Business Development Manager - Immediate Start Needed

Opportunity Overview

This position is with a growing and established business serving freight forwarding, logistics, transport, and international trade markets across East Africa. The organization is scaling its regional commercial footprint and is looking to strengthen customer acquisition, strategic accounts, and revenue across freight, customs, transport, and cross-border logistics services.

The company is hiring an experienced Business Development Manager / Sales Professional for Rwanda. The role reports to senior commercial leadership locally and will focus on building sales pipeline, developing client relationships, and winning new business in logistics and transport.

The right person will already have direct, hands-on experience in logistics, freight, transport, shipping, customs, or international trade-related services. Experience limited to unrelated sectors will not be accepted.

This is an office-based position requiring attendance in the workplace five days a week.

Application Requirements

Please ensure the application is complete, as incomplete submissions will be automatically rejected. Applicants are required to address the following in their cover note or letter:

• Confirm how many years of experience you have in business development or sales within freight forwarding, logistics, transport, shipping, customs clearance, or international trade services.
• Describe the logistics or transport services you have personally sold or commercially supported.
• Share one logistics, freight, transport, import, or export-related deal or project from the last 12 months, including the client type, the nature of the shipment or project, your role, and the outcome if available.
• Explain how long you would expect to need to build an active pipeline and start converting opportunities in a new role.
• Confirm your expected monthly compensation in USD net, your readiness to start immediately if selected, and your right to work in Rwanda without restrictions.

What the Role Involves

• Source, qualify, and close new B2B opportunities across logistics and transport services.
• Build and nurture long-term relationships with clients and commercial partners.
• Contribute to revenue growth across freight forwarding, transport, customs, and wider logistics solutions.
• Prepare proposals, pricing, quotations, negotiations, and follow up with prospective clients.
• Partner with operations teams to help ensure smooth service delivery.
• Carry out market research and identify areas for commercial expansion.
• Represent the business at networking sessions and industry events when needed.
• Track pipeline progress and commercial results against targets.
• Drive account growth through upselling and cross-selling.
• Maintain strong client engagement and timely commercial communication.

Candidate Profile

• Recent and proven B2B sales or business development experience in freight forwarding, logistics, transport, shipping, customs clearance, or international trade-related services.
• Solid understanding of cross-border logistics, import/export processes, freight operations, transport coordination, and commercial logistics settings.
• Proven ability to build pipeline and contribute to revenue growth in the logistics or freight sector.
• Strong commercial judgement, with confident communication and negotiation capability.
• Experience working with clients in East African markets is an added advantage.
• Highly organized, proactive, self-directed, and commercially focused.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment where performance matters.
• Experience with CRM platforms and commercial reporting tools is beneficial.

What’s on Offer

• Competitive compensation in USD, based on experience.
• Opportunity to join an expanding regional logistics business.
• Exposure to East African commercial operations.
• Room for career progression in a growing freight and transport environment.
• A fast-moving team culture with a strong commercial focus.

Important Notice

Only candidates with direct, current experience in the logistics, freight forwarding, transport, shipping, customs, or international trade sectors will be considered. Applicants whose sales background comes solely from unrelated industries should not apply.

This role is intended for someone who can contribute quickly and start generating commercial activity within the first few months.