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.