializing in home appliances or consumer goods in West Africa
• Well-connected within the Indian and/or Lebanese business communities in West Africa and in major global hubs (Dubai, Shanghai/Guangzhou, Singapore)
• Proven record negotiating and closing importer and distributor agreements in general trade channels for kitchen appliances such as LPG tabletop cookers or consumer goods in general
• Deep understanding and knowledge of general and modern trade dynamics across West Africa, with extensive expertise in Profit and Loss management, Route-to-Market strategies, and import/export dynamics in West Africa
• Entrepreneurial mindset, proactive approach, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Strong communication, relationship management, and cross-cultural negotiation skills
• Proficiency in French is a competitive advantage