Manager, New Initiatives at Husk Power Systems

Role Summary

Husk is seeking a Manager, New Initiatives who will have direct responsibility for supporting the Country Team in Nigeria to commercialize new initiatives leveraging the availability of reliable power in its minigrid locations.

The individual must have the ability to assess opportunities for potential sources of revenue and impact within these locations, work with relevant stakeholders, and ensure a hands-on approach to driving such initiatives.

This position provides the opportunity to join a growing team that is changing the face of rural electrification in India and Nigeria.

Key responsibilities:

General

• Implement the agreed growth strategies and plans as set out by the Country Management Team
• Support in driving the execution of monthly, quarterly, and annual business strategies for the business.
• Other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

New Business Initiatives

• Develop accurate segmentation and targeting of the existing market including identification of customer and market opportunities, market entry/expansion strategy, and establishing a balance of long-term pipeline and short-term revenue.
• Support in structuring and institutionalizing processes around identifying and serving existing customers’/clients’ needs to match the company’s corporate strategy and ensure the sustainability of business verticals.
• Support efforts in sourcing potential leads for partnerships, joint ventures, and possible funding for deploying various POC projects/initiatives across mini-grid locations with expected direct impact on the topline.
• Design cooperation structures, and role-sharing and assess economics for such partnerships/JVs.
• Drive business development, expansion, and business reporting activities for the business initiatives portfolio in alignment with set objectives.

Business Growth

• Ensure support with the relevant Teams on inputs regarding the deployment and implementation of POC projects and initiatives.
• Support market research activities across the business, including but not limited to marketing, business development, review, and budgeting.
• Support efforts for business communications internally and externally, including project press releases, case study development, and videos.
• Ensure support for other Business Units to drive alignment with country-level objectives as required.

Funding Proposals/Thought Leadership

• Support engagement with various stakeholders to ensure Husk maintains local visibility as the industry leader.
• Support engagements with relevant stakeholders for submission of funding proposals geared towards specific POC projects and/or initiatives.

Stakeholder/Partnership Engagements

• Work with potential partners to implement new initiatives across Husk business locations.
• Collaborate with relevant internal teams including the Senior Leadership Team to present initiatives and ensure implementation of initiatives for business growth.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Attributes

• You have a track record of resilience and leadership in periods of uncertainty and volatility.
• You have a learning mindset and are keen to deliver hands-on solutions in the field.
• You build great relationships and are a strong verbal communicator.
• You are a problem solver and can identify issues and possible solutions swiftly.
• You can also ideally execute based on direct instruction and under guidance from other members of the team.
• You are comfortable working across rural Nigeria and in a fast-paced, dynamic start up environment.
• You have a business background with a deep understanding of driving innovation and commercializing initiatives (minimum education requirement: bachelor’s degree in related field)
• You have up to 5 years of experience in business development, stakeholder management
• You have 2+ years of experience working in business consulting, startups, or similar environment.  
• Responsive with great time management and organizational skills
• Ability to create and deliver presentations, concept notes, and proposals tailored to the audience’s needs.
• A Can-Do attitude with a knack for taking ownership of deliverables while being open to feedback.