Nairobi, Kenya

Business Development Manager – East Africa Water Treatment & Mining Chemicals Location: East AfricaPrimary Markets: Kenya & TanzaniaRegional Travel: Frequent The Opportunity Antal International is partnering with an established international specialty chemicals manufacturer seeking an experienced technical-commercial professional to accelerate its growth across East Africa. This is a market-development role with significant autonomy and a clear mandate: build the company's presence across Kenya and Tanzania, develop strategic customers, strengthen its distributor network and convert technical capability into sustainable commercial growth. The role will focus primarily on municipal and industrial water treatment and mining applications, working with both local customers and multinational organisations operating across the region. Key Responsibilities Develop new business across Kenya, Tanzania and the wider East African market. Identify and convert opportunities within municipal water treatment, industrial water treatment and mining. Identify, appoint and develop high-performing local distributors and channel partners. Build relationships with key decision-makers, technical teams and strategic accounts. Grow existing accounts while developing new customers and applications. Provide technical-commercial support covering product selection, applications and troubleshooting. Lead customer presentations, product demonstrations and field trials. Work with regional and international technical teams on product evaluation and optimisation. Track competitors, market developments and emerging commercial opportunities. Maintain disciplined sales forecasting, customer reporting and regional development plans. The Person We are looking for someone who combines technical credibility with strong commercial instincts. You should be comfortable discussing applications with engineers and technical teams while also identifying opportunities, developing relationships, negotiating commercially and converting opportunities into revenue. Essential Experience Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline. 10+ years' relevant industry experience. Strong background in water treatment, mining chemicals or closely related industrial chemical applications. Demonstrable commercial/business development experience. Good understanding of the East African industrial market, ideally including Kenya and Tanzania. Ability to develop business through both direct strategic accounts and distributors. Strong customer-facing, presentation and relationship-development skills. Comfortable operating independently within a multinational environment. Fluent English and willingness to travel extensively across East Africa. Valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for customer visits. What Will Differentiate You Candidates will stand out if they can demonstrate: Market Development — Evidence of opening new accounts, territories or applications. Technical Selling — Ability to translate product and application knowledge into customer value. Distributor Development — Experience selecting, managing and improving channel partners. Strategic Account Management — Credibility working with major industrial and multinational customers. Commercial Ownership — A track record of independently building pipeline and converting opportunities into profitable business. Why Consider This Opportunity? This is not a maintenance sales position. It offers an experienced technical-commercial professional the opportunity to shape the development of an international chemicals business in a high-potential East African market, with direct exposure to strategic customers, distributors and regional leadership. For candidates who enjoy building markets rather than simply managing existing accounts, this represents a compelling next career move. Applications will be managed confidentially by Antal International.

The Sales Executive – Coatings, Adhesive, Sealants and Construction Chemicals (CASC) will be responsible for driving business growth within the Paint & Coating and Construction chemicals sectors as priority by managing strategic client relationships, expanding market share, and promoting CASC-focused product solutions. The role requires a dynamic professional with a strong understanding of the Paint & Coating and Construction Chemicals industry, solid commercial acumen, and a good understanding of commodity, semi-specialty and specialty chemicals distribution within the related markets to effectively manage pricing, supply dynamics, and customer demand. Having active and warm customer network is a must. Sales Executive will do active customer visits in order to promote focused CASC products within Kenya. Key Responsibilities Business Development & Sales Growth Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the Paint & Coating and Construction chemicals sectors as priority. Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve and exceed revenue targets. Promote raw materials (commodities, semi-specialties & specialties) for related applications. Drive account penetration through effective relationship management and solution-based selling. Account Management Manage and nurture key client relationships to ensure long-term partnerships and business retention. Understand client needs and challenges, providing customized product and service solutions. Serve as the main point of contact for key CASC accounts, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction and service delivery. Market & Product Strategy Conduct market research to identify trends, opportunities, and competitor activities in the CASC industries. Monitor commodity price trends and supply chain factors that may impact product availability and pricing. Support product positioning and pricing strategies to maintain competitiveness. Define and execute the CASC business unit strategy with the Global industry director. Technical & Product Expertise Demonstrate strong technical understanding of Paint & Coating and Construction chemical products and their applications. Provide clients with technical guidance, product demonstrations, and application support. Stay informed on innovations, regulations, and best practices within the construction chemicals sector. Performance Management & Reporting Use insights to refine strategies, improve sales effectiveness, and capture emerging opportunities. Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Business Administration, or a related field. Experience: 4–6 years of experience in sales, trading, key account management, or business development within the Paint&Coating, Adhesive, Sealants and Construction chemicals, commodities and specialties distribution. Sales Performance: Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets, with experience managing large or strategic B2B accounts. Client Management: Strong ability to build and maintain key client relationships while delivering tailored, client-centric solutions. Business Development Skills: Excellent commercial acumen, negotiation, and market development skills. Technical Expertise: Solid understanding of CASC raw materials applications, enabling effective technical discussions with clients. Analytical & Interpersonal Skills: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities paired with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Personal Attributes: Self-driven and motivated with a proactive approach to achieving goals. Collaborative and team player Demonstrate high level of integrity in all business operations. ONLY Shortlisted candidates will be contacted