Business Partnerships Lead

Role and Responsibilities

• Strategy Development: Collaborate with stakeholders to develop business and product strategies, translating them into partner strategies that support Safaricom's mission.
• Transaction Execution: Identify and prioritize partnership opportunities, developing business cases and creatively negotiating terms to secure buy-in.
• Partnership Execution: Monitor performance and efficacy relative to expectations post-close, maintaining strong ongoing relationships to ensure compliance.
• External Partnerships: Maintain an industry network (partners, competitors, investors) to identify opportunities and facilitate conversations addressing partner pain points.
• Partnership Pipeline: Develop and maintain a pipeline, measuring success by the ability to convert ideas into successful revenue-generating businesses.
• Industry Expertise: Stay informed on market dynamics and tech trends (AI, IoT, VR/AR, Blockchain) and their application in Kenya and Africa.
• Innovation: Identify constraints and opportunities for business diversification and growth.
• Agile Advocacy: Champion an agile mindset and ensure adherence to agile leading practices within the team.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, IT, or a related field. A Master’s degree (MBA/MSc/MA) or an advanced degree in STEM is an added advantage.
• Experience: At least 5 years of experience in partner management, business development, or partner channel development in the technology industry.
• ICT Knowledge: Deep understanding of Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing (Azure or AWS), Networking, and IoT.
• Channel Expertise: Solid understanding of the IT channel (distributors/resellers) and partnership lifecycle management.
• Industry Insight: Deep knowledge of the technology and telecommunications competitive landscape in Kenya and across Africa.
• Communication: Outstanding problem-solving, negotiation, presentation, and selling skills, including the ability to communicate technical terms to non-technical audiences.
• Analytics: Strong financial and business planning experience, including developing budgets and financial models.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply online via the Safaricom recruitment portal. Ensure your application is submitted by the deadline on March 16, 2026. Follow the link provided below to the official application page.