Head – Business Development at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria is part of the MTN Group, Africa\'s leading cellular telecommunications company. On May 16, 2001, MTN became the first GSM network to make a call following the globally lauded Nigerian GSM auction conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission earlier in the year. Thereafter the company launched full commercial operations beginning with Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. MTN paid $285m for one of four GSM licenses in Nigeria in January 2001. To date, in excess of US$1.8 billion has been invested building mobile telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria. Since launch in August 2001, MTN has steadily deployed its services across Nigeria. It now provides services in 223 cities and towns, more than 10,000 villages and communities and a growing number of highways across the country, spanning the 36 states of the Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Many of these villages and communities are being connected to the world of telecommunications for the first time ever. The company\'s digital microwave transmission backbone, the 3,400 Kilometre Y\'elloBahn was commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo in January 2003 and is reputed to be the most extensive digital microwave transmission infrastructure in all of Africa. The Y\'elloBahn has significantly helped to enhance call quality on MTN network.
Job Summary 

The Head of Business Development is responsible for driving revenue growth, business expansion, and relationship management within the Corporate and Public Sector segments.
The jobholder will identify business opportunities, develop strategic partnerships, and implement initiatives to maximize revenue generation.
This role is pivotal in shaping the company's market positioning, ensuring sustainable growth, and enhancing value delivery to corporate and public sector clients.

Responsibilities
Strategic Business Growth:

Develop and execute business development strategies to drive revenue growth within priority sectors.
Identify market opportunities, trends, and emerging business prospects to expand the company's footprint.
Formulate go-to-market strategies for financial products and services tailored for large enterprises and government institutions.
Drive lead generation, prospecting, and pipeline development to support business expansion initiatives.
Collaborate with internal teams to create customized solutions that address the unique needs of the customers.

Revenue Generation & Business Expansion:

Develop and implement revenue maximization strategies, ensuring sustainable profitability.
Build and maintain high-value partnerships to enhance market presence and business performance.
Negotiate and close high-value deals with corporate and public sector clients to achieve financial targets.
Oversee the structuring and pricing of solutions to align with business objectives and market demand.
Leverage data-driven insights to optimize revenue streams and enhance value proposition.

Relationship Management:

Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in the corporate, public sector and ecosystem stakeholders.
Act as the primary point of contact for major clients, ensuring superior service delivery and client satisfaction.
Establish strategic alliances with industry leaders, regulators, and government bodies to drive business objectives.
Develop and execute client engagement frameworks to foster long-term partnerships.
Ensure proactive stakeholder management, addressing challenges and maximizing opportunities.

Governance & Compliance:

Ensure all business development activities adhere to regulatory requirements and internal governance frameworks.
Implement risk mitigation measures to safeguard business interests and ensure compliance with policies.
Work closely with legal and compliance teams to align contracts and agreements with regulatory guidelines.

People Leadership & Performance Management:

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing business development team to drive strategic objectives.
Establish performance goals, KPIs, and accountability frameworks for team members.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team.
Drive employee motivation and engagement to enhance productivity and business results.

Qualifications
Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or any related discipline.
A postgraduate qualification (MBA or Master's Degree) and/or professional certification in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, or a related field will be an added advantage

Experience:

Minimum of 10 – 15 years' experience in sales, business development, channel management, or commercial operations, preferably within the financial services, fintech, telecommunications, or FMCG sectors.
At least 3 years' experience leading business development teams and driving strategic growth initiatives at a senior management level
Strong knowledge of digital financial services, payments, merchant ecosystems, strategic partnerships, revenue growth strategies, and emerging fintech trends
Proven track record of developing and executing growth strategies, originating new business opportunities, securing strategic partnerships, and delivering sustainable revenue growth.
Strong commercial acumen with experience in business case development, contract negotiation, stakeholder management, and managing complex partnerships.
Demonstrated ability to identify new market opportunities, expand market presence, and drive customer acquisition and retention initiatives.
Strong leadership, strategic thinking, analytical, negotiation, and relationship management skills with the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders.