Strategy & Business Development Manager

Job Description

Strategy  & Business  Development  Manager  

Industry: Construction / Engineering / Cement / Metals

Reports to: VP Strategy & Business Development 

Direct Reports to: Strategy Analyst

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Job Purpose:

a.  Senior Manager within the Country team

b.  Own the strategic planning agenda in the Country and get alignment of the same by the leadership

c.  Drive key local strategic initiatives and work alongside project teams on the highest value strategic priorities that will deliver business growth/value. Specifically, identify and pursue to closure key strategic opportunities.

d.  Procure and provide strategic, benchmarking and market intelligence (competitor & industry) information necessary for the effective planning and control of medium term & long term business performance. Specifically, the role will prepare, analyse and report on strategic and functional information that will guide the country in the pursuance of its vision

Major Accountabilities & Activities

Business Development Opportunities: Proactively identify, follow up and shortlist new business development opportunities. Determine and convert viable ones into projects.

Projects: Research, preparation of justifications documents (executive summaries, detailed backup write-up, financial models,…) necessary to confirm viability or projects/business initiatives and key considerations for their implementation. These will be in a variety of areas. Examples include:

a.  New Business Line Development e.g. Aggregates, Pre-cast, etc

b.  New Strategic Assets Development e.g. Ports development,..etc

c.  Expansion of existing Business lines e.g. Cement new line, Readymix expansion etc

d.  Energy Strategic Actions e.g. partnerships with energy players , new power plants, new combustibles,.. etc

e.  Group Strategic  Projects: projects identified as part of Lafarge Group strategy

f.  High impact productivity Improvement Projects: Selected projects aimed at exploiting new business opportunities and/or enhancing our competitiveness

g.  Business Unit (BU) Support: Collaborate with Business Units to identify value adding projects/initiatives identified with BUs – holder of position will be expected to proactively identify such opportunities and propose to BUs with backup. Collaborative mode of working with BUs will be very crucial for success.

Management Cycle (Strategic Review):

a.  Own and drive  the strategic review part of the management cycle – ensure that all deliverables are delivered on time e.g. (a) – Strategic Plan, Country Ambition Plan, Marketing Plan,…etc)  (b) Supply Demand campaigns etc

b. Refresh and clarify the Nigeria Strategic Roadmap (using appropriate tools as necessary e.g. Strategic Value Analysis (SVA), benchmarking..etc). This should include Investment Roadmap and key Strategic Progress Actions to enhance Lafarge competitiveness

Market Research:

Market Research: Carry out research/analysis that will help us to understand the market and customers better. In particular, aimed at how we can ‘differentiate’ ourselves Vs competition.

Competitor/Industry Intelligence & benchmarking: gather data/intelligence on competitors & industry in general using publicly available information and other best estimates – to cover business performance & benchmarking (cost comparisons, efficiency ratios, current/upcoming production & import capacities, ….), price comparisons (including import zip prices), Supply/Demand balance etc

Adhoc Analysis: Provide analysis on important topics that may be identified from time to time,…. and assist to derive key messages/action plans from the analysis.

Others Tasks: As may be assigned from time to time by N+1 in consultation with indirect report.

Person Specifications:

Qualifications Skills & Experience

A Bachelor’s degree preferably in a business field. Possession of a relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA) would be an added advantage.
At least 8 years’ experience. Variety of experiences [e.g. sales, marketing, finance, supply chain, etc.]  is important.
Possession of good appreciation and understanding of strategic and business planning frameworks, principles and techniques e.g. investment analysis/justification
High level of analytical and performance management skills and ability to pay attention to detail.
Very good project and change management skills
The ability to demonstrate support for innovation and for organizational changes needed to improve the organization’s effectiveness.
Ability to develop, maintain and strengthen partnerships with others inside and outside the organization who can provide information, assistance and support.
Good communication & Interpersonal skills
Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills
Ability to engage effectively at all levels of the organization, including Executive/Board level
Ability to influence and work independently with minimum supervision