Business Development Manager
Pro Group
Quick Take
Win and onboard high-value corporate clients by crafting winning pitches, managing the full sales pipeline, and leveraging strategic events to generate new business and deepen existing relationships.
Proven track record closing B2B corporate deals in PR/communications, ability to pitch confidently to C-suite, and mastery of strategic communication frameworks.
Revenue-critical, C-suite-facing role at a fast-growing market leader with aggressive expansion plans, competitive salary, and direct impact on company growth trajectory.
Job Description
Our client is a dynamic and fast-growing corporate solutions and brand strategy firm renowned for driving market presence through high-impact media management, strategic PR, and policy advocacy. They are industry leaders across Corporate Communication, Product Communication, Sustainability Communications, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Conference and Event Management, Media Relations & Coaching, and Crisis & Financial Communication Management.
To support an aggressive next phase of market expansion, they are seeking a high-caliber Business Development Manager to spearhead new revenue growth, secure high-value corporate partnerships, and own the full commercial pipeline from prospecting to onboarding. This is a revenue-critical, C-suite-facing role for a strategic thinker who thrives in a fast-paced, client-driven environment.
- Design pitch-winning communication and growth strategies for prospective clients using industry frameworks, collaborating with internal creative and editorial teams to ensure proposals align with client corporate goals.
- Draft high-level strategic summaries and thought leadership concepts for competitive client pitches and new business presentations.
- Serve as the primary commercial driver, transforming the company's capabilities into compelling proposals, decks, and presentations that win mandates.
- Identify and pursue cross-selling and upselling opportunities within the existing client portfolio, introducing services such as policy brief drafting, crisis management readiness, and stakeholder engagement programs.
- Manage client expectations from initial briefing through to onboarding closeout, ensuring seamless transition into active accounts.
- Commercialize the company's signature assets by driving corporate participation, sponsorship, and monetization strategies.
- Leverage high-profile strategic events — forums, policy dialogues, workshops, and major launches — as corporate networking platforms to generate new client leads and deepen existing relationships.
- Own and manage the full sales pipeline including lead generation, qualification, proposal development, negotiation, and contract closure.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams to maximize account growth and ensure flawless execution of strategic client engagement events and brand initiatives.
- Track, report, and optimize business development KPIs, revenue forecasts, and pipeline metrics for senior leadership review.
- Demonstrate a proven track record of closing high-value B2B corporate accounts, ideally within PR, communications, media, or brand strategy sectors.
- Craft and present sophisticated business proposals and pitch decks to C-suite and senior decision-makers with confidence and credibility.
- Apply strategic PR, media, and policy advocacy frameworks to develop winning commercial narratives for diverse industries.
- Build and sustain long-term C-suite client relationships, managing expectations and delivering consistent value across the engagement lifecycle.
- Leverage knowledge of the Kenyan corporate landscape and media ecosystem to identify market entry points and growth opportunities.
- Manage multiple complex sales cycles simultaneously, prioritizing effectively and meeting revenue targets under pressure.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams — including creative, editorial, and events teams — to deliver seamless client experiences.
- Hold a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field; an MBA or postgraduate qualification is an added advantage.
- Bring a minimum of 5–7 years of progressive business development or sales experience, with at least 3 years in a managerial or senior client-facing role.
The salary for this role is competitive and commensurate with experience, estimated in the range of KES 150,000 – 250,000 per month. The package is performance-driven and includes commission or incentive structures tied to revenue targets. Specific details will be discussed during the interview process.
Ideal Candidate: You are a commercially aggressive, relationship-savvy professional with deep roots in the corporate communications, PR, or media space. You understand how to position intangible services to boardroom-level clients, you are energized by targets, and you take pride in building long-term partnerships that generate consistent revenue. You are equally comfortable crafting a strategic narrative as you are negotiating a contract.
Do NOT apply if: You are looking for a purely account management role with no new business hunting responsibility, if you have no experience selling professional services or B2B solutions to corporate clients, or if you are uncomfortable operating in a high-accountability, target-driven environment.
- Prepare an updated CV highlighting your business development achievements, key accounts managed, and revenue milestones.
- Write a short cover letter (no more than one page) detailing why you are the right fit for this role and your most significant commercial win to date.
- Submit your application through the Pro Group careers portal or the job platform where this role is listed.
- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial screening interview followed by a pitch simulation or case study assessment.
- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of applying, consider your application unsuccessful for this cycle.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Proven track record of closing high-value B2B corporate accounts in PR, communications, media, or brand strategy
- Ability to craft and present sophisticated business proposals and pitch decks to C-suite and senior decision-makers
- Demonstrated experience managing full sales pipeline: lead generation, qualification, proposal development, negotiation, and closure
- Strong understanding of strategic PR, media, and policy advocacy frameworks
- Ability to build and sustain long-term C-suite client relationships and manage expectations
Nice to Have
- Experience in corporate communications, sustainability communications, or crisis management sectors
- Familiarity with event management and corporate sponsorship monetization
- Track record of successful cross-selling and upselling within existing client portfolios
- Exposure to Kenya's corporate or policy landscape and high-profile strategic forums
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Salary Context
Competitive mid-to-senior level salary for Business Development Manager in Nairobi
The KES 150,000–250,000 range reflects a mid-to-senior business development role in Kenya's professional services sector. Salary progression within this band typically depends on proven revenue generation, client acquisition track record, and negotiation experience. Roles requiring C-suite relationship management and high-value deal closure generally command the upper end of this range.
About Pro Group
Pro Group is a dynamic, fast-growing corporate solutions and brand strategy firm positioned as an industry leader in high-impact media management, strategic PR, policy advocacy, and stakeholder relationship management. Operating across corporate communication, product communication, sustainability communications, and crisis management, they serve Kenya's top corporate clients and are in an aggressive expansion phase. Working here offers exposure to C-suite decision-making and a platform to influence how Kenya's leading brands manage their public and policy presence.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through a high-value B2B deal you closed in the communications or professional services space—what was your strategy, and how did you overcome objections from the decision-maker?
- 2
How would you approach winning a mandate from a Fortune 500 subsidiary operating in Kenya that has never used a boutique PR or communications strategy firm before?
- 3
Tell us about a time you identified a cross-sell or upsell opportunity within an existing client relationship and successfully expanded the account. What frameworks did you use?
- 4
How do you leverage events, forums, and conferences as business development tools? Give us a specific example of how you've turned a strategic event into new client leads.
- 5
Our client roster is built on trust and long-term relationships with C-suite executives. How do you build credibility and manage expectations with senior decision-makers, especially in the early stages of a pitch?
Application Tips
Quantify your past wins: highlight specific deal sizes, industries, and the strategic frameworks or messaging angles you used to win them. Use numbers (e.g., 'closed 8 deals worth KES X over Y months').
Demonstrate familiarity with the Kenyan corporate landscape, policy environment, or East African communications sector—mention any recognisable brands you've worked with or key market trends you understand.
Show evidence of strategic thinking, not just sales hustle: highlight examples where you shaped client narratives, developed competitive positioning, or created thought leadership assets that drove new business.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- C-suite-facing, revenue-critical role with direct visibility to senior leadership and real influence over company growth strategy.
- Fast-growing, reputable firm with a diverse service portfolio (PR, sustainability, crisis, policy advocacy) offering broad exposure and upsell opportunities.
- Competitive salary range (KES 150,000–250,000) suggests performance-based upside and reflects confidence in revenue generation potential.
- Emphasis on strategic thinking, pitch development, and thought leadership indicates a role for intellectually engaged business developers, not just transactional salespeople.
Watch Out
- The job description is truncated mid-sentence ('managing expectations a...'), suggesting the posting may be incomplete or carelessly prepared—clarify full responsibilities and reporting structure before applying.
- No explicit mention of benefits, remote work policy, performance bonuses, or incentive structure despite this being a revenue-critical, commission-eligible role—ask for full compensation details during interviews.
- The role spans multiple functions (sales, strategic proposal development, event management, KPI reporting) with no mention of team size, support staff, or internal resources—confirm whether you'll be a solo contributor or have a team.
A Day in the Life
Your week opens with pitch preparation: you're collaborating with Pro Group's creative and editorial teams to craft a compelling proposal deck for a sustainability-focused multinational due Friday. Mid-week, you conduct discovery calls with three prospective corporate clients identified at last month's policy dialogue, qualifying their communication pain points and mapping cross-sell opportunities (crisis readiness, stakeholder engagement). You attend a high-profile corporate event on Wednesday evening as a networking platform, introducing Pro Group's signature offerings to C-suite contacts and feeding warm leads into your pipeline. Concurrently, you're managing the onboarding transition of two newly closed accounts, coordinating internal teams to ensure seamless service delivery. You close the week reviewing your KPIs—pipeline value, win rate, average deal size—with the leadership team and forecasting next quarter's revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be a Business Development Manager at Pro Group?
You need proven success closing high-value B2B deals in PR, communications, media, or brand strategy; the ability to pitch confidently to C-suite; and strong grasp of strategic communication frameworks. A background in professional services sales or agency account management is typically expected; formal tertiary education is implied but not explicitly stated.
Is the Business Development Manager role at Pro Group remote?
The posting specifies the location as Nairobi with no mention of remote flexibility, suggesting this is an office-based role. Clarify work arrangements (hybrid, flexible) with the recruiter, especially given the heavy emphasis on in-person client relationship building and event attendance.
How much does a Business Development Manager earn at Pro Group?
The posted range is KES 150,000–250,000 per month, which is competitive for a mid-to-senior business development role in Nairobi. Your placement within the band will depend on experience, past deal sizes, and negotiation. Confirm whether this includes performance bonuses or if additional incentives are available for revenue targets.
What are the career growth opportunities in this role?
This is a revenue-critical, high-visibility role at a fast-growing firm in expansion mode, positioning you for advancement to Commercial Director, Head of Business Development, or Managing Director roles. Success here also builds a strong client and vendor network valuable for moving into client-side Head of Agency Relations or corporate communications leadership.
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