Business Development Officer – Multiple Locations, Kenya

Job Title: Business Development Officer – Multiple Locations, Kenya

• Position: Business Development Officer
• Company: Tenakata Enterprises Limited
• Location: Bomet, Eldoret, Embu, Nanyuki, Kapsabet, Kerugoya, Kakamega, Waiyaki Way, Karatina,
• Bungoma, Kericho, Mbale, Nakuru, Kenya
• Type of Job: Full-Time
• Reporting to: Branch Manager
• Application Deadline: November 30, 2024

Introduction

Tenakata Enterprises Limited is on a mission to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Kenya. As a Business Development Officer, you’ll play a pivotal role in helping businesses streamline their transactions, track their performance, and access financial resources. This position offers an incredible opportunity to build community relationships, contribute to economic growth, and make a lasting impact on MSMEs in a supportive and resourceful environment. This is an onsite position across multiple locations in Kenya.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruitment and Registration: Drive the recruitment process, registering MSMEs on the TENAKATA mobile app and collecting baseline data to ensure a comprehensive onboarding.
• Advisory Services: Mentor MSMEs, providing advisory services to help them achieve their business growth targets.
• Financial Access Support: Guide your portfolio of MSMEs in securing finance, overseeing application processes, and helping them manage funds for business scaling.
• Loan Appraisals and Monitoring: Conduct loan appraisals, oversee disbursements, monitor fund usage, and ensure timely repayment.
• Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Due Diligence: Conduct KYC checks to identify viable customers, adhering to company protocols.
• Relationship Management: Collaborate with Collections Officers to provide client-centric service, manage relationships with market authorities, and support a structured approach to client interactions.
• Repayment Management: Ensure high repayment rates through proactive follow-up, negotiation, and setting appropriate limits, utilizing soft collection methods.
• Additional Duties: Undertake tasks and projects as assigned by the branch manager to contribute to Tenakata’s goals.

Qualifications and Skills

• Educational Requirements: Diploma or university degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, or related fields.
• Experience: At least 1 year of experience in MSME business development or a related role. Experience in informal settings or knowledge of micro-enterprise development is a plus.
• Financial Literacy: Hands-on experience or training in financial management within the MSME sector is advantageous.
• Sales Experience: Prior experience in sales is highly desirable.

Company Culture and Values

Tenakata Enterprises Limited fosters a culture of growth, inclusivity, and empowerment. Our mission is to support the development of small businesses, creating economic opportunities and growth within our communities. We value proactive individuals who are passionate about making a tangible impact.

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Expert Tips to Succeed as a Business Development Officer at Tenakata Enterprises Limited

1. Tailor Your Resume to Showcase Relevant MSME Experience
   To capture Tenakata’s attention, customize your resume by prominently featuring your experience working with MSMEs, whether in a financial, advisory, or operational capacity. For example, if you previously worked with small businesses to enhance financial record-keeping, specify how you guided them through processes that increased their transaction accuracy by a specific percentage. Detail the tools or methods you used, such as mentoring clients on using a specific mobile app to track sales. This clarity will demonstrate that you understand the daily challenges small businesses face.
2. Highlight Financial Literacy with Concrete Achievements
   Since Tenakata values hands-on experience in financial literacy, illustrate your financial management skills with specific examples. For instance, mention how you developed financial literacy programs for MSMEs that improved their cash flow management. If you have helped businesses understand budgeting, loan terms, or cash flow dynamics, explain the exact strategies you applied and the resulting impact, such as enabling 10+ MSMEs to secure loans and maintain timely repayments.
3. Demonstrate Your Sales Acumen Through Proven Results
   In your application, link any sales experience to relationship management in the MSME sector. If you have experience in customer acquisition, highlight it by mentioning how you successfully increased client engagement by a certain percentage. Share stories about how your communication style, persistence, and trust-building skills led to retaining clients or securing repeat customers, showcasing your ability to foster long-term relationships, which is crucial for Tenakata’s role in MSME support.
4. Showcase Mentorship and Advisory Skills with Specific Scenarios
   Tenakata’s Business Development Officers often mentor small business owners, so be sure to detail any previous experience where you provided advisory services. Describe a time when you helped a struggling small business streamline its processes or increase its monthly revenue. Explain the methods you used, such as weekly coaching sessions or implementing a new tool for financial tracking, and detail the business growth achieved over a set period. Tenakata values employees who can provide actionable support to clients; let your experience reflect this.
5. Exhibit In-Depth Knowledge of MSME Challenges
   Your cover letter is an ideal place to demonstrate your understanding of the obstacles MSMEs face. Mention common challenges such as limited access to credit or cash flow instability, and describe how you’ve helped clients overcome these issues. For instance, explain a situation where you assisted an MSME in obtaining a loan despite a lack of traditional credit history, detailing how you structured their financial reports to highlight their creditworthiness. This displays your awareness of the real-life complexities small businesses encounter.
6. Illustrate KYC and Due Diligence Experience with Tangible Examples
   Conducting Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks and due diligence is vital to this role. Highlight instances where you conducted due diligence or verified client eligibility. If you previously worked in a role requiring background checks, provide an example of how you identified a potential risk or mitigated an issue by implementing proper due diligence processes. Emphasize specific techniques, such as cross-referencing client data or using secure databases, to underline your attention to detail and risk management skills.
7. Emphasize Customer-Centric Relationship Management
   Describe your approach to customer relationship management by sharing concrete examples of strategies you’ve employed to build trust and maintain client satisfaction. For example, explain how you consistently checked in with clients post-loan approval to ensure they understood the terms and had the support needed for repayment. If you adapted your communication style to meet diverse client needs, outline how this personalized approach led to higher customer retention rates, illustrating your ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships.
8. Quantify Achievements to Highlight Impact on Business Growth
   Numbers are persuasive, so use metrics wherever possible to back up your achievements. For instance, if you helped increase a client’s profitability or efficiency, specify the percentage growth or savings achieved. Instead of just saying you “improved client engagement,” describe how you increased active participation in financial literacy programs by 40%, or how you reduced loan default rates among MSMEs by implementing a structured repayment tracking system.
9. Align Your Application with Tenakata’s Mission and Values
   Tenakata values team members who are passionate about supporting MSMEs and local economic growth. In your cover letter, demonstrate how your personal and professional goals align with Tenakata’s mission by discussing any community-based projects or outreach initiatives you’ve been involved in. For example, mention how you volunteered with a local business development group or helped an informal business scale up, explaining how this experience strengthened your dedication to empowering small businesses.
10. Optimize Your Application for ATS Systems with Job-Specific Keywords
    Many companies, including Tenakata, use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter applications. Incorporate job-specific terms such as “MSME advisory,” “loan appraisal,” “KYC,” “relationship management,” and “financial literacy” throughout your resume and cover letter. Use these terms in context, like “Experienced in KYC processes for MSME clients” or “Successfully conducted loan appraisals for over 50 MSMEs,” to increase your chances of passing the initial screening and advancing to the next stage.

DOWNLOAD THE SAMPLE COVER LETTER FOR -Application for Business Development Officer Position at Tenakata Enterprises Limited

How to Apply

Apply now to be a part of Tenakata Enterprises Limited! Submit your application before November 30, 2024, through our website or by following the link provided in this listing. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all backgrounds.