BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & COMMERCIAL MANAGER
Kelsons Group of Companies
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Group Managing Director / Group CEO
Application Deadline: 20th September, 2026
About Kelsons Group
Kelsons Group is a diversified Nigerian business group with interests across multiple sectors, including agro-allied business and export, real estate, professional consulting and social impact initiatives.
As the Group continues to expand its businesses and develop new commercial opportunities, we are seeking an experienced, commercially minded and results-driven Business Development & Commercial Manager to lead business development and commercial growth across the Group and its subsidiaries.
The Opportunity
This is not simply a sales position.
We are looking for a commercially intelligent professional who can identify opportunities, develop strategic relationships, generate business, negotiate effectively and convert opportunities into profitable and sustainable revenue.
The successful candidate will work across Kelsons Group and its subsidiaries to build a strong commercial pipeline, develop new markets, acquire strategic clients, establish partnerships and create new revenue opportunities.
The person we are looking for should be able to answer:
Where is the next business opportunity?
Who is the decision-maker?
How do we get in front of them?
What should we offer?
What should we charge?
What will it cost us?
What is the potential margin?
How do we close the deal?
If you are excited by that kind of responsibility, we would like to hear from you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Business Development & Growth
- Develop and execute business development strategies for Kelsons Group and its subsidiaries.
- Identify new markets, customers, sectors, products and revenue opportunities.
- Build and manage a strong, qualified commercial pipeline.
- Develop strategies for acquiring new corporate, institutional and high-value clients.
- Identify opportunities for expansion into new markets and business segments.
- Convert market intelligence into actionable business opportunities.
- Develop new revenue streams across the Group.
Commercial Management
- Develop commercial strategies for major opportunities.
- Analyse market conditions, competitors, pricing, costs and profitability.
- Prepare commercial proposals and business cases for management.
- Evaluate opportunities and make informed bid/no-bid recommendations.
- Participate in commercial and contract negotiations.
- Ensure that opportunities pursued by the Group are commercially viable and aligned with strategic objectives.
Strategic Partnerships
- Identify and develop relationships with strategic partners, investors, corporations, government institutions, distributors and other stakeholders.
- Develop partnership, collaboration, joint venture and strategic alliance opportunities.
- Negotiate and manage commercial relationships within approved company parameters.
Sales & Client Acquisition
- Develop and implement customer acquisition strategies.
- Identify and engage key decision-makers.
- Develop and manage key accounts.
- Generate new business and convert prospects into paying clients.
- Maintain long-term relationships with strategic customers.
- Identify cross-selling opportunities between Kelsons subsidiaries.
Tenders & Proposals
- Monitor relevant public and private-sector procurement opportunities.
- Coordinate expressions of interest, tenders, proposals and commercial submissions.
- Work with technical, finance, operations and management teams to produce competitive proposals.
- Track submitted proposals and conversion rates.
Group Commercial Development
The successful candidate will be expected to identify opportunities across the Group’s businesses, including:
- Agriculture, commodity trading and export
- Real estate and property development
- Professional and consulting services
- Strategic partnerships and investment opportunities
- New business ventures and emerging commercial opportunities
A key responsibility will be identifying opportunities where two or more Kelsons businesses can work together to create additional value and revenue.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The ideal candidate should have:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Finance, Management, International Business or a related discipline.
- An MBA is a must and professional certification is an added advantage
- 5–7 years of relevant professional experience, preferably with at least 3–5 years in a business development, commercial, sales, strategy or relationship-management leadership role.
- Demonstrable experience generating and converting significant business opportunities.
- Strong B2B business development experience.
- Experience in strategic partnerships and commercial negotiations.
- Strong understanding of pricing, margins, contracts and commercial risk.
- Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
- Strong financial and analytical capability.
- Excellent relationship-building and networking skills.
- Strong knowledge of the Nigerian business environment.
- Ability to engage confidently with CEOs, business owners, investors, government/institutional stakeholders and senior executives.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of commercial targets.
- Applicants should be resident in Abuja or willing to relocate to Abuja if successful at their own cost.
Experience in agribusiness/export, real estate, consulting, procurement, investment, infrastructure or related sectors will be an advantage.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are looking for someone who is:
Commercially driven — understands that activity must ultimately produce results.
Entrepreneurial — sees opportunities and takes initiative rather than waiting for instructions.
Strategic — understands the difference between simply making a sale and building a sustainable business.
Analytical — can assess whether an opportunity is financially and commercially worthwhile.
Persuasive — can influence customers, partners and stakeholders.
Well connected — capable of developing valuable professional relationships.
Persistent — understands that significant business often requires multiple engagements before conversion.
Ethical and trustworthy — understands that reputation and integrity are critical to long-term commercial success.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Success in this role will be measured by tangible commercial outcomes, including:
- New revenue generated.
- Value of qualified business pipeline.
- New strategic clients acquired.
- Business opportunities converted.
- Proposal/tender win rate.
- Gross margin and commercial profitability.
- New markets entered.
- Strategic partnerships established.
- Joint ventures and major commercial opportunities developed.
- Revenue generated through partnerships.
- Cross-selling opportunities developed across subsidiaries.
- Growth of the Group’s overall commercial portfolio.
WHY JOIN KELSONS GROUP?
This is an opportunity to take on a Group-wide commercial leadership role within a growing and diversified Nigerian business.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:
- Work across multiple industries.
- Build and influence the Group’s commercial strategy.
- Develop high-value corporate and institutional relationships.
- Open new markets locally and internationally.
- Develop strategic partnerships and joint ventures.
- Create new revenue streams.
- Work directly with senior management on major commercial opportunities.
This is a role for someone who wants to build business, not simply manage a sales desk.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates should submit:
- A detailed CV
- A cover letter explaining why you are suitable for the role
- A brief summary of three significant business opportunities or deals you personally originated or helped convert, including the nature/value of the opportunity and your specific contribution.
Applications should be submitted to career@kelsonsgroup.com.ng.
Application Deadline: 20th September, 2026
Subject: Application – Business Development & Commercial Manager
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
