COMMUNITY NETWORK ASSOCIATE
Organisation: The Next Africa Initiative
Job Type: Remote
Department: Sales & Business Development
About the Role
The Next Africa Initiative is seeking commercially driven and relationship-oriented Community Network Associates to support the growth of our programmes, services and business activities across African markets.
The Community Network Associate is primarily a sales and business development role responsible for identifying prospective customers, generating leads, developing relationships, promoting relevant Next Africa products and programmes, and converting opportunities within an assigned community or market.
We are particularly interested in people who can sell, build relationships and create opportunities.
Formal academic qualifications are welcome but are not the primary consideration for this role. Candidates who can demonstrate a strong record of sales, customer acquisition, business development, entrepreneurship or commercial relationship building are strongly encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify and prospect potential customers, clients and institutional partners within the assigned market.
- Generate qualified leads for Next Africa programmes, products and services.
- Promote and sell approved Next Africa programmes and commercial offerings.
- Drive registrations for training programmes, conferences, events and other paid programmes.
- Identify potential clients for Next Africa Advisory and other relevant business units.
- Develop relationships with entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates, professional associations, universities and business organisations.
- Identify opportunities for corporate training, group bookings and institutional participation.
- Identify potential sponsors, advertisers and commercial partners.
- Conduct direct outreach to prospective customers through telephone, email, social media, meetings and professional networks.
- Follow up prospective customers and move opportunities through the sales process.
- Maintain an active pipeline of prospects and business opportunities.
- Support local market activation for new programmes, campaigns and initiatives.
- Develop referral and distribution relationships with relevant organisations and networks.
- Identify opportunities to expand Next Africa’s presence within the assigned community.
- Gather relevant market intelligence, customer feedback and competitor information.
- Maintain accurate records of leads, prospects, conversations and conversions.
- Use approved referral codes, lead-registration systems and customer relationship management tools.
- Provide regular sales and business development reports.
- Work toward agreed sales, lead-generation and market-development targets.
- Collaborate with other Next Africa teams to convert and deliver identified opportunities.
Requirements
The ideal candidate should have:
- Demonstrable ability to sell products, services, programmes or solutions.
- Confidence approaching new customers and initiating commercial conversations.
- Strong prospecting and lead-generation ability.
- Strong communication, persuasion and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships.
- Persistence and discipline in following up prospective customers.
- Commercial awareness and the ability to recognise business opportunities.
- Ability to work independently and manage a sales pipeline.
- A results-oriented and entrepreneurial approach.
- Good understanding of their local business or entrepreneurship environment.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills.
- Ability to work remotely with limited supervision.
- Interest in entrepreneurship, business and African markets.
- Access to reliable internet connectivity and appropriate tools for remote work.
Qualifications & Experience
We are interested in demonstrated sales ability rather than qualifications alone.
A Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Entrepreneurship, Commerce, Management or a related field may be advantageous, but is not required where the candidate can demonstrate strong commercial ability.
We particularly welcome applicants who can demonstrate that they have previously:
- Generated their own sales leads.
- Built a customer base.
- Consistently achieved sales targets.
- Sold products or services on commission.
- Developed new markets or territories.
- Converted prospects into paying customers.
- Built productive business networks.
- Secured corporate or institutional clients.
- Generated partnerships or sponsorships.
- Built and grown their own business.
- Successfully promoted programmes, events or services.
Candidates without formal sales experience may also be considered where they can demonstrate strong entrepreneurial ability, extensive community networks or a credible record of mobilising people around commercial opportunities.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- A current CV or professional profile.
- A short cover letter outlining their sales, business development, entrepreneurial or relevant commercial experience.
- Their current city and country.
- A brief description of what they have previously sold, promoted, built or grown.
- Where possible, examples of sales achievements, customers acquired, targets achieved, businesses developed or other measurable commercial results.
Applications should be submitted to: careers@thenextafrica.com
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026. Please take note of the specific country deadline on the job advert for your country.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Organisation: Next Africa Advisory
Job Type: Remote
Department: Public Relations, Media & Communications
About the Role
Next Africa Advisory is seeking talented and motivated Public Relations Associates to support our growing public relations, media and communications work across African markets.
The Public Relations Associate will support the development and execution of PR and communications activities for Next Africa Advisory and its clients. The role requires a strong communicator who understands media relations, can build professional relationships, identify compelling stories and support the delivery of effective communications campaigns.
We are particularly interested in professionals who understand their local business and media environments and can contribute local market knowledge to national and pan-African assignments.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the planning and execution of public relations and communications campaigns.
- Develop and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, producers and other relevant media professionals.
- Identify appropriate media and publicity opportunities for clients.
- Draft and distribute press releases, media pitches, media briefs and other communications materials.
- Coordinate media interviews, press engagements and publicity activities.
- Support executive and founder profiling and thought-leadership initiatives.
- Support PR activities for conferences, launches, corporate events and campaigns.
- Conduct media monitoring and prepare coverage reports.
- Research journalists, publications, media platforms and relevant industry conversations.
- Develop and maintain accurate media contact databases.
- Identify prospective PR and communications clients and business opportunities.
- Provide local market and media intelligence to support client campaigns.
- Support multi-country and pan-African communications assignments.
- Assist with client communication, campaign reporting and account coordination.
- Maintain high standards of confidentiality, accuracy and professional conduct.
Requirements
The ideal candidate should have:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Good understanding of public relations, media and communications.
- Knowledge of the media landscape within their country or market.
- Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships.
- Strong writing, research and storytelling abilities.
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills.
- Professional judgement and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
- Interest in entrepreneurship, business and African markets.
- Access to reliable internet connectivity and appropriate tools for remote work.
Qualifications
- Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Media Studies or a related field is preferred.
- Relevant professional experience in public relations, communications, journalism, media, marketing communications or a related field.
- Previous experience working with journalists or media organisations will be an advantage.
- Experience writing press releases, articles, media pitches or other professional communications materials will be an advantage.
- Experience in corporate communications, agency PR, independent consulting or media relations will be an advantage.
Exceptional candidates with demonstrable relevant experience may be considered without a directly related academic qualification.
Preferred Attributes
We are looking for individuals who are:
- Professional and dependable.
- Confident communicators.
- Resourceful and proactive.
- Relationship-oriented.
- Entrepreneurial in their approach.
- Curious about business and entrepreneurship.
- Comfortable interacting with entrepreneurs, executives and media professionals.
- Able to understand local context while working within a wider pan-African organisation.
- Committed to professional and ethical communications practice.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- A current CV.
- A short cover letter outlining their relevant experience and interest in the position.
- Their current city and country.
- Links or samples of relevant communications, media or writing work, where available.
Applications should be submitted to: careers@thenextafrica.com
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026. *However, please take note of your country deadlines as applications will be rolled out separately across different countries*.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
