Business Development Associate

Job Description

Requirements

• You are an effective communicator with strong writing skills, capable of synthesizing information, drafting compelling proposals, and communicating ideas across diverse platforms.
• You are energized by networking events and thrive at building rapport and trust with partners.
• Comfort working in fast-paced and ambiguous environments.
• You are meticulous and highly organized in planning, executing, and monitoring multiple proposals under tight deadlines.
• You are a team player, you are able to get buy-in, input, and approval across internal teams as needed for proposals.
• You are driven by impact. You are motivated by Pula’s goal of empowering smallholder farmers.
• University degree with First Class or Upper Second honors
• 3-5 years of experience in business development, partner management, consulting, or related fields.
• Understanding of agriculture and/or fintech sectors.
• Strong interpersonal skills, high motivation, ownership, and willingness to learn.
• Advanced qualifications or degree in Development, Agriculture Economics, Sociology, or related field.
• Project management experience
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage complex,  multi-faceted projects effectively.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with various stakeholders and ensuring clarity in documentation.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to track, analyze, and report on performance,  leveraging data for insights.
• Tech Savviness: Proficient in using digital tools (CRMs) for pipeline management to  enhance team performance and operational efficiency.
• Planning and Coordination: Exceptional planning skills for managing fast-paced and  changing logistics and activities.
• Behavioural Attributes:
• Proactive and Solutions-Oriented: Always looking ahead to anticipate issues and  resolve them creatively.
• Detail-Oriented: Maintains high accuracy in work, ensuring quality and reliability in all  deliverables.
• Independent and Reliable: Works autonomously with a strong sense of ownership  and accountability for tasks.
• Customer-Focused: Demonstrates a professional attitude and approach in serving  both internal teams and external clients.
• Relationship Builder: Establishes strong working relationships with stakeholders,  anticipating their needs and challenges effectively.
• Fast learner: Demonstrates the ability to quickly absorb and apply new information,  adapting to changing circumstances and challenges with agility and confidence.

Responsibilities

• Lead Generation and Outreach:
• Identify and qualify potential clients through research, industry events, inbound leads, referrals, and market activity.
• Conduct outreach via email, phone, and meetings to introduce Pula’s solutions.
• Maintain consistent weekly activity targets to support pipeline growth.
• Track tender websites and identifying potential opportunities for the relevant teams
• Client-Facing Document Preparation:
• Proposal writing -
• Co-develop proposal concepts through understanding and researching company experience, ecosystem trends, and innovative solutions.
• Write and provide quality control for concept notes,  proposals, and tender responses.
• Prepare templated pitch decks, concept notes, and proposals with guidance from the team
• Marketing Material Development: Coordinate the creation and improvement  of sales and marketing materials, such as brochures and presentations to  support business development efforts
• Client Relations Support
• Attend introductory meetings alongside senior commercial managers.
• Manage follow-up actions, client requests, and general communication.
• Build rapport with operational and technical teams supporting the client.
• Attend relevant workshops, conferences, and networking events to build relationships.
• Market Intelligence
• Gather insights on competitors, partners, and emerging opportunities.
• Track key industry developments and report trends to the commercial team.
• Knowledge Management:
• Manage database of P&C knowledge to improve communication efficiency across the team and institutional knowledge.
• Keep CRM entries updated with accurate contact details, meeting notes, and pipeline stages.
• Internal Coordination:
• Work closely with marketing, operations, and product teams to align on commercial priorities.
• Support weekly team check-ins with updated activity reports.