Business Development Manager - Market Activation

About the role

The Business Development Manager - Market Activation supports the growth of Africa Hub by opening new markets, activating distributors and expanding the portfolio across trading and distributor-led markets. Reporting to the Senior Business Development Manager - Trading, the role coordinates internal teams and external partners to deliver compliant and sustainable growth. The position is based at the El Tagamoa El Khames Commercial Office.

Key responsibilities

• Translate Africa Hub priorities into market-entry and expansion plans for assigned markets.
• Manage the activation pipeline from opportunity assessment through launch and performance tracking.
• Identify, assess and onboard distributors and trading partners in line with the agreed process.
• Build strong distributor relationships and coordinate forecasts, orders and performance reviews.
• Identify portfolio and distribution opportunities based on market, customer and competitor insights.
• Coordinate commercial feasibility, pricing, sourcing, regulatory requirements, master data and launch readiness.
• Track sales, shipments, forecasts, stock and distribution performance, and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with Kraft Heinz requirements for contracts, pricing, payment terms and approvals.
• Partner with Finance, S&OP, Regulatory, Legal and Customer Service to deliver priorities.
• Provide clear updates on progress, risks, decisions and next steps.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Marketing or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in business development, sales or market expansion, preferably in Africa or other emerging markets.
• Fluent English is required; French is an advantage.
• FMCG or food and beverage experience, with exposure to distributor-led or export markets, is preferred.

Required skills

• Distributor management, route-to-market, market entry and portfolio expansion.
• Commercial analysis, forecasting and performance tracking, with proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Project management and cross-functional coordination.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management.