Commercial Manager, Future Energies

Main Purpose:

Lead the strategic expansion of Puma Energy's Future Energies business across all verticals e.g. (SOLAR, CNG, LPG, LNG/LCNG) initiatives across Africa, focusing on clean cooking solutions, and relevant energy transition projects in key segments.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities, Key Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities (List major areas of position responsibilities, in priority order)

1. Drive the prudent growth of Puma Energy’s FE business e.g., SOLAR, LPG, CNG, LCNG, LNG by providing strategic business development opportunities through commercial customers.
2. Explore new opportunities within the Energy sector that align with Puma Energy’s Future Energy business strategy and build commercially sound business cases to drive conversion of those opportunities.
3. Drive integration between Puma Energy’s existing business lines e.g., fuels and lubricants, as well as other future energy segments like solar to position Puma Energy as an integrated Energy company to existing and new customers.
4. Build a target-oriented team, with key focus on business development across our markets, and with clear KPI’s.
5. Map out clear resource needs required to drive growth and EBITDA across our Gas business, tying back to our Future Energy’s strategy.
6. Oversee implementation of all FE related projects through the various internal and external stakeholders associated with the projects.
7. Provide structured and timely reporting on business pipeline development, forecasting, key account status, market condition updates and sales figures.
8. Owner of end-to-end workflow processes and documents in our Gas business ranging from initial customer engagement to customer servicing and management.
9. Ensure excellent operational execution of our various strategies, driving accountability, transparency, and excellence.
10. Drive team alignment and cohesion across the region and ensure upskilling and re-skilling as required to deliver our strategy.

Requirements:

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years commercial experience in the B2B and retail energy sector, particularly in CNG/ LCNG, SOLAR, LPG, and or LNG.
• Experience with utilities, EPCs and IPPs is preferable.
• Engineering background or equivalent is preferable.
• A post graduate degree in business administration / sales is preferable.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Above average Literacy in financials.

Skills:

• Leading people and strong influencing skills
• Strong negotiation and sales skills
• Financial acumen to manage a P&L
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite applications; Presentation tools and programs;
• Ability to travel extensively
• Fluent English
• Has an experience/affinity with technical products and project sales
• Good organizer and planner with time management skills, you formalize actions and their follow-up/reporting (CRM, salesforce)

Competencies:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, organizationally flat environment and under pressure
• Excellent negotiation and analytical skills
• Flexible and stress-resistant, you work well in a continuously changing environment
• Creative, assertive, and result-oriented with initiative towards innovative solutions/ideas (entrepreneurial spirit)
• Strong work ethics
• Ability to interact with large external clients and vendors as well as key internal stakeholders
• Work independently
• Be a strong team player
• Work on multiple projects concurrently.

Key Relationships and Department Overview:

• Internal – Future Energies Executive Team, Commercial Team, Country Managers, Regional team
• External – OEM’s, EPC’s, Government Bodies, Industry Stakeholders, Customers