Commercial Manager

Job description

Position Summary

GEI Power Zambia Limited is seeking a high-impact Commercial Manager to build, lead, and scale its commercial function from the ground up. This is not a maintenance role. The successful candidate will be responsible for creating the commercial engine of the business — establishing systems, developing revenue pipelines, structuring deals and driving aggressive business growth within the energy sector.

The role requires a hands-on, execution-driven leader who thrives in ambiguity, takes ownership and delivers measurable commercial outcomes in a startup-like environment.

Core Mandate (What You Are Actually Being Hired To Do)

• Build the Commercial Department from zero to full functionality
• Generate revenue and secure strategic contracts
• Establish commercial systems, policies and reporting structures
• Drive profitability and commercial discipline across the business

Key Responsibilities

1. Department Setup & Capability Building (Non-Negotiable)

• Establish and structure the Commercial Department, including roles, workflows and reporting lines
• Develop and implement commercial policies, procedures and approval frameworks
• Design contract management systems, templates and documentation standards
• Build commercial reporting tools and performance tracking systems

2. Commercial Strategy & Business Growth

• Develop and execute a clear, aggressive commercial strategy aligned with company growth objectives
• Identify and secure new business opportunities, partnerships and revenue streams
• Build and manage a robust commercial pipeline from lead generation to deal closure
• Lead tendering, bidding and proposal development for projects and service contracts
• Conduct market intelligence, competitor analysis and pricing strategy development

3. Contracting & Deal Structuring

• Lead all commercial negotiations with clients, suppliers and partners
• Structure commercially viable and risk-balanced agreements
• Establish contract governance processes and lifecycle management systems
• Oversee claims, variations and dispute resolution

4. Financial & Commercial Performance

• Define pricing models, cost structures and revenue optimization strategies
• Drive profitability across projects and operations
• Work closely with Finance on budgeting, forecasting and margin improvement
• Identify inefficiencies and enforce cost discipline

5. Stakeholder & Market Engagement

• Build and manage relationships with clients, government entities, utilities and key industry players
• Represent GEI Power in high-level commercial engagements and negotiations
• Position the company as a competitive and credible player in the energy sector

6. Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify and mitigate commercial, contractual and operational risks
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and company requirements
• Implement risk management frameworks for all commercial activities

7. Leadership & Culture Building

• Build, lead and scale a results-driven commercial team
• Define team structure and hiring roadmap aligned with growth targets
• Instill a performance culture focused on revenue, accountability and execution
• Drive cross-functional alignment with technical, finance and operations teams

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Quantity Surveying, or related field
• Master’s Degree or professional qualification is an advantage

Experience

• Minimum 5–8 years in commercial, business development or revenue-generating roles
• Proven experience in building or scaling commercial functions (this is critical — not optional)
• Strong background in contract negotiation, deal structuring and financial management
• Experience in energy, infrastructure, engineering, or construction sectors is highly preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial and financial acumen
• Exceptional negotiation and deal-closing ability
• Strategic thinking with execution bias
• Ability to build systems and processes from scratch
• Strong leadership and team-building capability
• High level of ownership, resilience and accountability
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills