Safaricom PLC, the leading telecommunications company in East Africa, continues to pioneer innovations that transform lives across Kenya and beyond. With an enduring purpose of connecting people to people, people to opportunities, and people to information, Safaricom maintains a strong presence with over 42 million customers and contributes significantly to the region’s economy. To further fuel its strategic growth and innovation agenda, Safaricom is looking to hire a dynamic and visionary Business Partnerships Lead.
Based at Safaricom House, HQ, in Nairobi, Kenya, this pivotal role will report to the Head of Business Partnerships and will be instrumental in driving the development and execution of key partnership initiatives that align with Safaricom’s strategic goals. This opportunity is ideal for professionals with a deep understanding of the technology, telecommunications, and financial services industries, coupled with a passion for innovation and growth.
Position Overview: Business Partnerships Lead
Work Location
Safaricom House, Waiyaki Way, Westlands, P.O. Box 66827, 00800, Nairobi, Kenya
Job Type
Full-Time
Department
Business Strategy & Partnerships
Reporting To
Head of Business Partnerships
Job Identification Number
750
Posting Date
16th June 2025
Application Deadline
22nd June 2025, 23:55 EAT
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Development and Execution
- Collaborate with the Head of Business Partnerships and internal stakeholders to develop business and product strategies that align with Safaricom’s overarching goals.
- Translate these strategies into actionable partner strategies, identifying high-impact partnerships that contribute to product innovation, market expansion, and revenue growth.
- Maintain an in-depth understanding of emerging trends and technologies such as AI, IoT, Blockchain, VR/AR, and how they can be applied to drive value in Kenya, Africa, and globally.
Partnership Sourcing and Negotiation
- Identify, evaluate, and prioritize strategic partnership opportunities that align with Safaricom’s growth ambitions.
- Build business cases for new partnerships including strategic rationale, commercial models, and impact analysis.
- Lead negotiations, structure complex partnership agreements, and secure buy-in from internal stakeholders across functions including engineering, finance, marketing, and legal.
Partnership Implementation and Performance Monitoring
- Oversee the seamless implementation of partnership agreements and track post-engagement performance metrics to ensure alignment with expectations.
- Continuously monitor and evaluate ongoing partnerships to assess value delivery and identify opportunities for growth or optimization.
- Ensure all partnership obligations are fulfilled and compliance standards are maintained.
Market and Industry Engagement
- Maintain and expand a robust external network of partners, industry experts, competitors, investors, and regulators.
- Represent Safaricom in strategic industry conversations and forums to identify new opportunities for collaboration.
- Develop a deep understanding of market dynamics in technology and telecommunications, both locally and globally.
Pipeline and Innovation Management
- Build and maintain a pipeline of high-potential partners aligned with Safaricom’s strategic priorities.
- Champion an agile mindset and drive a culture of continuous improvement in how partnerships are sourced, managed, and scaled.
- Identify and eliminate barriers to innovation, suggesting new business models and product concepts that can be co-created with external partners.
Internal Collaboration and Influence
- Work cross-functionally across business units to align partner strategies with product roadmaps, business objectives, and operational execution.
- Facilitate alignment and collaboration across virtual teams and geographies.
- Communicate partnership plans and performance insights effectively to executives and other key stakeholders.
Core Competencies, Knowledge, and Experience
- Deep expertise in end-to-end partnership lifecycle management, from sourcing and evaluation to negotiation and performance management.
- Demonstrated success in structuring and scaling partnerships with global Big Tech players and regional systems integrators.
- Advanced skills in business strategy development and market analysis, including building robust financial and commercial models.
- Strong grasp of the ICT, telecommunications, and fintech landscapes in Kenya and across Africa.
- A solid understanding of how to create new business offerings from scratch through various partnership frameworks including co-creation, joint ventures, and strategic investments.
- Experience working within agile environments and driving results in fast-paced, start-up-like conditions.
Industry and Market Expertise
- In-depth knowledge of the FinTech sector (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), emerging tech trends, and innovation ecosystems.
- Insight into the global communications industry and associated technologies and trends.
- Familiarity with Safaricom technologies and operational frameworks is a plus.
Interpersonal and Leadership Skills
- Strong leadership capability with a track record of driving cross-functional initiatives and building high-performing virtual teams.
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills across all organizational levels, from senior executives to technical teams.
- Outstanding problem-solving abilities, negotiation skills, and the ability to develop compelling presentations.
- High level of integrity, adaptability, creativity, and motivation to drive business transformation.
- Experience engaging with governments and international bodies is highly desirable.
Project Management Capabilities
- Familiarity with modern project management tools and methodologies to effectively plan and oversee partnership-related initiatives.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently while maintaining high attention to detail and a focus on results.
Educational Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Information Technology, or a related field is required.
- A Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Business Science, or an advanced degree in STEM disciplines will be an added advantage.
Work Experience
- At least 5 years of experience in partner management, business development, or partner channel development in the technology or telecommunications industry.
- Demonstrated success in working with enterprise customers and partners across diverse sectors.
- Proven track record of engaging and influencing senior business and technical decision-makers.
Additional Desirable Skills
- Effective communication across varied audiences, including C-suite executives, sales and marketing teams, and technical personnel.
- Ability to articulate both business and technical value propositions convincingly.
- Strong discipline in achieving sales and partnership KPIs while maintaining operational excellence.
- Strategic thinking and the ability to operate within abstract, cross-organizational settings.
- Experience in managing scalable sales motions and co-creating value-driven partner solutions.
About Safaricom
Safaricom is the most prominent telecommunication service provider in East Africa. Since its founding in 1997 as a subsidiary of Telkom Kenya and subsequent partnership with Vodafone Group PLC, Safaricom has grown exponentially, not only in revenue but in social impact. With annual revenues of nearly KES 298 Billion (approximately $2.5 billion) as of March 2022, Safaricom is publicly listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and is known for its groundbreaking innovations, most notably the introduction of M-PESA in 2007, which revolutionized mobile payments across the continent.
The company supports more than one million jobs, directly and indirectly, and remains committed to driving digital inclusion and economic empowerment. Safaricom’s strategic direction is anchored on innovation, customer-centric solutions, and transformative partnerships that redefine connectivity and digital services in Kenya and beyond.
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 resume.
