Business Development Manager at African Management Institute (AMI)

African Management Institute (AMI) is pioneering practical business and management learning for Africa. We equip entrepreneurs with key tools to build their businesses, we help companies build motivated and productive workforces, and we run work-readiness and entry-level programmes for young people starting their careers.

AMI is expanding rapidly. With support from international social impact investors, we have established offices in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Kigali, and Dakar, and worked for an impressive portfolio of clients in East, West and Southern Africa. We have trained over 42,000 individuals in 39 African countries to date.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Business Development Manager

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• AMI is looking for an ambitious and talented Business Development Manager in Nigeria to join our growing team in Nigeria.
• This role is ideal for a high-performing B2B sales professional who thrives on building relationships, meeting revenue targets, and contributing to the growth of a purpose-driven organization.
• You will be responsible for identifying and converting new business opportunities with enterprise and growth-stage clients.
• You will work closely with the Nigeria Country Lead and cross-functional teams to shape and execute strategic sales plans, leveraging your network and understanding of the business landscape in Nigeria.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, and convert new business opportunities with enterprise and development sector clients: Proactively research and engage high-potential clients across key industries—such as financial services, healthcare, FMCG, and international development agencies. Assess their pain points and learning needs, qualify leads based on alignment with AMI’s offerings, and craft tailored proposals that address organizational challenges while showcasing our value proposition.
• Own the end-to-end sales process, from prospecting and pitching to negotiation and closing: Lead the entire business development cycle with confidence and ownership. This includes sourcing leads, securing introductory meetings, delivering compelling presentations, coordinating discovery sessions, managing stakeholder expectations, addressing objections, and closing deals in line with AMI’s commercial goals and pricing models.
• Consistently meet or exceed quarterly and annual sales targets: Drive performance with a clear focus on results. Regularly review progress against targets, adapt sales tactics as needed, and maintain a healthy pipeline that supports ambitious growth targets. Demonstrate accountability through regular reporting and proactive engagement with leadership.
• Maintain accurate sales data and pipeline updates using CRM tools: Keep sales activities transparent, traceable, and data-driven by ensuring timely and precise use of CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce, HubSpot). This includes tracking prospect interactions, updating deal stages, setting follow-up reminders, and using insights to forecast revenue and identify trends.
• Cultivate and manage senior-level relationships with key decision-makers across sectors:
• Build trust and long-term partnerships with C-suite leaders, government officials, donor representatives, and other senior stakeholders. Position AMI as a strategic partner rather than a service provider by understanding client priorities and influencing learning and development strategy at a high level.
• Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, product, learning design) to align solutions with client needs: Act as the bridge between clients and internal teams to ensure solution design is client-centric, impactful, and feasible. Share client feedback, shape product adaptations, contribute to co-branded marketing content, and support the creation of bespoke learning journeys that drive business outcomes.
• Represent AMI at industry events, conferences, and client meetings to raise brand visibility: Be a visible champion of AMI’s mission and work. Participate in panels, networking events, business forums, and workshops to elevate the organization’s presence and build a strong reputation in both enterprise and development ecosystems.
• Provide regular sales forecasts, market intelligence, and strategic input to the Nigeria Country Lead: Offer informed, data-backed insights on pipeline health, emerging client needs, competitive activity, and market shifts. Act as a thought partner to the Country Lead, contributing to strategic decision-making, expansion plans, and product-market fit refinement for Nigeria and the broader West African market.

Requirements
Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field; MBA is a plus
• Minimum 6 years of proven experience in B2B sales, preferably within professional services, education, or consulting sectors
• Demonstrated history of consistently meeting or exceeding sales targets
• In-depth understanding of the full sales cycle, from lead generation to deal closure
• Proficiency with CRM systems such as HubSpot, ZohoCRM, or Salesforce
• Established network of senior decision-makers in growth and large enterprise organizations in Nigeria
• Previous experience in learning and development and/or the startup/innovation sector is a nice to have.

Skills & Attributes:

• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Strong attention to detail with a high level of resilience
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, agile environment
• Self-starter with a high degree of ownership, urgency, and accountability
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with C-level stakeholders
• Comfortable using data to inform decisions and track performance metrics.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online