Business Development Manager – Nairobi

How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates should apply via the Summit Recruitment and Search website at summitrecruitment-search.com.

Master the Technical Sales Pitch for Power Quality Solutions

This role demands a rare blend of engineering depth and commercial instinct. Hiring managers will scrutinise how you translate voltage sag or harmonic distortion into a compelling ROI story for a factory manager. Your application must prove you can do both.

1. Lead with your engineering credibility: Open your CV with a clear summary of your electrical engineering degree and any power-quality certifications. Mention specific products you have sold — UPS, stabilisers, transformers — and the industries you served. This immediately signals you speak the language.

2. Quantify your sales impact: Instead of saying 'achieved targets', state 'grew revenue by 30% year-on-year in the industrial segment' or 'closed five six-figure contracts for voltage stabilisers in 2024'. Numbers anchor your claims and show you understand the commercial side.

3. Show you can read a single-line diagram: In your cover letter or interview, reference a specific technical challenge you solved — e.g., 'designed a custom regulator solution for a factory with frequent sags'. This proves you can assess power-quality issues and recommend the right product.

4. Demonstrate B2B relationship building: Describe how you nurtured relationships with consultants, OEMs, or procurement teams over multiple touchpoints. Give an example of a long-term client you retained or a channel partner you onboarded. Trust is everything in technical sales.

5. Prepare for the technical presentation test: Many interviews include a mock product demo or a case study. Practice explaining a power-conditioning product's features and benefits to a non-technical procurement manager. Keep it clear, benefit-driven, and concise.

6. Highlight your travel readiness: The posting requires regular travel across Nairobi and East Africa. Mention specific territories you have covered — e.g., 'managed accounts in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Kampala' — to show you are comfortable with field work and client site visits.

7. Show competitive market awareness: Name a competitor's product and explain how yours differs — e.g., 'our static voltage regulator offers faster response time than Brand X'. This demonstrates you track the market and can position your solution effectively.

8. Connect your MBA to commercial strategy: If you have an MBA, highlight how it sharpened your ability to build business cases, negotiate contracts, or analyse market trends. Even without an MBA, show strategic thinking — e.g., 'identified a gap in the manufacturing sector and built a pipeline of 20 prospects'.