Our Company
SAO Capital is a social impact, investment & advisory group of companies with a focus on financial advisory, capital raising, and investment management services for institutions, governments, and government agencies. We are accretive to Africa’s and Nigeria’s economic development, targeting sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, SMEs, financial inclusion, healthcare and education. We partner with and serve communities, governments, and companies in Africa, providing an innovative mix of advisory, investment, research, analytics, and design services. Our business approaches problems differently and works together to create impact at scale. SAO is a place where a diverse mix of the most talented individuals can bring their authentic selves to work and innovate — whether it’s how you identify, where you come from, the languages you speak. SAO is a home where people feel safe, understood, nurtured and encouraged to grow. We have very exciting, diverse projects across our portfolio companies ranging from a N35 bn Infrastructure Bond Issuance, a US$60 m renewable energy project, US$45 m education infrastructure, US$100 m Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone amongst other projects.
Role Summary
The Business Development Manager drives market expansion, client acquisition, and revenue growth across SAO diverse business lines—including agriculture, energy, capital, and advisory services. This role focuses on identifying new opportunities, building strategic partnerships, strengthening the company’s market presence, and supporting the design and execution of high-impact projects. The ideal candidate is a proactive strategist with strong commercial skills and the ability to convert ideas into profitable business ventures.
Key Responsibilities
. Market Expansion & Opportunity Development
- Identify new business opportunities, emerging markets, and strategic areas for growth across all SAO sectors.
- Conduct market research to understand industry trends, customer needs, and competitor activities.
- Lead proposal development, pitch presentations, and concept note creation for new projects.
2. Client Acquisition & Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, partners, investors, and government agencies.
- Serve as a primary contact for key clients, ensuring needs are met and expectations exceeded.
- Manage end-to-end client engagement—from lead generation to contract signing.
3. Strategic Partnerships & Collaboration
- Identify and develop partnerships that support the Group’s strategic objectives and project execution.
- Represent SAO companies at high-level meetings, industry events, and investor forums.
- Collaborate with internal teams to package solutions tailored to client needs.
4. Proposal, Deal Structuring & Revenue Growth
- Develop winning proposals, bids, EOIs, and tender submissions.
- Participate in negotiation of contracts, pricing, terms, and partnership agreements.
- Drive revenue targets by securing new accounts and expanding existing ones.
5. Project Support & Internal Coordination
- Work with project teams to ensure smooth onboarding of new clients and markets.
- Provide input into project design, execution plans, and monitoring frameworks from a business perspective.
- Track performance metrics, sales pipelines, and business outcomes.
6. Reporting & Performance Tracking
- Maintain accurate data on leads, pipelines, and transactions using CRM tools.
- Prepare periodic business development reports for executive leadership.
- Forecast revenue and track progress against targets.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or a related field.
- Master’s Degree (MBA or equivalent) is an added advantage.
- 8+ years’ experience in business development, consulting, investment, or sales (preferably multi-sector).
- Proven track record of securing high-value deals or managing strategic partnerships.
- Strong understanding of markets in agriculture, energy, advisory, or development (experience in at least one is required).
- Excellent presentation, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Ability to work across multiple business units and manage complex stakeholders.
Key Competencies
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills
- Relationship-building & stakeholder management
- Proposal writing and presentation excellence
- Negotiation and deal-closing skills
- Market research and opportunity mapping
- CRM and pipeline management skills
- High energy, professionalism, and initiative
- Ability to work under pressure and meet targets
