Safaricom PLC, a trailblazer in the telecommunications sector in East Africa, is calling on highly motivated and innovative individuals to join our dynamic team. We are looking to recruit a Business Partnerships Lead who will be instrumental in shaping and executing strategic partnerships to build transformative products and services. This role is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that plays a pivotal role in the digital transformation of Kenya and beyond.
As an integral part of our broader strategy to drive innovation and inclusive growth, the Business Partnerships Lead will collaborate with stakeholders across Safaricom and with external partners to create commercially viable ventures. Reporting to the Head of Business Partnerships, the successful candidate will work at the intersection of business strategy, innovation, and execution, ensuring that new ventures align with the company’s objectives and deliver value to millions of customers.
Job Description: Business Partnerships Lead
Location: Safaricom House, HQ – Waiyaki Way, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya
Job Type: Full-Time
Posting Date: 16/06/2025
Application Deadline: 22/06/2025, 23:55 EAT
Job Identification Number: 750
Job Category: Business Strategy & Partnerships
Role Purpose
The Business Partnerships Lead is charged with identifying, structuring, and executing strategic business partnerships and ventures. These include co-created innovations and joint ventures that are commercially viable and that support Safaricom’s strategic intent. The role demands a high level of innovation, strategic thinking, and business acumen to bring transformative ideas to life.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategy Development
- Work closely with the Head of Business Partnerships and other internal stakeholders to define business and product strategies.
- Translate these strategies into actionable partner strategies.
- Identify partnership opportunities that can drive business growth and support the acceleration of Safaricom’s mission and product roadmap.
2. Transaction Execution
- Lead the evaluation, prioritization, and pursuit of partnership opportunities aligned with the partnership strategy.
- Develop business cases for proposed partnerships, including financial and strategic rationales.
- Structure partnership agreements creatively and negotiate terms with stakeholders and potential partners.
- Maintain continuous communication with internal stakeholders to secure alignment and approvals.
3. Partnership Execution and Management
- Monitor the performance of established partnerships to ensure alignment with set objectives.
- Maintain ongoing relationships with partners and ensure that commitments and compliance requirements are fulfilled.
- Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess partnership success and implement necessary adjustments.
4. External Relationship Building
- Maintain and develop a network of key industry contacts including existing and potential partners, thought leaders, investors, and competitors.
- Engage with partners to explore mutual opportunities and understand their strategic needs and pain points.
- Collaborate to develop joint go-to-market (GTM) strategies and co-selling initiatives.
5. Partnership Pipeline Development
- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of potential partnership opportunities.
- Measure success through the conversion of promising concepts into tangible businesses and revenue-generating partnerships.
6. Industry and Market Expertise
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of competitive and market dynamics across the technology, telecommunication, and digital service sectors.
- Stay updated on global trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, IoT, AR/VR, and evaluate their application in the Kenyan and African contexts.
7. Innovation and Agility
- Identify constraints and propose innovative solutions for business diversification and growth.
- Champion an agile mindset and drive the adoption of agile methodologies in business development efforts.
Core Competencies and Experience
- Strong expertise in partnership lifecycle management, from ideation to contract execution and performance monitoring.
- Proven success in executing partnerships with Big Tech firms and local/regional systems integrators.
- Exceptional business modeling and strategic planning skills, supported by analytical rigour.
- A deep understanding of customer experience, digital product design, and emerging technologies.
- Demonstrated ability to build new offerings through joint ventures, strategic investments, or co-development with third parties.
- In-depth knowledge of the Kenyan and African ICT and telecommunications industry, including market dynamics and policy frameworks.
- Sound understanding of the global digital ecosystem and communication technologies.
- Capable of leading cross-functional teams and managing initiatives across multiple business domains.
- Experience working in start-up or rapidly evolving environments with undefined processes or models.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; adept at engaging stakeholders across all levels.
- Previous involvement with governments and international development organizations will be a plus.
- Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Industry Knowledge Areas
- Digital Financial Services (Fintech): Broad knowledge of the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors, including market trends and innovation.
- Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Familiarity with emerging ICT technologies and their business applications.
- Project Management: Experience with project management practices and tools to track progress and deliver outcomes effectively.
Educational Background and Work Experience
- A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, IT, or a related discipline.
- At least 5 years of experience in business development, partner management, or partner channel development within the technology sector.
- A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Business Science, or a STEM-related field is advantageous.
- Deep knowledge of Safaricom technologies and infrastructure is a plus.
- Proven experience working with enterprise clients across various industries.
Professional Skills
- Strong communication capabilities with the ability to simplify complex business concepts for diverse audiences.
- Collaborative and inclusive leadership style that promotes team alignment and goal achievement.
- Demonstrated excellence in business planning, target achievement, and operational delivery.
- Solid grasp of digital transformation enablers, including cybersecurity, cloud platforms, infrastructure, and productivity tools.
- Track record of developing repeatable, scalable solutions and partnership frameworks.
- Comfortable with leading virtual teams and coordinating across functions and geographies.
About Safaricom
Safaricom PLC is a purpose-driven telecommunications and digital services company headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Established in 1997 as a fully owned subsidiary of Telkom Kenya, the company has grown to become the largest telco in East Africa, with over 42 million customers and significant economic contributions both directly and indirectly.
Our vision is to transform lives by enabling meaningful connections—between people, opportunities, and information. Safaricom is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and reported revenues of KES 298 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2022. Through pioneering innovations such as M-PESA, launched in 2007, we have created inclusive financial solutions that have reshaped the economic landscape in Kenya.
Our continued commitment is to enhance the lives of our customers through innovation, collaboration, and customer-focused delivery. Joining Safaricom means being part of a team that is constantly pushing boundaries, disrupting markets, and leading digital transformation in Africa.
How to Apply
If you feel that you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualifications and experience, kindly proceed to create or update your candidate profile on the recruitment portal and then click on the apply button. Remember to attach your updated resume.
