Business Development Manager - Manufacturing - Western Cape, South Africa

Business Development Manager - Manufacturing - Western Cape, South Africa

20 Jan 2026

Country:

South Africa

Company:

C&I

Experience:

5+

About the job

Solar MD was founded in 2014, with a vision of affordable clean energy with the goal to develop and manufacture battery systems that store electricity from renewable energy sources as efficiently as possible. We are committed to sustainability, excellence, and transforming the way our world is powered.

About the Role

The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving market expansion and long-term revenue growth by identifying new opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and positioning Solar MD as the preferred supplier of high-quality lithium-ion energy storage solutions in South Africa.

This role combines strong commercial acumen with a solid technical understanding of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). You will play a key role in expanding Solar MD's footprint across high-value market segments, strengthening channel partnerships, and delivering a predictable, growth-oriented sales pipeline.

Top three outcomes of the role

• Sustainable Revenue Growth Through New Market Penetration: Expand Solar MD's presence across regions and customer segments, driving year-on-year revenue growth within key verticals such as Commercial & Industrial (C&I), utility-scale, telecommunications, and mining.
• Strong Strategic Partnership Ecosystem: Build and maintain a high-performing network of EPCs, installers, distributors, consultants, and strategic partners who choose Solar MD for its technical capability, commercial support, and product value.
• A Qualified, Predictable Opportunity Pipeline: Develop and manage a robust CRM pipeline that delivers accurate forecasts, high-quality opportunities, and consistent deal flow to support operational and production planning.

Key Responsibilities Market Development & Opportunity Identification

• Conduct structured market analysis to identify growth opportunities across residential, commercial, industrial, and utility sectors.
• Assess competitors, market gaps, customer behavior, and technology trends.
• Develop and execute market entry strategies for new regions or segments.
• Engage directly with prospective clients to understand operational challenges and propose suitable energy storage solutions.
• Produce clear market intelligence reports highlighting opportunities, risks, and emerging trends.

Strategic Partnership & Channel Management

• Build and strengthen relationships with EPCs, installers, distributors, developers, and consulting engineers.
• Develop structured partner frameworks including training, commercial alignment, and long-term account planning.
• Support partners with technical input, pricing structures, feasibility discussions, and sales enablement tools.
• Represent Solar MD at exhibitions, conferences, and industry events.
• Conduct regular partner performance reviews to identify growth opportunities.

Commercial Execution & Deal Structuring

• Develop proposals, commercial offers, scope definitions, and tender submissions that clearly demonstrate value and ROI.
• Lead commercial negotiations while maintaining margin discipline.
• Ensure alignment between customer expectations and Solar MD's technical and operational capabilities.
• Participate in client presentations, site visits, feasibility assessments, and project scoping workshops.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, R&D, Technical Sales, Operations, and Logistics teams.
• Relay structured market and customer feedback to support product development and improvements.
• Align sales commitments with production capacity and delivery timelines.
• Participate in cross-functional opportunity reviews to manage risk and feasibility.
• Maintain a fully updated CRM with accurate opportunity data.
• Ensure pipeline depth of 3-4 times revenue targets.
• Deliver weekly, monthly, and quarterly pipeline and forecast reports.
• Rigorously qualify opportunities and proactively manage pipeline risk.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Renewable Energy, or a related field (preferred).
• Solid understanding of lithium-ion battery technology, ESS/BESS architecture, and inverter integration.
• Ability to interpret load profiles, project specifications, and technical diagrams.
• Familiarity with South African renewable energy regulations, NRS standards, and market conditions.
• Strong negotiation, presentation, and solution-selling skills.
• Experience preparing structured proposals, tenders, and complex commercial offers.
• Proven ability to engage senior decision-makers in complex buying environments.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Highly self-driven, detail-oriented, and comfortable working independently.
• Fluency in English; Afrikaans or additional languages are an advantage.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in business development, technical sales, or commercial roles within the solar, energy storage, electrical, or industrial sectors.
• Established relationships with EPCs, installers, and project developers strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of closing medium to large-scale technical or infrastructure projects.

Desired Competencies

• Strong intelligence and analytical capability
• Conceptual and strategic thinking
• Commercial pragmatism and creativity
• High integrity and customer focus
• Team-oriented with strong collaboration skills